A Loving Note From
Rev. Vickie Miller and Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson
March, 4, 2019
At SunCoast MCC we often proudly quote our vision statement: As a welcoming, diverse, active community we share God’s love in a spiritual environment offering
truth
,
trust
and
transformation
. As we enter into the season of Lent, those three words are most relevant.
Lent is the period of 40 days before Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday. It represents both Jesus’ journey to the cross and his withdrawal into the desert for 40 days at the beginning of his ministry. Therefore, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter – a perfect time to focus more intently on
truth
,
trust
and
transformation
.
This year’s Lenten theme will be
Gifts of the Dark Wood,
the title of a book by Eric Elnes who borrows the term from Dante who discovers himself entirely “lost” at a midpoint in his life. The
Dark Wood
is a time of uncertainty, emptiness, and temptation. In thinking about those early followers of Jesus, they experienced many
Dark Wood
moments. We, too, comprehend exactly what that term means in relation to our own lives.
This Lent, let us take the time to reflect upon those
Dark Wood
moments and also discover how they have produced in us
truth
,
trust
and
transformation
. We will walk with Jesus and with those first followers and disciples, who sought the truth about Jesus, who trusted wholeheartedly in his message and mission and whose whole lives were transformed – and all that happened in the days before Easter!
That opportunity, likewise, awaits us as we embark upon this Lenten season. May God bless you and bless SunCoast Metropolitan Community Church as we seek to live and grow together into our mission and vision.
