From the Pastor
Pastor Arnold Flater
BE “PLUGGED IN” TO THE POWER!
The story is told of a woman who at the turn of the 20th Century had a small house on the seashore of Ireland. She was quite wealthy but also quite frugal. The people of the community were surprised when she decided to be among the first to have electricity in her home.
Several weeks after the installation, a meter reader appeared at her door. He asked if her electricity was working well, and she assured him it was. Then the meter reader said, “I am wondering if you can explain something to me. Your meter scarcely shows any usage. Are you using your power?”
“Most certainly,” she replied. “Each evening when the sun sets, I turn on my lights just long enough to light my candles; then I turn the lights off.”
She tapped into the power, but doesn’t use it. The house is connected to the power source, but it didn’t make much difference. Does that little story hint at the same mistake in our faith journey? We occasionally flip the switch but most of the time we settle for the shadows.
Those last couple thoughts are in mind as we enter another Lenten season and contemplate the history and meaning of Christ’s Passion. Traditionally the Lenten season is a time of prayer, almsgiving, and fasting in preparation for the great resurrection victory of God in raising Jesus from the dead. While we continue to proclaim the grace of Christ’s death and resurrection every Sunday of the church year, in Lent we do so with emphasis on the disciplines of Lent that heighten our awareness of Christ’s sacrifice. Today Lent is a time of mediation on Christ’s passion and the central element is midweek worship opportunities beginning Ash Wednesday for six Wednesday evenings and then in Holy Week with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Eve with a Vigil.
Easter is earlier than last year, coming up April 8th and Lent begins on the fourth Wednesday of this month, February 22nd. There will be two worship opportunities that day, the first at 4:30 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m. The second through sixth Wednesdays of Lent worship will be at 7 o’clock. The historical assigned Ash Wednesday texts of Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, II Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 will be the focus of our meditation on Ash Wednesday. I will be the Ash Wednesday preacher and the theme and roster of Lenten preachers will be announced soon so watch for that information in our worship bulletins, on Holy Trinity’s website, and elsewhere.
Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, declares that in the life of Jesus the visible image of the invisible God was manifest, was incarnated. He goes on to make another equally powerful declaration that the ever-living Christ can live within you and me. God incarnate in Christ was Part 1 of the Gospel story; Part 2 is Christ living within you and me. Our lives are the sequel of the Gospel story. Christ lives within us.
Don’t rely solely on your own power. Take time to “plug in” to a Divine source of energy. It can shine new light on all you do and be shared with all you meet! Are you plugged in? Are you using the Power available to you?
The story is told of a woman who at the turn of the 20th Century had a small house on the seashore of Ireland. She was quite wealthy but also quite frugal. The people of the community were surprised when she decided to be among the first to have electricity in her home.
Several weeks after the installation, a meter reader appeared at her door. He asked if her electricity was working well, and she assured him it was. Then the meter reader said, “I am wondering if you can explain something to me. Your meter scarcely shows any usage. Are you using your power?”
“Most certainly,” she replied. “Each evening when the sun sets, I turn on my lights just long enough to light my candles; then I turn the lights off.”
She tapped into the power, but doesn’t use it. The house is connected to the power source, but it didn’t make much difference. Does that little story hint at the same mistake in our faith journey? We occasionally flip the switch but most of the time we settle for the shadows.
Those last couple thoughts are in mind as we enter another Lenten season and contemplate the history and meaning of Christ’s Passion. Traditionally the Lenten season is a time of prayer, almsgiving, and fasting in preparation for the great resurrection victory of God in raising Jesus from the dead. While we continue to proclaim the grace of Christ’s death and resurrection every Sunday of the church year, in Lent we do so with emphasis on the disciplines of Lent that heighten our awareness of Christ’s sacrifice. Today Lent is a time of mediation on Christ’s passion and the central element is midweek worship opportunities beginning Ash Wednesday for six Wednesday evenings and then in Holy Week with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Eve with a Vigil.
Easter is earlier than last year, coming up April 8th and Lent begins on the fourth Wednesday of this month, February 22nd. There will be two worship opportunities that day, the first at 4:30 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m. The second through sixth Wednesdays of Lent worship will be at 7 o’clock. The historical assigned Ash Wednesday texts of Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, II Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 will be the focus of our meditation on Ash Wednesday. I will be the Ash Wednesday preacher and the theme and roster of Lenten preachers will be announced soon so watch for that information in our worship bulletins, on Holy Trinity’s website, and elsewhere.
Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, declares that in the life of Jesus the visible image of the invisible God was manifest, was incarnated. He goes on to make another equally powerful declaration that the ever-living Christ can live within you and me. God incarnate in Christ was Part 1 of the Gospel story; Part 2 is Christ living within you and me. Our lives are the sequel of the Gospel story. Christ lives within us.
Don’t rely solely on your own power. Take time to “plug in” to a Divine source of energy. It can shine new light on all you do and be shared with all you meet! Are you plugged in? Are you using the Power available to you?
Pastor David A. Solberg
Sabbatical Pastor
563-451-9724
htlcsabbaticalpr@gmail.com
Sabbatical Pastor
563-451-9724
htlcsabbaticalpr@gmail.com