March Pastoral Letter

Dear friends in Christ,

“In like a lion and out like a lamb.” That’s March in the northern hemisphere, where it tends to be very harsh and unpleasant in the beginning but milder and more palatable at the end.

Today, as March begins, we hear the news of an unprovoked act of war as Russian troops invade Ukraine. Citizens, living their lives, raising their children, working in their jobs, today huddle in train stations and bomb shelters, trapped in cities as bombs fall around them. 

I fear that in the days ahead, we will witness heartbreaking carnage and senseless death.

We watch in anger and horror, in disbelief, wondering what we can do.

We do what people of faith do: we pray.

God of Peace,

In the face of terrible violence in Ukraine:

We pray for global leaders to stand firm, and do all that they can to protect innocent human life.

We pray for the people of Ukraine, that they are spared trauma, violence and death.

We pray for Ukrainian soldiers doing what they can to hold off Russian advances.

We pray for European democratic leaders, that they hold strong to their unity and stand on the values of democracy.

We pray for the Russian soldiers, that they act with compassion and restrain their great capacity for harm.

We pray the Russian people rise up and say, “No!” to violence, aggression and war.

We pray for safety.

We pray for retreat.

We pray for peace.*

We pray without ceasing.

We pray, God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

“In like a lion and out like a lamb.” That’s Lent on the Christian calendar.

On March 2, the season of Lent begins with penitence and ends with praise. During Lent, we walk with Jesus all the way to the cross, looking forward to April 17, when we will celebrate his resurrection from the dead.  This means that, in the end, the lamb is more powerful than the lion.

But, how do we walk through Lent when the darkness around us is deep?

We do what people of faith do: we follow Jesus. 

This Lent, we are invited on a journey of faith.

This Lent, we will read sacred texts that are brimming with a gospel of grace.

This Lent, we will use a devotional with art, reflections, and poetry.

This Lent, we will pray with daily devotional cards and share with neighbors.

This Lent begins with worship on Ash Wednesday (7 PM) 

and includes Evening Prayer services each Tuesday (7 PM).

This Lent, let us worship and pray, serve and grow in faith.

This Lent, let us trust--fully--that we belong to God.

This Lent is an expansive one that promises to fill our cups–overflowing with God’s grace and love and peace–the peace that passes understanding, the peace the world cannot give, the peace we only find in Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.

Prayerfully on the journey of Lent with you,

Pastor Donna

*Prayer by Rev. Cameron Trimble