A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: A MORE INTENTIONAL LENTEN SEASON
Grace and peace to you,
On Ash Wednesday, we entered the Season of Lent, a time where we are invited to be intentional and reflective about our relationship with God, Jesus and Holy Spirit. As in past seasons, we are using material from A Sanctified Art, and the theme is Tell Me Something Good.
Really – for Lent! When we are used to thinking 
of Lent as a time of self-sacrifice and fasting (which we can still do), how can we think about the good? Well, isn’t Lent a time of intentional reflection about our relationship with God/Jesus/Holy Spirit something good? And don’t the stories of Jesus give us opportunities to reflect on the good news contained within them? Stories that might lead us into new directions, new ways of being community, new ways of being expansively welcoming?
And so, over these next weeks, we will explore and seek to embody some of the core tenets of Jesus’ ministry: radical inclusion; surprising joy and hospitality; his great love for God and neighbor; making the impossible, possible; protection and care for the vulnerable; a ministry rooted in justice, mercy and faithfulness; inspiring us to act; and deep forgiveness. We will remember too that all of these core tenets, all of his mission and ministry were revealed through nonviolent means.
What practices might we create and embody as we explore these stories? How might the season of Lent become even more intentional about more deeply seeking who we are as a community of faith living out these core tenets? Lots to think about.
This Sunday, we will explore the surprising way a tiny, tiny mustard seed becomes a super unruly and super big bush that provides protection for those who find comfort in its branches, and how ordinary water becomes extraordinary wine as Jesus’ first miracle. What do these stories of unexpected surprises of God’s great love and mercy, of God’s great gifts to us mean to us? What might it mean to those we invite into the community of belonging? How might we embody the unexpected surprises the good news brings to us as a Lenten practice?
Lots to think about and explore.
This Lent we are also providing creative and contemplative space for you. In the Chapel you will find several ways to reflect and be contemplative – there are opportunities to reflect on images and artwork, opportunities to journal or walk a finger labyrinth or sketch. In Room 206, there are many ways for you to express creativity – watercolors, crayons, colored pencils, markers, sketch books or try some pipe cleaner or pom pom art.
These rooms will be open during the weekdays when the church is open (Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.) and on Sunday mornings. If you are coming to a committee meeting or rehearsal, feel free to stop ahead of time. Those are your spaces – there is no right or wrong to how you want to reflect.
Blessings,
Pastor Karen