Lent

Lent is a season of reflection, evaluation, death, and new birth.  Lent serves as an opportunity, even a call for a spiritual "spring cleaning" in our lives: to throw out what is old and burdensome to growth.  As a gardener begins to prepare soil for the new planting, so Lent calls us to till and discard in our lives, to examine what is needed and healthy, and to get rid of what is not.

 

In the church readings, we follow Jesus in his resolute journey to save us from ourselves through the cross -- to put to death the claims of the old, rotten, death-bound system, so that the new growth of the new Covenant may spring forth.

 

Lent calls us to renew the basics in our lives as affirm what is most essential and denounce what is not.  This year, in recognition of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, we will join many of our sister congregations in re-examining the basics of our Christian faith as they are laid out and explained in Martin Luther's Small Catechism.  Luther wrote this small but powerful book in response to a society that had forgotten much of what is true and healthy.  We may well be in a similar time, where we as a people have forgotten so much of the foundations of what makes us Christians. 

 

This Lenten season we will gather on Wednesday evenings for Soup (6:15) and worship (7:00) to worship and remember what is essential, what is important, what gives us life.  We will focus these worship times ion some basic themes taken from The Catechism, as a guide to reclaiming and renewing our basic faith in Jesus, and our mission to be his messengers to the world.   Please join us as you are able.

 

Looking Again at The Small Catechism for the 21st Century

 

March 1                      Going Back to the Basics - The Need for The Catechism

 

March 8                      What God Requires - The 10 Commandments

 

March 15                    What We Believe - The Creed     

 

March 22                    How We Pray - The Lord's Prayer

 

March 29                    How God Claims Us - Holy Baptism

 

April 5                        How God Sustains Us - Holy Communion

 

April 13                      Maundy Thursday - Teach Us to Love

 

April 14                      Good Friday - Show Us Your Love

 

April 16                      Easter Sunday - New Life Free Given

-Pastor Martin

Sunday, March 26	Sat. Overnight 9:30 AM 11:00 AM	Boy Scout Troop 219 Overnight Lock-in - Brause Hall Worship Church Council Retreat & Planning Meeting
Monday, March 27	6:30 PM	Narcotics Anonymous - Library
Tuesday,  March 28	6:30 PM	Alcoholics Anonymous - Library
Wed., March 29	5:00 PM 6:15 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM	Confirmation  Lent  Soup Supper Narcotics Anonymous - Library Lenten Worship
Thurs., March 30	Noon 6:30 PM	Banner Babes  Alcoholics Anonymous - Library
Friday, March 31	6:30 PM	Narcotics Anonymous - Library
Sat., April 1	6:30 PM	Narcotics Anonymous - Library
Next Week: Sunday, April 2	9:30 AM 10:45 AM 7:00 PM	Worship Adult Bible Study - Brause Fellowship Hall Boy Scout Troop 219

Other Joyful News...

Chugiak/Eagle River Food Pantry's Most Needed Items

• Tuna
• Cereals 
• Ramen
• Juice - 46 oz.- Pouches, Real Juice
• Saltine Crackers
• Ketchup/Mustard (small/medium size) - Relish - Pickles
• Jam/Jelly
• Toothpaste/Toothbrushes
• Facial Tissue (Kleenex)
• Toilet Tissue
• Soap: Laundry, Dish, Bath, Hand
• Stewed Tomatoes 

Coats for Kids

It's the time of year when winter coats are hitting the "Closeout" racks.  This week, were able to get 45 good quality coats from Costco for prices of $ 9.97 and $14.97 a piece.  Please keep a look out as you shop at Walmart, Fred Meyer, JCPenny's and other retail outlets.  All these coats will be given away during our local version of HUGSS (Help Us Give School Supplies) run by Love INC. 

Malaria Campaign 

The Children's Offering (the display located by the Baptismal Font) seeks to change the focus for giving about every 3-4 months.  For the next season, the target of the offering will be the ELCA Malaria Campaign.  Malaria is one of the leading killers of children in developing countries and the risk of infection is greatly reduced by some simple additions to heath care.  Since 2009, the ELCA has raised over $15 million to combat this disease.  

Together we have had great success:

• Educated 2 million community members.
• Distributed 50,000 insecticide-treated bed nets.
• Tested 160,000 people for malaria, and if positive, provided treatment.
• Trained 10,000 local volunteers in prevention and treatment.
• Empowered 12,000 households to be economically stable
• Provided 32,000 pregnant women prevention medication.

This offering will continue that effort.  Thank you!