According to the Christian calendar, today is Ash Wednesday. Today begins the season of Lent, which continues for forty days and six Sundays prior to Easter Day! Lent comes from the Old English word lencten, meaning the lengthening of days in spring. Lent is a season of discipline, reflection, and abstinence, remembering Jesus’s self-denial. It is a season of confession and repentance.
Solomon said in Proverbs 28:13, “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” David also prays in Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” David truly was repentant!
To be “contrite” does not mean “feeling bad” about sin but feeling crushed under the weight of guilt for what we have done. It means a genuine disgust of our sin, as well as a determination to do differently.
A man once wrote a letter to the Canadian IRS saying, “I haven’t been able to sleep lately because when I filed my income tax, I deliberately misrepresented my income. I am enclosing a check for $150.00, and if I still can’t sleep, I’ll send you the rest!” That’s not contrition! Contrition is a deep repentance that takes ownership of one’s sin; an ownership that brings about brokenness. “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.” (Psalm 51:3)
How else but through a broken heart may Jesus enter in? David goes on in Psalm 51:7, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” The Hebrew word for “wash” is not the word used for simply washing your face or rinsing a dish. It refers to the washing of clothes by beating and pounding them against a rock or a scrub board. David is praying for a thorough cleansing from sin and from the dullness that it brings. He prays in Psalm 51:10-12, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
As we enter into this season of Lent, may we spend time reflecting on our sin, turning from it and turning in faith to God, who through Jesus Christ, forgives our sin and opens the door for us to enter the Kingdom of God.
SUNDAY WORSHIP
THIS SUNDAY we will meet once again at 2910 West Main Street for our worship service at 9:30 a.m. We will Live Stream the service on Facebook and our website.
Pastor Glen’s sermon will be “Pursuing God,” based upon Matthew Matthew 6:16-18. Please read this text in preparation for worship!
This Sunday we will also celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism for one adult and two children!!
We will expect individuals and families to follow appropriate social distancing guidelines. We want to be respectful of our brothers and sisters. You will need to bring and wear protective masks while entering and moving about the building. We will not pass an offering plate (an offering plate will be available for your tithes and offerings). Online giving opportunities are available on the website.
Children are welcome but families must sit together.
NURSERY IS NOW AVAILABLE
We are pleased to offer a nursery for children through pre-school. The nursery is in the Sunday school area.
CONGREGATIONAL GATHERING
An important congregational gathering will be held THIS SUNDAY immediately after worship to discuss the building process. For members who are unable to attend the gathering in person, there will be a Zoom link to participate. E-mail Pastor Glen to get an invitation for the Zoom meeting link.
THE CHOSEN STUDY SERIES IS COMING!!
We are excited to be offering an 8-week Small Group Bible Study series based on the popular DVD series, The Chosen. The small groups will begin on March 3rd. Small groups will either meet virtually through Zoom meetings or in person (at the church or in someone’s home), depending on what works best for each participant. Pastor Glen will be basing his messages each Sunday on the series, beginning on February 28th!! Please check out the information on our website and SIGN-UP!!!
BABY BOTTLE CAMPAIGN
We are once again participating in ComfortCare Women’s Health Baby Bottle Campaign, in order to raise support for their life-saving services and ministry with women. ComfortCare is a ministry that specializes in the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of unplanned pregnancy.
Baby bottles are still available for you to save your change. You may pick them up at the church. We will collect the baby bottles on February 28, 2021. If you would like to contribute to ComfortCare Women’s Health, you can also make checks payable to Hope Community Church and put in the memo “Baby Bottle Campaign.”