I chuckled a bit the other day when someone told me that they had the opportunity to inform Van Gardener, the Pastor of Grace Baptist Church, that Grace’s outside carillon bells were about 15 seconds behind our own carillon bells’ hourly ringing. Actually, our bells are a few seconds behind the occasional, as well as labored, clanging of the Courthouse bells in downtown Decatur. Nevertheless, it is a blessing to hear the bells of the two churches playing some of the great church music throughout each day. The bells serve as a reminder of God’s presence and our invited attention to our faith throughout the day. A great spiritual rhythm, if you will, for those who are within earshot and paying attention.

Speaking of rhythms and paying attention, the season of Lent began March 1, 2017, with Ash Wednesday. The season is considered an important time for penance and reflection, as well as discernment and preparation. It is an intentional time for Christians to prepare for Easter, but we challenge ourselves to spend 40 days, symbolic of Jesus’ journey through the wilderness (it takes us six weeks since we don’t count Sundays as a part of the 40 days), to prepare. It offers Christians a rhythm, and a greater spiritual awareness of the meaning of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. It is an opportunity to open ourselves and grow closer to God and who God is calling us to be as followers of Christ Jesus.

This year, our Bishop, Mike McKee, is offering a Lenten devotion and challenge that is called “Walking Together: A Lenten Journey to End Poverty.” This opportunity is exciting to me because those who wish to make this symbolic journey during Lent, will receive a daily devotion either by email or through their own downloaded devotion guide (depending on which version each person chooses) and will ultimately be challenged to help end poverty in two zip codes within our annual conference (South Dallas/Fair Park and Clarksville/Red River County). The daily devotions will often include a video link for a brief connection to the author of each day’s devotion, for those who use the electronic version of the devotion. Hearing the stories and seeing the faces of our neighbors is a wonderful way to experience our faith and feel a part of the rhythm of the Lenten season.

With so many people engaged in this spiritual journey, it is hoped the small monetary sacrifices that each of us can make across our annual conference will have a strong impact on the poverty in those targeted zip codes. While the Bishop is challenging each of us to offer the equivalent of one hour’s salary or pay each week for six weeks, maybe you are able to offer the equivalent of what you might spend for a daily lunch as an alternative. If you would like to make a contribution, in whatever amount you are able as a part of the journey, you can make a note on your gift to the church by indicating “Bishop’s Lenten Challenge 2017.” That way the church can include your gifts in your giving statement and you can “give up poverty for Lent.”

To get started, you can follow the link on our church’s website, Facebook page, or go to the website created by the North Texas Conference for this Lenten journey www.walkingtogetherntc.org. I will be adding this devotion to my daily routine and reminding myself each afternoon that not only do I have a spiritual opportunity to hear and grow through this Lenten

See you in worship,
Brian