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The Season of Lent

Submitted by admin on Tue, 02/14/2012 - 13:14

Originating in the fourth century of the church, the season of Lent spans 40 weekdays before Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday and culminating the Saturday before Easter. Originally, Lent was the time of preparation for those who were to be baptized.  Today, Lent is marked by a time of prayer and preparation to celebrate Easter. 

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Burt's Bytes (Feb. 10, 2012)

Submitted by Dr. Palmer on Sat, 02/11/2012 - 21:41

The season of Lent has become a meaningful part of my spiritual journey.  Lent is often connected with the practices of repentance, self-denial and giving to others.  It should be no mystery to us why there are no Hallmark cards bearing the message

Happy Lent!

     May your time of self reflection deepen your understanding of your mortality and the need for forgiveness.”

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Burt's Bytes (Jan 27, 2012)

Submitted by Dr. Palmer on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 21:44

I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!"

Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!

Psalm 122:1-2

In my trip to Haiti earlier this month, I was struck by the tragic, conflicting imagery as we passed by the Cathedral of the Assumption of our Lady in Port-au-Prince Haiti (pictured below).  A symbol of hope was destroyed by the earthquake in 2010 and has not been rebuilt.  Our largest UMCOR project in Haiti is Grace Children’s Hospital (GCH) and 80% of the hospital on the original campus was destroyed.

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Burt's Bytes (Dec 4, 2011)

Submitted by Dr. Palmer on Thu, 12/15/2011 - 23:19

“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby
wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:12

As I referenced in my sermon on December 4, “Cairns” are rock formations that mark trails. They are one of the oldest forms of communication in our human history. A person would use a particular stack of stones to give a warning or simply mark the trail for other travelers.

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