Dear Friends,
“Lent is less about what we give up than what we become.” – The Rev. David Teschner

Walking in the desert is not an easy task. As we know, it is steeped with danger that can zap the soul of its very will to live.  The Spirit led Jesus into the desert for forty days and nights to face temptations and to persevere. In all his human vulnerability, Jesus was no different to the temptations than the rest of us.  The season of Lent is representative of this time of trial and a time for us, in our suffering, to discover our dependence on God and the gift of grace to sustain us. We focus on the transformation that can take place during our journey in the wilderness that draws us closer to God.

You will notice during the season of Lent that our worship area has changed. We see the penitential color of purple in the linens. We will not have fresh flowers on the retable, but rather dried flowers, sticks and other items that represent the desert.  (Thank you, Halsey Dillard for providing these wonderful arrangements.) The baptismal font will be void of water, just as the desert. We will long during this time for what sustains us, knowing that it is God who provides.

Many of us will give up things during Lent that we enjoy or add disciplines that help us grow in our love and knowledge of God. What we become at the end or our time in the wilderness is far more important than what we give up. Suffering can lead us to a place far greater in Christ. As we observe a holy Lent, by self examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting and self-denial; and by reading and meditation on God’s holy Word (pg. 265, BCP) may we rejoice in what we will become.  God’s grace will be our guide through the perils of the desert and beyond.

Blessings,
Gini+

Dear Friends,
This month we will begin the season of Lent. On Ash Wednesday, February 14, we are invited “in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.” (BCP p. 265)

This Lent I would like for us to pay particular attention to our individual prayer lives and what that means to us. I am often asked why do we pray? If God knows our desires and needs then why is it necessary to pray? Prayer, as we know from the Catechism (BCP p. 856), is responding to God, by thought and by deeds, with or without words. The principal kinds of prayer are adoration, praise, thanksgiving, penitence, oblation, intercession and petition.

I believe that Soren Kierkegaard stated it best when he said “Prayer doesn’t change God, it changes the one who prays.” When we pray, we are acknowledging our relationship with God and our need for God. We cannot tell God what to do or who to heal, but we can draw closer in our dependence with the One who can. When we communicate with God we become aligned with God’s will, our desires, fears, hopes and wants are known and received.

For many years Birdie Lighthiser has overseen our Prayer Vine. Many of you have reached out to Birdie for prayer requests and have been the recipient of these prayers. We are strengthened by knowing that so many are interceding on our behalf or on behalf of a loved one. The time has come for us to continue this great ministry in another way. Knowing the importance of this ministry, we will now be overseeing it through our church office. Wendy and I will be sending the requests to our church family who are committed to praying for one another. You may join this group or be removed from the group at any time.

We also have a prayer list that is included in our weekly bulletins and The Messenger Newsletter. Starting this month, we will be managing this list differently. The list will be divided between Church Members and Family and Friends of Church Members. If you would like for a name to be included on the list, please notify the church office. Names will be included for a specified period of time and then will be removed, unless you request longer. We are going to start the list over so that names that have been placed on the list for a particular circumstance that are no longer needed may be removed. Since we are not aware of all of these situations all names will come off and we will begin again. When adding someone to the prayer list, please make sure that the recipient has given their permission to be included. When the hospital stay, treatment or situation has ended, please let us know so that we can give thanks and remove the name from the list. See enclosed form.

As we draw nearer to God through Christ and the Holy Spirit during this Lenten season, let us remember that through communicating in prayer, we will be changed. If you would like to discuss your personal prayer life or would like suggestions for new ways to talk with God, please let me know. I am more than happy to discuss this.

Blessings,
Gini+

Dear Friends,
I am a list maker and a goal setter. I love New Year’s because I take the opportunity to assess my goals from the previous year and to set new ones for the one ahead. Although I cannot fully check the completed box for all my goals from 2023, I am pleased with my progress and will keep them before me in 2024.

Top of my list in 2024 is to try to increase my observance of God’s creation and to provide better care where I am able. At the clergy conference this past fall, we had former Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori as our keynote speaker. Her science background laid the foundation for how we need to be better stewards of God’s gifts. At first, I could not embrace all that she was placing before us. Then I became overwhelmed by the abundance of need in our world. I concluded the conference by committing to do what I can do personally to make a difference. I have not turned into “Captain Planet”, but I have a far better understanding about how a little change can make a big difference.

Since the conference, I have limited my use of plastic water bottles and now drink from reusable bottles. I recycle more items. I use washable silverware instead of plastic when possible. When using disposable products, I try to use paper instead of plastic and dispose of it in a way that it will be recycled. I request paper bags instead of plastic in the grocery store when I forget to take my reusable bags. These are small steps, but one at a time I will strive to be better.

On January 27, the Vestry and I will meet to set our goals for Manakin Episcopal Church for 2024. We would love to hear from you as to what you feel that we should accomplish in the year ahead. In what areas do we need improvement? How can we be better stewards of God’s creation at Church and in our homes?

Happy New Year!

Blessings,
Gini+