DAILY LENTEN REFLECTION from the PASTOR

Lenten Journey:

Finding God in the Wilderness

As we prepare for Easter, Pastor Seok-Hwan will be sharing daily Lenten Reflections delivered right to your email inbox. Please take a moment to read them and reflect. Join us for services as you are able, either in-person at UMCW or online at www.umcw.org.

Enjoy the Problem

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10)


There is a saying that “growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional.” There is a progression to our maturity. Anthony De Mello, a Jesuit priest suggested four steps that mature people will take.


First, what people need to do is get in touch with the negative feelings of which they're not even aware. Mature people are aware of their feelings. Second, people need to understand that the feeling is inside of them. The notice of feelings in us and understanding that these feelings are in us is a sign of maturity. Thirdly, mature people never identify with that feeling. “I am not depressed but I am just experiencing depression.” I feel depression in me there right now, there are hurt feelings in me there right now, but it will pass. Fourthly, mature people finally realize the fact that they are the ones who need to change. Immature people feel good because the situation is right. Wrong! We spend all our time and energy trying to change external circumstances and everybody else. However, I am the one who makes me unhappy.  


No one will ever be able to hurt us without our permission. Get rid of our fear of failure, our tensions and just relax. We step outside of ourselves and look at depression, anxiety and fear and don't identify with them. Then we're not troubled. We're anxious but we're not troubled. 


Enjoy our problem? Yes, we can enjoy our problem because it will be no longer be our problem when we change our false beliefs in life. When we become mature people, then life is not the problem to be solved but the mystery to be celebrated.




Pastor Seok-Hwan

PRAYER

Loving God, You are our Strength in our weakness. Lord, enlighten us when bewildered, renew our faith when it is marred, uplift us in our despair, lending us solace in our grief.


ACTION

I will be aware of negative feelings and know that the feeling is in me, but I am not the feeling. I will stop trying to change the other person and external circumstances. That's a crazy and impossible task! Never identify myself with the feeling. Know that I am the one who needs to change. “Our spirituality is all about what we do with our pain. We either transmit it or are transformed by it.” (Richard Rohr)


Palm Sunday Service

April 2 at 9:30 am


In-person worship service

(music from our Youth Choir)


Online service available at www.umcw.org

Holy Thursday Service

April 6 at 7:30 pm


In-person worship service

(music from our Adult Choir)


Online pre-recorded service available at www.umcw.org

Good Friday Service

April 7 at 7:30 pm


In-person worship service

(music from our Bell Choir)


Online pre-recorded service available at www.umcw.org

Easter Services


Sunrise: April 9 at 7:00 am

In-person service outside at UMCW by the pond


Pancake Breakfast: April 9 from around 7:30-9:00 am

Our Youth Groups' Annual Pancake Easter Breakfast is back! Join us in the Fellowship Hall for delicious food and fellowship. Free will donations will be accepted to benefit the youths' summer mission.


Worship: April 9 at 9:30 am

In-person worship service

(music from our Adult Choir)


Online Easter worship service available at www.umcw.org

Our Mission Statement

“God calls us to be disciples of Jesus, building community through service and fellowship and sharing the love of Christ with all.”

 

Our Openness Statement

“The United Methodist Church of Westford is an open and welcoming community of Christian Faith. Without any exceptions, we welcome anyone who seeks to love and to serve God.”

United Methodist Church of Westford

10 Church Street, Westford, MA

978-692-4176 • office@umcw.org www.umcw.org

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