A Message From Our Pastor, Dr. John B. Barker

Many Christians participate in the 40-day period known as Lent. The length of the period, which had been set during the 600's, recalls Jesus' 40-day wilderness fast. The word Lent comes from the old Anglo-Saxon word lengthen. Although the term originally referred to the lengthening of day-light hours due to the shift of the Earth on its axis, early Christians remembered the season in the light of their understanding of the Gospel.

These first Christians realized that Jesus' death on the cross demanded a response. Consequently, from the earliest times in church history, followers of the crucified, risen Lord used the period leading up to the greatest celebration of the year—Easter, the celebration of Christ's resurrection-as a way of lengthening their commitment to the Lord.

All traditions within Christianity insist that Christ calls for self-denial and dedication to serve others. In some communities within the Church, such self-denial and service took the specific form of forsaking meat or fasting certain days. Such relatively minor sacrifices were intended to remind believers of Christ's sacrifice. In turn, these examples of self-denial and reminders of our Lord's self-denial and service would help lengthen the Christian's consciousness of the good news of God's grace through Christ.

Lent presents an opportunity for each of us to lengthen our awareness of God's goodness through the Cross and Resurrection. Start the practice of a disciplined prayer life by setting aside a specific time in your schedule each day. Read the accounts in the Gospels of Jesus' arrest in Gethsemane, His trial, and His death. Ponder the meaning for us. Read about God's astonishing intervention into human affairs by raising Christ from the tomb. Pray that the Lord's resurrecting power may work among us, beginning with you. Worship regularly. Gather each week on what early Christians called "the Lord's Day" to hear what God has done. Offer your possessions in the form of extra giving through special sacrificial gifts to help others.

As you practice these disciplined ways of serving, you will discover that the length of Christ's caring is greater than you ever suspected! Your faith will be lengthened and strengthened. And your Lent experience may continue throughout the year!

JBB