A Call to Spiritual Renewal this Lenten Season
by Rev. Dr. Matthew M. Williams, Senior Pastor
As the crisp air whispers the nearing of spring, we find ourselves on the cusp of a profoundly sacred time in the Christian calendar. Lent, the forty-day period before Easter, beckons us from Ash Wednesday through Holy Week, offering a path to spiritual renewal and deeper communion with our faith.
This Lenten Season is not just a period; it’s an invitation—a gentle call to delve into the core of our discipleship, to walk alongside Jesus on His solemn journey to the cross. It’s a time for introspection and growth, a wilderness journey where we can retreat into the depths of our hearts and the soul of our community. In this season of humility and contemplation, you’ll notice the echoes of this spirit in the musical selections during our services, and in the weekly prayers of confession—a communal commitment to seeking forgiveness and grace.
Ash Wednesday marks the inception of this reflective journey. Mirroring the Israelites’ forty years of wandering and Jesus’ own forty days of contemplation, Ash Wednesday is a poignant reminder of our own spiritual pilgrimages. On this day, from 6:00 to 7:30 AM, the church portico will become a space of solemn reflection as ashes are imposed—a sacred tradition symbolizing our devotion to prayer and penance. Coffee will be provided and all are invited to stop by on the way to work or your days activities.
As the day unfolds, we will gather in the Sanctuary at 6:30 PM for the Ash Wednesday service, a time to unite in prayer and receive the imposition of ashes. This service is not the end but the beginning of a deeper exploration, as it leads into the Stations of the Cross in James Chapel—a journey through Jesus’ final steps, inviting us to reflect on the magnitude of His sacrifice and love.
In this season of reflection and renewal, the Trinity United Methodist Congregation extends a heartfelt invitation to each of you. Join us in exploring the depths of your faith through our daily Lenten devotional book, written and compiled with love and prayer by our very own congregation members. It’s more than a book; it’s a companion for your journey, a tapestry of reflections, prayers, and insights to guide and enrich your Lenten experience.
This Lent, let us walk together in faith and fellowship, embracing the stillness, the introspection, and the communal journey toward the cross. Let this season be a time of spiritual awakening and renewal, as we each embark on our own paths of reflection, devotion, and growth. Your presence, your voice, and your heart are integral parts of this journey. Join us, as together, we tread the sacred path of Lent with open hearts and hopeful spirits.