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Show r Pastor tells 'What is Lent l By REV. ERIC V. KAELBERER ; Pastor Cross of Christ Lutheran Church ; The word "Lent" comes from ; the Latin word for "Spring." Lent is a time for new beginnings. But ; just as the flowers bud each spring : and the trees once again produce : their fruit it is from their barren ; branches that the fruit comes. Lent is when we acknowledge : our sin and the need for Christ f Jesus as our Savior. It is the time t when we prune the branches of our 'i life and watch in wonder as the X Lord of Life renews us through the gift of His forgiveness for our sins. Lent is the time the Church sets aside to take special note of our need for the Savior and the gift of His faithful forgiveness. The cross of Christ is at the center of everything every-thing we do during Lent. Or, to quote from the order of service suggested for Ash Wednesday which is found in our Lutheran Worship book: "Dear brother and sister of our Lord Jesus Christ, on this day the Church begins a holy season of prayerful and penetential reflection. reflec-tion. Our attention is especially directed to the holy sufferings and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. "From ancient times the season of Lent has been kept as a time of special devotion, self-denial, and humble repentance born of a faithful faith-ful heart that dwells confidently on His Word and draws from it life and hope. "Let us pray that our dear Father in heaven, for the sake of His beloved Son and in the power of His Holy Spirit, might richly bless this Lententide for us that we may come to Easter with glad hearts and keep the feast (of our forgiveness) in sincerity and truth." That short introduction says it: Lent truly is a time when we turn our hearts to the God of Holy Scripture and there, through repentance, re-pentance, "dwell confidently on His Word" from which we draw our life and our hope. Many churches in the area will be conducting special services this Lent. For anyone interested in joining at Cross of Christ, special mid-week Lenten services will be held each Wednesday evening from Feb. 17-March 30 at 7:30. Everyone is invited to join then, or for Sunday worship at 10:15 a.m. For more information please call 295-7677. |