PRESIDING BISHOP CURRY'S CALL FOR THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH TO LENT

The season of Lent is upon us. It is a season of making a renewed commitment to participate and be a part of the movement of Jesus in this world. Clarence Jorden of the Koinonia Movement many years ago wrote this: Jesus founded the most revolutionary movement in human history, a movement built on the unconditional love of God for the world, and the mandate to those who follow to live that love.
The season of Lent is upon us. It is a season of making a renewed commitment to participate and be a part of the movement of Jesus in this world. You can see some of that in the Gospel lesson for the first Sunday of Lent where Luke says that after the Baptism of Jesus he went into the wilderness, there to be tempted of Satan.
After the Baptism. Baptism is the sacrament of commitment to the Jesus Movement. It is to be washed, if you will, in the love and the reality of God, and to emerge from that great washing as one whose life is dedicated to living that love in the world.
In this season of Lent, we take some time to focus on what that means for our lives, whether it is as simple as giving up chocolate candy or as profound as taking on a commitment to serve the poor or to serve others in some new way. Whatever it is, let that something be something that helps you participate in the movement of God's love in this world following in the footsteps of Jesus.
And the truth is, the fact that Jesus was baptized and began that movement in the world and immediately found himself tempted by the devil is an ever-present reminder that this movement is not without struggle. It is not easy. The truth is, this movement is difficult. It's hard work. It's work of following Jesus to the cross. And it's work of following Jesus through the cross to the Resurrection. To new life. And new possibility. That is our calling. That is the work of the movement. To help this world move from what is often the nightmare of the world itself into the dream that God intends.
So I pray that this Lent, as they used to say many years ago, might be the first day of the rest of your life. It might be a new day for this world.
God love you. God bless you. Have a blessed Lent, a glorious Easter, and you keep the faith.

I have jumped the gun by a few days, but I hope PB Curry's message will encourage you to attend one of our Ash Wednesday services this year and enter into this time of preparation for Christ's Passion and Resurrection.

On Sunday, this time after the Epiphany will end with the texts of Jesus' Transfiguration. Our church will be dressed in white and we will sing our "alleluias" for the last time until Easter. We will also commission our newly elected Wardens, Vestry Members and our appointed Officers.

Then, on Wednesday, I shall invite you, "in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word." I hope you will avail yourself of the opportunities to deepen your Lenten practices--the Dubuque Rescue Mission meal, the five-church study group on Tuesday evenings, our Wednesday, Sunday, and Holy Week services, and the Lenten Meditation booklet with reflections written by members of our congregation.

See you in church!

Gloria+

In every life and in every community we face challenges and struggles that threaten to overwhelm us. Sometimes our response is that of the disciples - to fall asleep, or to check out of life in order to avoid the pain. But the transfiguration offers an alternative in a twofold call. Firstly, we are invited to encounter God anew, and be filled with hope and courage as we meditate on the glory of the incarnate Christ. Secondly, we are invited to open ourselves to our own transfiguration - to be transformed and to begin to reflect God's glory ourselves. Of course, as with Christ, embracing God's glory is also embracing the cross - the suffering of staying awake, and meeting our challenges head on. As we encounter the transfigured Christ again this week, may we refuse the false comfort of quick fixes, and set our minds toward the tough journey of real transformation - in our relationships, our finances, our health, our community's upliftment, and the trajectories of our nation and our world.

The thumbnails and reflections excerpted from sacredise.com

UNITED CHURCHES OF GALENA FOOD PANTRY

The next River Bend Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry will take place on March 23rd at Cross Roads Community Church. Volunteers are always needed. Come at 10 am to volunteer. Food recipients register beginning at 10:15 and distribution begins at 11.