Why Jesus? This is the title of the book that we will be pulling our sermons from during Lent. William Willimon asks us in the introduction, “Who is Jesus?” If you met someone who had never heard of Jesus before, how would you tell him or her about Jesus? Willimon describes Jesus as a Jewish man who worked in Judea. He called disciples, told stories, had compassion for the suffering, was a notorious troublemaker who went to a lot of parties, and was tortured to death after a short run as a wandering rabbi. But is that all Jesus is? Why do billions of people follow Jesus? Why do people sing songs to Jesus? Why have great cathedrals been erected and masterpieces of art created to honor Jesus? Who was Jesus? Who is Jesus?

Maybe a more important question is, “Who is Jesus to you? What difference does Jesus make in your life?”

We will spend the next six Sundays exploring who Jesus was, and what difference he makes in our lives today. I was intrigued by this book which expanded my thinking about Jesus. As one who has grown up in the church and pursued a theological education, you might think I have it all figured out. But I do not. And that is one of the compelling things to me about this life of faith in Jesus. We never arrive. There is always room to grow in our understanding and in our living. Willimon concludes his Introduction with this statement, “Be warned: in reading this book, you are taking a risk of getting discombobulated, commandeered, and befriended by the most interesting person in the world.” Will you join me on this journey with Jesus this Lent season?

It is my hope that as we journey toward Easter this year, we will get to know Jesus better and allow ourselves to be transformed.

Walking on the path of grace,
Pastor Patti

What is Lent? According to our United Methodist tradition:

“Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten, which means “spring.” The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry. Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter” and the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.” http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/what-is-lent-and-why-does-it-last-forty-days

I think of Lent as that season in our Christian year to grow deeper in faith; through study, devotion, fasting, service, or prayer. Historically, in the early church, it was a time to teach new believers the doctrines of the church in preparation for baptism. Thus, traditionally, many churches, including ours, offer special studies during Lent. Sami and I will be preaching from a book called Why Jesus? by William H. Willimon. The premise is that Jesus is the most fascinating person in the world who has made a huge impact. How do we describe Jesus? Who was he? What did he accomplish? What difference does that make in our lives today? I was intrigued as I read this book at how much more I have to learn about Jesus. I will be leading a study in this book on Wednesday evenings at Covenant. Join us for a soup supper and discussion. All are welcome. We have several other studies going and starting that could help deepen your faith. See if any sound intriguing to you.

Or perhaps, you don’t need to add one more thing to your already busy life. Perhaps to draw closer to God you need to stop doing something. I talked to a colleague today who has put all meetings and small groups on hiatus for Lent in order that his church people might have time to rest, to be with their families, to take up a new hobby, to renew their spirit, to invest in relationships at work or in the neighborhood. Is there something you need to stop doing, in order to draw closer to God?

Or perhaps, in order to grow in faith, you need to take the focus off of yourself and onto others in the form of service. Is there some way you can intentionally help others this Lent season? Jesus constantly taught us to be with the poor, the lost, the lonely, the sick. How might you share the love of God with others in service?

Lent, a holy season of the year. What might you do or not do, in order to draw closer to God over the next 40 or so days? I pray as we embark on this season that we might discover the abundant life Jesus promises each one of us.

Walking on the path of grace,
Pastor Patti

What is Your Spiritual Type?

These beginnings aren’t just at baptisms. One of the best ways to explore ways God is moving you toward leadership is through spiritual gifts inventories and simple quizzes. The Living Prayer Center, a ministry of The Upper Room, which is the publishing house of the Walk to Emmaus curriculum, offers a spiritual-type test to help with discerning. The test consists of 15 questions and four possible results: Sage, Lover, Prophet, and Mystic.

Your first challenge: to take a couple minutes and take this spiritual test! It may surprise you! I just took it and my result was Sage. It says I value responsibility, logic, and order. I love words, busy schedules, and details. My contributions are usually found in theology, education, and publishing. It also says I need to break a rule or two once in a while to not be dry!

Go to http://prayer-center.upperroom.org/resources/quiz and discover what your spiritual type is. What did you learn about yourself? Where does your type pull you in our communities’ leadership?

Your second challenge: tell me what your type is! Let’s find you a place to explore that spiritual type! Maybe there is a book you want to study or a community project you would like to support. As we begin this year, let’s begin some new ministries together!

Peace,
Pastor Sami

We are only three weeks into 2018 and it feels like months! I think because I have been hearing story after story of trauma, stress, and difficulty. My daughter Amanda is living right in the midst of the mudslides in Montecito, CA. Each day she tells me about the death and destruction as well as the hope and life. They go hand in hand. I have been following the disturbing stories of the gymnasts and athletes who suffered abused at the hands of a pedophile doctor. As much as my heart breaks, I also have been inspired by their courage and power in telling their stories. What has struck me in all of this is the evidence of the faithfulness and everlasting love of God in the midst of all the pain. I also have been hearing stories of cancer, untimely deaths, and other traumas. But in each story is a thread strength, love, courage, and hope. A light shining through the broken cracks. Alongside all this trauma I have been studying the life of Jonah…you know the guy who ended up in the belly of a big fish! His story has wide swings between curse and blessing, obedience and rebellion. The imagery in his prayer is powerful and has grabbed ahold of my heart. It conveys the turmoil he was in as well as the hope he holds on to from the bottom of the sea.

Jonah’s Prayer (Jonah 2:1-6 NLT)

“I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble,
    and he answered me.
I called to you from the land of the dead,
    and Lord, you heard me!
³ You threw me into the ocean depths,
    and I sank down to the heart of the sea.
The mighty waters engulfed me;
    I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves.
⁴ Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence.
    Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’

⁵ “I sank beneath the waves,
    and the waters closed over me.
    Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.
⁶ I sank down to the very roots of the mountains.
    I was imprisoned in the earth,
    whose gates lock shut forever.
But you, O Lord my God,
    snatched me from the jaws of death!

So, for those of you out there who feel like you are sinking in a sea of waves, facing turmoil of your own, may you find hope and comfort in Jonah’s prayer. Make it your own, holding onto a thread of faith, trusting in God, even from the bottom of the sea. And may we all lift one another up with love and compassion, for we never know what people are going through.

Walking on the path of grace,

Pastor Patti