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Lent 2012

A Time of Healing

An unseasonably warm January together with a modestly early Lent conspire this year to give the impression that Spring is just around the corner when, in fact, it is more likely to be around the corner and then miles down the road. When, a few weeks ago, our clergy and program staffs met to make plans for Lent and Easter, the smell of Christmas greens was still lingering in Jones Commons, Guild Hall and the Sanctuary—and there was an air of unreality about it all. Nevertheless, Ash Wednesday will fall on February 22, and with it we will begin—once again—the 40-day journey toward Christianity’s signal celebration: the day of New Life.

"Progressive faith healing the world," has been the theme we’ve traced thus far in this program year, and for the six weeks in Lent we will look more closely at the idea and experience of healing in its many forms. In sermons, prayers and music, we will think together about how broken things become mended, how wounded people are made whole, and how hurting souls are restored to their natural strength. Hopefully, through it all, we will be able to acknowledge that every one of us is in need of some sort of healing.  

There will be a brief hiatus in the theme on Feb. 26, when my friend Dr. Joerg Rieger will lecture for Adult Forum and preach at the 10:30 service. Joerg, who teaches at Perkins School of Theology in Texas, is a compelling thinker at the crossroads of theology and economics. I have referred to his most recent book, No Rising Tide, in a couple of my own sermons, and I know that he will be provocative, thoughtful, insightful and challenging.  

Then, as we move toward Lent’s ending, I will take the second half of my 2010 Sabbatical. As you may recall, I took the first half at the end of 2010 in order to help care for my father who was then living in California. The upshot of that visit was to bring Dad to Minnesota, which we did last March. This year, I will be gone from April 1 until May 15. Our tentative plan is for Sam and me to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary with a brief trip to the Hebrides off the coast of Scotland, after which I will return to Crete for some time of reflection and writing. Meanwhile, Plymouth’s pulpit will be ably filled by my colleagues, with Paula preaching on Palm Sunday and Jeff on Easter Day. Cathie and Tara will take their turns in subsequent weeks.  
—by Jim Gertmenian, an excerpt from his Minister's Message in the February Flame

 

Lenten Reflections

Sign up to have daily Lenten Meditations sent to your email inbox starting Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, by sending an email to churchinfo@plymouth.org with Lent in the subject line.

Centering Prayer begins on Feb. 26 and continues on Sundays during Lent. Join Diane Boruff and Jan Mattox in the Fireside Room, 9:30-10:15 a.m. For details, see Diane's essay "Centering Prayer: Resting in God," on p. 8 of the February Flame.

What is Good Friday About? Bible study 9:30 a.m., in room 205 on Sunday mornings starting Feb. 26, will use the Jesus Seminar version of the gospel of Mark, Process Theology, Appreciative Inquiry, and Ched Myers’ book on Mark to explore our relationship with God and God's creation to discern what Good Friday is about.