I love all the seasons of the Christian calendar, for they are reminders of the story and celebration of Jesus (his birth, life, ministry, passion, death and resurrection). Additionally, I love all the seasons of the Christian calendar because they help the Church focus on the rhythm of the Christian year. As I've come to learn and appreciate by studying the Christian calendar over the years, there is a rhythm to the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Pentecost/Ordinary Time--each season models the life of Jesus and his ministry through the work of the apostles and the early church. The seasons of Christian calendar are informed by the Bible and are celebrated through corresponding scripture which models the life of Jesus and his ministry. After all, we are Jesus' disciples; therefore, the seasons of the Christian year help us thoroughly outline and organize our worship and study of God's Son and the work of the Holy Spirit in ways that truly help us enjoy the fullness of God's amazing love for all and our subsequent call to share that love with neighbor.
Currently, we are now in the season of Lent ("spring"), a time when the Church focuses inwardly on the need for confession, repentance, study, prayer, fasting and reflection. It is a 40-day period (starting with Ash Wednesday and ends on Maundy Thursday) that mimics Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness (where he was tempted by the Devil). With the narrative of Matt. 4:1-11 as the backdrop for the season of Lent, we, too, can trust and depend only on God during this time of prayerful introspection and humility. Many give up something that has kept them from centering their lives on Jesus while others begin new practices of Bible study and prayer. But whatever the individual choice might be, Lent gives believers the opportunity to be intentional about seeking Jesus, his cross, and to desire the sacrificial, selfless attitude of Jesus that reflects the importance of the Great Commandment--to love God with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength and to love our neighbor as we meekly love ourselves.
During this season of Lent, I'm so excited to share that I'll be preaching a sermon series entitled, "Psalm Sundays." Each of these Sundays will focus on a different Psalm and a theme that will help us remember that the journey to Christ's cross is riddled with multiple experiences of God's love for those who choose to humbly return to the Lord. Here is the sermon schedule for the season of Lent:
Feb. 26 (1st Sunday in Lent) - Psalm 32: FORGIVENESS
Mar. 5 (2nd Sunday in Lent) - Psalm 121: FREEDOM
Mar. 12 (3rd Sunday in Lent) - Psalm 95: FOREWARNING
Mar. 19 (4th Sunday in Lent) - Psalm 23: FLOURISHING
Mar. 26 (5th Sunday in Lent) - Psalm 130: FAITH
Apr. 2 (6th Sunday in Lent - Palm Sunday) - Ps. 118:1-2, 19-29: FAME
The Book of Psalms is a beautiful collection of poetry, literature and prayer. It contains multiple chapters of praise and it contains multiple chapters of lament. It speaks to the vast expanse of the human condition and nearly half of the Psalms were written by David. Broken up into five books (within the entirety of Psalms), each section carries with it reminders of the Psalmist's intimate connection with God, an honest prayer life that insisted that God be God and be glorified by meeting the needs of those suffering and struggling, in particular at the hands of those who treated the Jews unjustly. Each of the aforementioned Psalms we will review will point to God as the forgiver of sins, the provider of freedom, the admonisher of forewarning, the shepherd of flourishing, the founder of faith and the focus of fame. Each Sunday God will unpack for us more of the Lord's character and help us more clearly find ourselves as we intentionally pursue the heart of Christ and his cross. The closer we approach the cross of Christ, the more we acknowledge and understand our profound need for God and God's forgiveness, mercy and strength. "Psalm Sundays" promise to be filled with practical, spiritual opportunities to listen to the Spirit speak during our worship services, to take notes during the sermon (sermon notes inserts provided), and to use the time of Invitation to pray, to pour out your heart to Jesus and to seek him with all of your heart.
Let the Sundays in Lent, our "Psalm Sundays," be the moments when the pieces of yourself that aren't Jesus get left behind and you're left with an obedient, Christ-shaped heart. The goal of Lent is not self-improvement; please don't be fooled by the Enemy into thinking that! The goal of Lent is to draw closer to the promise of God's transformation of your heart through the study, learning and obedience to Christ and his teachings. Attend these worship services. Attend Sunday School. Attend Mathetes on Wednesday nights. Choose to read/study your own Lenten resources or ask me to provide you with some options (I'd be glad to do so!). Encourage your children and youth to do the same. Look for ways to grow with us both in-person and online and know that our collective journey to the cross will be paved with God's Word to us through the Psalms during Lent.
I can't wait to see you and find Jesus and his cross in the Psalms together during Lent. May the Lord change us, reform us, and create in us pure hearts that seek to love God and others in ways that compel us to serve our fellow brothers/sisters and our community without abandon. May this be our prayer, in Jesus' name, not only during Lent, but during all the seasons of the Christian year. Amen.
So experience Lent 2023 with us at UBC--Psalm Sundays are here and I believe that Jesus is with us. Let us offer our very best to the Savior whose cross brings us life. Amen.
God bless the Jesus of "Psalm Sundays" as we worship together,
><> Pastor Will <><
John 3:30
