I hope to share it with you when I return, but for now, in absentia, please allow me to pop into your day to encourage you to participate fully if you can in the deep spiritual pilgrimage of Lent that is upon us. Southport UMC always tries to help make this journey even more profound and meaningful, so I hope you'll consider coming to any and all events that are in store.
Tonight, for example, Tuesday, February 21, is known as Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday, and is the official last evening before Lent begins. We are hosting a Pancake Dinner from 5:30-7:30, and it is open to you and to anyone you might want to invite and bring along. The dinner is being organized by the fundraising team of our "What If" campaign, so there will be the opportunity to contribute to help us pay off our mortgage debt, but it is a free meal and an opportunity for a time of fellowship in the Gathering Area with members and friends of our church.
Tomorrow night, Wednesday, February 22, at 7:00, is our Ash Wednesday service in the sanctuary. The intent of this service is always to remind us of our mortality, but also of our immortality and hope through Christ. In addition to Brandon Collins, our Assistant Pastor, and Rhonda Collins, our Music and Worship Director, and choir, being present, we will also have Rev. Bert Kite here to help with the communion and ashes. Bert was the Senior Pastor here a few years ago, and I have gotten to know and love him and his wife Debbie in recent years. It will be a special evening.
Then we're going to have what I believe will be an exciting 5-week study every Tuesday, starting February 28. We'll have a small meal beforehand at 6:00, think "Taco Tuesday," followed by our study at 7:00. It has the title "Body Parts: Anatomy of a Church." We are formatting this to be highly interactive, with not only Brandon and me leading, but others in our congregation as well, such as Doug Shinkle and Sherry Davis. We will be thinking about questions like, "What does it mean to be a Christian and member of a church?" and "Where is our church going in the next few years?" I feel strongly that this is a study that you, that everyone who is part of the church, needs to be involved in.
So, from about 6,200 miles away, please allow me to encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities to make the most of this season of Lent, as we begin our journey. I'm on a pilgrimage in Israel and will soon be re-joining you for the remainder of our pilgrimage together leading up to Easter.
Grace and Hope to you. See you soon
