Be Open “Return to the Lord, your God, who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.” (Joel 2:13) 

As we begin our Lenten journey together, I encourage you to be open during Lent. Be open to: 

• Where God is leading you in prayer,
• Those obstacles which may prevent you from prayer.
• What you can learn from your experiences when you bring those experiences to God in prayer, and
• God’s grace and mercy and forgiveness for you.

God is addressing us in all moments of our lives. Most of the time, we just aren’t paying attention:  we aren’t open or aware. 

In my devotion time this morning, I read this simple sentence from Saint Therese of Lisieux, a Roman Catholic sister who lived in the late 19th century. It is from St. Therese of Lisieux: Her Last Conversations. 
“Everything is grace.” 
“Everything is grace.” 

Sisters and brothers in Christ, may we all be open to our holy God this Lenten season. May we all be aware that everything is grace: God’s grace is infused into every moment of our ordinary lives! 

God’s peace, 
Pastor Kathryn

​“Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them.
Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice,
‘This is my Child, the Beloved; to this one you shall listen!’
Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus.” (Mark 9: 2, 7 – 8)
 
I keep a journal, and so I know that a year ago today I climbed up a volcano in Guatemala. Yes! A volcano. It’s called Vulcan Pacaya.

It took us a long time to climb that volcano. It was an arduous hike. There were people with us from all over the world. Thomas, Hannah and I spoke quite a bit with a father and son from France. We shared stories about our lives.

After two hours, we were on top of the volcano. We looked across at another volcano which was active. The red-hot lava was pouring every 45 seconds or so down the side of the mountain. It was beautiful, terrifying, and awesome. I asked our guide if he ever worried that it would blow when he was taking a group of hikers up the volcano. He said, “Yes. I worry all the time. This is dangerous. I worry about my wife and my children. Pero, este es mi vida. This is my life.”

This Sunday, we will attend worship together and hear these words from the Gospel of Mark about the Transfiguration. Our Confirmands will bring us the sermon in the form of a Skit. In our Children’s Message, Eire and Johann will hide the Alleluia banner. We won’t be saying or singing “Alleluia” during the season of Lent, which begins this Wednesday with Ash Wednesday.

Sisters and brothers in Christ, may God put a blessing upon us as we contemplate the Transfiguration. May our hearts and minds be open to all the ways we listen to Jesus.

See you in worship,
Pastor Kathryn

“Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, 
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, 
They shall run and not be weary, 
They shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40: 31

We’ll hear these words from the prophet Isaiah this Sunday in worship. It’s one of my favorite verses! The prophet is encouraging the Israelites who had witnessed their temple being destroyed in Jerusalem, and some of them were taken as captives to Babylon. They were doubting whether God still had compassion for them, or whether God had any power to release them from their bondage. They were a people in despair and discouraged. The prophet was trying to boost their spirits by reminding them who God is, and that they will be redeemed. 

And then we’ll sing “On Eagle’s Wings” which is taken from Psalm 91: 

“And he will raise you up on eagle’s wings, 
Bear you on the breath of dawn, 
Make you to shine like the sun, 
And hold you in the palm of his hand.”
Sisters and brothers in Christ, take heart! God is with us! Our strength will be renewed. 

See you in worship, 
Pastor Kathryn