Thursday, February 16, 2023

Hello everyone,

The session met again last night about both governance and budget.  It was a difficult meeting but the session showed leadership.  The session had received a beautiful and powerful letter from the Treasurer helping us to realize we have been here before in terms of budget deficits and calling us towards a hopeful realism.  The letter will be included as an addendum to the annual report.

I could write pages about all of this right now, but the congregation is gathering for the annual meeting on Sunday, February 26 at 11:15 a.m. following the worship service and the annual report is now available for you to read.  The budget for the coming year as well as a few other items including Diana’s letter mentioned above will all be available this coming Sunday.  I will ask Mel to include all of it as an attachment to her regular weekly e-blast.

In the midst of all of this I invite you to prepare for the season of Lent.  It begins with Ash Wednesday, on February 22.  The first Sunday in Lent is February 26.  Lent is a season of reflection, calling on us to recognize the hurt and the pain there is in the world and to walk with those who experience that suffering.  Lent is not easy, but it is a powerful and deeply spiritual experience.  In a very real way we cannot fully appreciate Easter – that day of joy and hope and promise and celebration without first walking through Lent.  Lent helps us to know that suffering is a common human experience – that to touch someone else’s pain is to recognize our shared humanity.  It takes courage to do so.  Lent is not for the faint hearted. Opening ourselves up by being vulnerable and actually willing to feel the pain of another person breaks down barriers and transforms us into people of hope and solidarity.  My prayer for you this Lent and Easter season is exactly that.

To help you in the journey of Lent, Barb Molengraaf has compiled a list of movies you may want to watch.  Barb and I have spend some of our evening watching most of these.  They are movies that open our eyes, call out our vulnerability and invite us into transformation.  I offer you this ‘From Barb’s Corner’

‘Lent asks us to reflect on who we are and where are we at in our relationship with God during these 40 days. I always appreciate someone sharing a movie or show that challenges me to think and weigh in on issues. So here is a list of movies and shows you may wish to watch during this Season of Lent.’

Movies

The Freedom Writers - with Hilary Swank-Amazon

The Two Popes - Netflix

The Way - with Martin Sheen -Netflix

UP - Disney Channel

Green Book - Amazon $3.99

Where Crawdads sing - Amazon

The Shack - Netflix

Yes Day- Netflix

CODA - Apple TV.

The year earth changed - Apple TV

TV Shows

Voices of Fire- Netflix

Dear…(letters) Apple TV

Queer Eye- Netflix

Self Maid -Netflix

The Morning Show- Apple TV

I hope you can be blessed by this list!

Take care everyone.  God bless and journey well through Lent

Marty