February 5, 2026

Lent will be upon us soon
Ash Wednesday is less than two weeks away and Lent, of course will follow. Lent is our opportunity to repent, or rethink the way we live our lives and try again. Sometimes that involves giving up the excesses that have accumulated in our lives. They may be physically unhealthy practices, like drinking to excess, eating highly processed prepared foods, smoking. We might repent of psychological excesses like overconsumption of social media, or unhealthy obsession with bodyweight or the stream of news. Most especially we repent of spiritual excesses like wrath that is empty of love, despair that is empty of prayer, prayer that is empty of listening, and faith that is empty of action. Repentance, though is not just about giving up an old way of life, it is also a resolution to begin a way of living.

As Lauri, Sharon, Michelle, and I have planned for the coming Lenten season, we have assembled an assortment of opportunities that any of us might use to lead us into repentance – thinking, living, and acting in a new and considered way. We have used the words of the prophet Micah that we heard this past Sunday as our inspiration: “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

In the weeks ahead, we will be talking about ways we can do these things as individuals, and offering opportunities to do them together as a church. Some one-time events will be scheduled later. Other, more regular Lenten opportunities can go on your calendars now:

Ash Wednesday Services:  
12:00 pm and 7:00 pm in the church

Choir led Evensong (Holden Evening Prayer):  
Sundays in Lent at 5:00 pm in the church

Book Study:  
Tuesday evenings at 7:00 online
(“Mysteries of Faith” by Mark McIntosh)

Noonday prayer
Wednesdays of Lent at 12:00 pm in the church and online

We will also be encouraging us all to practice walking humbly throughout the season by regularly visiting the labyrinth and/or walking the Way of the Cross and asking the questions, “How can I walk this way in my life? At work? As I protest? As I grieve? As I hope?”. The labyrinth, of course, is always open, and we’ll keep the church open and available for prayer during regular office hours. Watch for upcoming opportunities to learn about these practices, to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk together in many ways.