On Shrove Tuesday (this past Tuesday), about sixty people, gathered at Lowville United Church, to enjoy a traditional Pancake Supper and about twelve people chose to receive an ash cross, as a sign of their vulnerability and journey into the wilderness with Jesus. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness. Traditionally, Christians devote 40 days to prayer, the study of scripture and spiritual practices, as a way of intentionally being with God. It can feel like a wilderness experience, as we strive to hold space for God, with distractions and a sense of urgency, coming at us, like darts. It has been quite the journey to learn to notice the distractions and let them go. I have been working at this for a few years.
Today, I am excited to share with you one of the gifts of being in the wilderness. Maybe you are intrigued that I would dare to talk about the gifts of being in the wilderness. If you have been socially-conditioned like me, you probably grew up thinking about the wilderness as a hard, difficult, barren place, devoid of life and joy! Some versions of the bible suggest that Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness before his ministry officially began. Others suggest he spent 40 days in the desert. I am planning to use both terms interchangeably as most of us have never been to a desert, but you might be familiar with the wilderness. If you have been in the wilderness, or the bush, you know that it can be a wild untameable place. What if we are partially wrong? Our faith tradition teaches that God calls us to the wilderness. Could it be that the wilderness or desert is the place where we discover the meaning of life? Maybe the desert, the wild places of life holds the secret of life! In the wild places, we discover our connection to God and to each other. Forty days with Jesus in the Wilderness, can be good after all!
Adapting the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of “The Little Prince”: “What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well (a life-giving source).
Join me on a Lenten journey, as we discover this life-giving source, by studying the Gospel of Matthew 6: 1-11. You may find the teaching story“The Little Prince” a relevant teaching story. Here is a beautiful audio-visual adaptation :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APG1upS8LDw a teaching story about listening with the heart in the desert.
Discover with me, its parallels with Jesus’s time in the desert, and our time in our proverbial places of testing. Discover through faith that “it is only with the heart that we can see rightly, what is essentially invisible to the eye.” Worship with us on Sunday February 22nd , 10:00 a.m. as God calls us into the wilderness with Our Prince of Peace, Jesus. Together may we more fully understand the joy of being with God, being loved by God (God’s Beloved) and our life’s purpose in building God’s Beloved Community. We will also be enjoying Holy Communion with Jesus, where we will be fed with bread and grape juice for the journey
.As additional Lenten Practices
* You may also read with me “Practicing the Way” By: John Mark Comer and we can share our thoughts over coffee or tea, on a Sunday morning. It’s an easy and fun read.
:* Or you can download the app Lectio 365 and participate in their online virtual guided meditations (just ten minutes long)
PANCAKE SUPPER
THANK YOU to all our Volunteers. Thanks to Michael`s No Frills, Donna Millar & Doug Christilaw, Muriel & Gerry Howe for their generous donations. Many neighbours came, stayed and enjoyed each other’s company.
UCW meeting Wed Mar 11
(11:30am) “World Day of Prayer” Bring your lunch. All Welcome.
Rev Roni`s Office Hour at our Church are
Mon, Tues & Wed
(10am - 3pm) Contact Info: [email protected] OR Cell 416 271- 5313 Text, email or phone for appointment.
REFRESHMENTS Choose a Sunday to bring “after Worship” refreshments. Sign-up Sheet is on the Zimmerman Rm Bulletin Board (south/east wall)
LOWVILLE CARES - Place your Local Food Bank Donations in Zimmerman Room Baskets located under the Guelph Line window near the Sanctuary door.
