This Week from Mitch

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Mardi Gras is next Tuesday and I am excited. Fat Tuesday is one of my favorite days of the year. I truly enjoy it and I am looking forward to seeing everyone at our Mardi Gras Potluck, Tuesday night at 6:00 pm. Bring your favorite Cajun-themed dish to share.

Celebrating Mardi Gras also means that Lent is soon upon us. Lent is a time when the people of the church are asked to re-center their lives on Christ. To do this we are called to a time of penitence and forgiveness, a time of study and meditation, a time of worship and service. For me, Lent is always both a hard time and a special time. It's hard to look deeply at oneself and see places where we may be in sin. It is also liberating to acknowledge one's faults and begin to work on them. This working on one's self makes Lent a time of growth.

As Christians we are called to gather in Christ's name (worship), to give in Christ's name (service, mission, stewardship), and to grow in Christ's name. We grow through prayer, reconciliation, and learning.

During Lent, we will have an opportunity for all of these things. I encourage you to participate fully. I look forward to seeing you on Fat Tuesday and again on Ash Wednesday when we will be invited into a Holy Lent.

In Christ,

Mitch+