See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come (Song 2:11-12a, NIV)
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Dear Friends,
Well we made it! We survived Snow-mageddon 2019! Thank you for your graciousness during this recent snowy period, where we canceled a church service and changed times and days for some of our small-group classes. We do appreciate this. Isn’t it great though to see crocuses, daffodils and other spring flowers already popping up? A reminder that winter is not forever and that also includes those wintery seasons of our own lives. Praise be to God, that he brings Spring with all its color and growth into our lives.
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As we look forward to Spring, we also look forward to the upcoming Lent Season and Easter. What a joy it is, to be able to remember that which Christ has accomplished for us at the cross. To begin the Lent Season, we will be observing Ash Wednesday, next Wednesday (March 6th) at GCC, at 6pm. This will be a brief but meaningful service, that invites us to consider Christ’s journey to the cross and also consider his own call to us personally, “to take up our crosses and follow him.” We will be offering the administration of ashes. Feel free to take these, or not take these, as you feel most comfortable. I still remember the first time that I had ashes placed on my own forehead in the form of a cross, which was about 7 years ago. I also remember how meaningful this was (and continues to be), to identify with the cross of Jesus in this way. Of course, wearing the cross on our foreheads is simply a symbol of a greater reality – that we participate in the cruciform life of Christ each and every day, as we continually die to our sins and live in Christ’s abundant and victorious resurrected life. Please do join us for this simple service, even if you do not wish to receive the ashes. We will be concluding our service, by enjoying soup together in GCC’s library at about 6:30pm.
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Soup Dinner Following
Our Recent Church Fast
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Enjoying A Recent
Church Potluck Lunch
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Before you know it though, Easter itself will be upon us. As I mentioned yesterday we will be hosting our Easter Service in the Gardiner Community Center this year, so that we will have plenty of space to host more people, if needed. If you would like to be part of a group singing a special item for Easter (and possibly Good Friday) please let me know - guys are also wanted! It was lovely to have a quartet sing for Christmas Eve, and I’m hoping to have even more folks sing for Easter. Let’s shout out the victory of our Resurrection King!
Yesterday we had our Annual Business Meeting, and we are delighted to welcome Sharon Janssen and Dennis Martin as our newly elected elders. We pray God’s blessing on you both as you serve in this way. A hearty thank-you also to Tom Ord and Donna Harrison who have both just finished their terms as elders. We are grateful for you both, and for your ministry among us. Yesterday we also voted and approved some updates to our constitution.
As we look forward to March and all that it brings, let us look to the Lord with gratitude for all that he is doing among us, and for each one of us. Let us also give thanks for Christ’s work on the cross, as we begin our journey into the Lenten Season. “Now thanks be to God for His indescribable gift [which is precious beyond words]!” (2 Corinthians 9:15, AMP).
Blessings in Christ,
Caleb
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