Brothers & Sisters in Christ:
Imagine that a friend or family member who is unfamiliar with your Christian faith asks you to summarize the Gospel, the Good News about Jesus. She isn’t looking for a laundry list of doctrines. She has no interest in hearing you recite the Athanasian Creed. She wants you to get to the heart of the matter. “In seven words or less,†she says, “tell me what you believe as a Christian.â€
What would you say? How would you put it? Are you be prepared to confess your faith in Jesus?
To be a Christian is to “believe with your heart†and “confess with your mouth†the Good News of God’s love for us in Christ (Romans 10:9–10). Peter calls us to be prepared always to give a reason for the hope we have as Christians (1 Peter 3:15). Christians have the best news in the world to share! But are we prepared to share it?
During the season of Lent that begins with Ash Wednesday on February 14, we are going to prepare to observe all the events of Holy Week by thinking about why Christianity’s Good News is so important. In our Wednesday evening Services, we will consider many of the ways in which the Scriptures proclaim the Good News about Jesus. And, in the weeks between the Services, everyone will have an opportunity to put into their own words their own brief summary of that Good News that we all might be more prepared to share the Good News of Jesus.
The Divine Service, with the Imposition of Ashes, will be offered on Ash Wednesday at 7 PM. Vespers will be prayed each Wednesday thereafter at 7 PM. Meals will be served each Wednesday before the Services. Come and join us this Lent!
Pastor VanOsdol
The Gospel in Seven Words
Wednesday, February 14
Ash Wednesday
Preparing to Confess
Wednesday, February 21
Midweek Lent 2
Captivity & Freedom
Wednesday, February 28
Midweek Lent 3
Death & Life
Wednesday, March 7
Midweek Lent 4
Isolation & Community
Wednesday, March 14
Midweek Lent 5
The Gospel in Your Words
Wednesday, March 21
Midweek Lent 6