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We are halfway through our Lenten journey, Coming Back to Life. Throughout this season, we’ve been mindful of the changes in nature: like the way many animal mothers (chickens and even sea turtles) start to prepare for new babies, or how plants wake up from their winter dormancy, or birds begin to migrate and spread their songs along the way. Similarly, we are waking up from winter’s grasp to fully be present in our world and to the call of spring. Deep cleaning and de-cluttering our homes, raking up the last of leaves, prepping garden beds for future harvest—all of these activities start to gear up during these months as we prepare for more temperate weather and possibly more time spent outdoors.
All of these things can be a metaphor for our living. Even the word “Lent” comes from an old English word for “lengthen”, just as the days are getting longer. In our Lenten sermon series, we’ve considered the ways that we can come back to life through our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Not only are these the membership vows of the UMC, they are also marks of discipleship. As a community, this season we’ve been in ministries of presence and service and offered a variety of ways to express our commitment to the betterment of our surroundings—including through Denver Rescue Mission, a worship service at Brookdale, donations to UMCOR, assembling hygiene kits, spring cleaning around the church. As we experience longer days and a greater capacity for activity and action, let us consider the ways that we can leverage our communal gifts and energies for a more beautiful and peaceful world.
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