He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8
Last week we discussed growing in our faith and life. One of the primary ways we grow is through instruction.
It is no different for us as Christians.
So how are we instructed?
By being in His Word and listening to the Holy Spirit’s direction in our lives. If we listen to the same lessons and read the same words, but learn nothing in the process, we are not being faithful disciples. We are not being who God Calls us to be.
In this series we will explore the vastness of God’s love for His people, the lengths that He went through to assure our presence with Him eternally, and how that love affects us and our living.
Join us on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022, at 7:00 PM for Ash Wednesday worship and the Imposition of Ashes.
O LOVE, How Deep, How Broad, How High
“High Love, Down in the Dust”
Though we are but dust, God has loved us greatly, knowing from the beginning that our creation would cost him the suffering and death of His beloved Son.
Genesis 2:7-9
Genesis 3:17-24
The purpose of repentance is not to be swallowed up by guilt. It is to be freed from a dark and destructive direction by God’s wakening Word, and to be sent on a new path by the sin-conquering Savior. It’s what we all need.
THE REV. MIKE NEWMAN PRESIDENT OF THE TEXAS DISTRICT OF THE LC-MS
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of our Lenten journey, which culminates on Easter Sunday with the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.
On that night at worship we mark our foreheads with an ash cross and, as that cross is marked, we are reminded of our sins. As we are marked by Jesus’ sacrifice; we are drawn to the realization that “[we] are dust, and to dust [we] shall return” (Genesis 3:19).
On Ash Wednesday and throughout the season of Lent, we also focus on our sins, on repentance, and on our broken world; seeing how we and all of creation has fallen far short of God’s intention and glory.
But we do not despair because we look to the certain hope that is ours through the forgiveness of our sins given to us freely by God’s grace through faith in Jesus.
THE IMPOSITION OF ASHES
Everything we experience in life is
finite and temporal, including our own lives. As the Scripture reports, we came
from the dust of the ground and we will return to the dust of the ground. (Genesis 3:19 & Ecclesiastes 3:20)
For many centuries the use of ashes has symbolized repentance. Imposing ashes in the form of a cross on the forehead of the worshipper on Ash Wednesday is a vivid reminder that such a person has been redeemed by Christ the Crucified. It is a symbol, not primarily of our sins, but upon the forgiveness of them through faith in Jesus.
As Ash Wednesday is a somber time as we remember that Jesus willingly suffering and death come as a result of our sins and His love. As such, at the conclusion of worship that day, we exit the church in silence.
“Repentance slays selfish pride, turns us from sin’s siren call, quiets arrogant arguments, tames out-of-control egos, pulls us back from distraction, leads us to restoration of relationships, places us on the pathway of walking with God, and restores our hearts with compassion and grace.
We need this personally. We need this as schools and congregations. We need this as a District. We need this as a Synod. We need this as Christ’s Church.”
The Rev. Mike Newman President of the Texas District of the LC-MS
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8
God Calls us where we are in life, wherever and whenever that may be.
But He doesn’t want us to stay there.
He Calls us to draw closer to Him. He Calls us to grow in our faith and living. He Calls us to move from where we are to a place as close to perfection as possible this side of eternity. He Call us to a sanctified life!
May we continue to grow in our faith and life as we follow Jesus!
This Sunday, February 5, 2023, immediately following worship, we will have a special voters’ meeting.
The AGENDA is below.
AGENDA
Call to Order — President Leland
Opening Prayer — Pastor Scott
Approval of Minutes Annual Meeting on 10/30/2022 — Sherri Santoro
Description and explanation of why we’re here — Pastor Scott Suggested motion: “I move that LifeBridge Community Church extend a Call to Becky Jungklaus as a Deaconess.”
They are coming from Brookwood (great organization!) and are $10/each.
Put “Easter Lilies” in the memo line by mail or online at lifebridgesealy.com/donate. Deadline for ordering is February 19, 2023. Table for ordering at the back of the sanctuary.
These lilies will be on display at the Easter Service on April 9. (Don’t forget to pick up your lily following the Easter worship service!)
