From Rev. Robin Raudabaugh

Peace and Blessings to you all.

Today is Ash Wednesday - the first day of the season of Lent - the 40 days preceeding Easter. Lent is a season of the church year when we are encouraged to take a metaphorical and literal Sabbath - stop being so busy - stop being so frenzied - stop spending our time on that which does not satisfy - and re-center ourselves in the Holy. Lent is not about giving up things - or even taking on things - it is about re-investing, re-immersing, re-imagining ourselves being immersed in the HOly One.

I invite you this Lent to slow down - and pray. Not to add one more thing - prayer -to your already busy lives - but to let prayer (connection with God the Holy One) become a part of EVERYTHING you already do. Let prayer become who you are (connected to the Holy) - not what you do.

I invite you to attend the ASH WEDNESDAY worship service tonight at 7:00 pm. In this intergenerational service we will participate in ritual and sacraments of Hand Washing, Anointing with Oil, Imposition of Ashes, and Holy Communion. We will pray and sing and worship together and prepare you for your Lenten time.

I also invite you to a time following worship on Sunday, March 13 to a discussion about a Lenten practice of 40 Days of Prayer. We'll talk about ways in which you might taylor the practice of daily prayer to your own life.

I also invite you every Wednesday evening during Lent to a 15 MINUTE PRAYER CIRCLE at 8:15 pm - directly between Pilgrims Choir practice and Drum Circle. We'll meet in the Conference Room and each week pray for 15 minutes using a variety of styles of prayer.