Dear Grace,  

One of the gifts of the church calendar is the season of Lent. The word “lent” means lengthen and refers to the lengthening days of spring. We observe these forty days—beginning with Ash Wednesday (Feb 18), ending with Holy Saturday (Apr 4), excluding Sundays (each Sunday is a mini Easter!)—to prepare us to celebrate Christ’s resurrection Easter Sunday (Apr 5). Lent reminds us of the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for his life of ministry.  

I love that we get ready by feasting! Bring on the sugar and fat at our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper next week! We’ll be in the Fellowship Hall 5-7pm for come and go dinner with crafts and activities for the kids. Deep thanks to our United Women in Faith for sponsoring the gathering. 

After feasting, we’ll be fasting—intentionally giving something up so we might turn our attention toward growing in love with God. Be thinking about what you’ll choose to give up—maybe a particular food or drink, perhaps a tech habit like zoning out with tv or phone scrolling time. Something you choose to set aside so you’re led to experience something more with God.  

I hope you’ll join us Ash Wednesday to mark the start of Lent. As our custom, we’ll observe a joint 7pm worship service on February 18 at Ebenezer UMC (7302 N Main St) with our fellow Greater Heights United Methodist congregations including St. Mark’s, St. Matthew’s and St. Stephen’s. I’ll lead in the service and would love to see you there bringing the Grace love.  

If you can’t make it that evening, you’re welcome to swing by campus for ashes and a blessing. At 9:30am Leonor and I will lead a chapel service in the sanctuary for our Dayschool community, and 5-6pm I’ll be at the Dayschool (1240 Yale) offering ashes on-the-go to parents.  

I’ll also be leading a neighborhood service for the clients and staff of Black Horse Health. We’ve been welcoming folks from this addiction treatment facility in worship over the last six months or so, and I’ve become their neighborhood pastor in residence. Please be praying for our Black Horse Health neighbors during Lent. 

Grace, I look forward to feasting and fasting with you—I’m so eager to see how God will be at work in you and through you.  

See you Sunday,  

Pastor Hannah