Heads-up – Holy Week Choir!
It’s time for the choir to start getting ready for Holy Week!
We’ll have music for Maundy Thursday (March 28), Good Friday (March 29), and Easter Sunday (March 31). Rehearsal times are TBD, but recordings will be available to practice at home even if you can’t make rehearsals. Shoot me a quick note if you’re interested, and I’ll keep you in the loop!
February 13, 2024
Dear Friends,
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:16-24).
Fasting for Lent is a good exercise. It’s good, not for dietary or health reasons, but because it disciplines your flesh. At its root, fasting is simply going hungry. When you feel hunger and choose not to eat, you’re saying “no” to your appetite. Normally, your appetite for food is a good thing – you need food in order to live. But it’s also an opportunity to practice saying “no” when the stakes are low.
It’s like training for a sport. You practice the skills and run the plays when there’s no opponent on the field and there’s no pressure to win. You practice and practice so that on game day, when it matters, the skills are second nature and the plays run themselves.
Fasting is practice in saying “no” to a healthy appetite, so that when sinful appetites and desires show up, the skill of saying “no” is second nature and your defensive play runs itself. You practice crucifying your flesh when the stakes are low, so that when temptation is knocking and sin is crouching at the door, you are ready to rule over it.
But saying “no” is hard, and that’s where all the Christian disciplines come into play. When you feel hungry, take it as a reminder to pray. Give thanks to God for your daily bread. Take it as an opportunity to open the Scriptures and feed on God’s Word. Take it as a chance to share what you have with others who are in need. Take it as evidence that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Take it as an occasion to confess your sins and receive forgiveness from God. Turn your attention from your hunger to the reward promised by your heavenly Father – righteousness and the treasures of his kingdom.
How to do it? It really is as simple as letting yourself go hungry for a bit. Skip a meal. Cut down your portions. Or say “no” to something that you normally say “yes” to.
Do it during Lent, and see if God doesn’t reward you just as he has promised he will.
God bless and keep you,
Pr. Buchs
COMING EVENTS:
Wednesday, February 14
9:30 am – Chapel
10:00 am – Bible Study
5:30 pm – Chili Dinner & Family Night
7:00 pm – Ash Wednesday Divine Service
Sunday, February 18
9:00 am – Divine Service
10:30 am – Sunday School/Bible Study
Wednesday, February 21
9:30 am – Chapel
10:00 am – Bible Study
6:00 pm – Small Catechism Bible Study
7:00 pm – Evening Prayer (Midweek Lenten Service)