March Newsletter – Pastor’s Page
An older man went to his doctor’s appointment. As he was giving some updates on his health, he told the doctor “I’m experiencing memory loss.” The doctor asked, “Ok, when did it start?” The old man looked up and asked, “When did what start?!”
Memory is vital to our life, our health, and our relationships. For Lent, we are reflecting on the power of remembering in our worship series, “Remember: God’s Covenants and the Cross.” In the Hebrew Bible, we read time and time again of God’s people forgetting their covenant – their bond – with God, and falling into selfish and self-destructive behaviors. They forget the unique quality of being made in God’s image. And they forgot God’s desire to be in a nurturing relationship of peace and wholeness. Sometimes, we find ourselves forgetting the very same things.
Our worship series is leading us through the Bible – from Genesis to the Gospels – by remembering God’s covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David. These covenants reveal God’s loving character and relentless desire to be in a relationship with all of creation. By remembering these ancient covenants during our Lenten journey toward Easter, we see a renewed beauty and power in the new covenant Jesus began on the first Easter long ago. God’s has loved creation forever, and continues to pursue us in love today!
We will celebrate God’s love through Jesus and the cross on Easter Sunday, March 31. We will hold an Easter Sunrise Service at the Veteran’s Home early in the morning, and then regather at church for our typical service at 11am.
This year, the 10th anniversary of Canyon Community Dinners in Hungry Horse falls on Holy Thursday. Just like Jesus gathered with his friends and broke bread on that Holy Thursday long ago, I encourage you to gather at Hungry Horse Elementary school on Thursday, March 28, and break bread with our neighbors and church family.
On Friday, March 29, we will worship with Our Savior’s Lutheran church and remember Good Friday in an evening worship service at 7:00pm.
I look forward to continuing our Lenten journey together as we remember God’s covenants of eternal love and grace!
Grace & peace,
Pastor Jared