Dear friends,
Rain…snow…ocean waves…flowing brooks…still waters…a refreshing drink…. Water is at the center of our lives. We are made up of water. We depend on water. It is no surprise that many of the stories of our faith are about water.
This year, our Lenten theme draws upon the centrality of water to our lives and our faith: “Out of the waters…” We will use biblical and personal water stories to reflect on transformation—creation and new creation, healing, renewal, times of storm and times of peace. The deacons, staff and Chancel Committee are exploring creative ways to bring our theme to life.
Lent begins on March 2 with Ash Wednesday—a day for reflection and repentance as we embark on this Lenten journey together. We will have two opportunities to gather on Ash Wednesday—at noon in the sanctuary, and at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. Dawn Sorensen and I are working on those services together, and we will be inviting friends from Agape Spiritual Community in Waltham (a new church start where Dawn is minister of outreach and intergenerational programming) to join us. We will acknowledge the ways our hearts and our lives become frozen, and we will pray for melting during this season.
On the first Sunday in Lent, we will experience our theme in a unique way. An ice sculptor will join us for the service. As we reflect on water in the creation story, he will be creating an ice sculpture on the chancel. His artwork will be part of our worship throughout the season; we will watch it transform as it slowly melts. Come early that Sunday for an outdoor “chain saw prelude” before the service begins; the sculptor will transition to hand tools in the sanctuary during the service.
During Lent, we will have a healing service (March 20), a reaffirmation of baptism (April 3), a Palm Sunday parade with Locket the pony and friends from El Toque del Maestro (April 10), a sunrise service (April 17), and a joyous celebration of transformation at Easter (April 17). We are working on an idea for a refreshing field trip in early April—watch for more details.
We will also share our stories and images of water in a daily devotional, beginning on Ash Wednesday and continuing through the season. See below for more details about how you can participate.
May the waters of life renew and transform us!
Peace,
Debbie