Lent 2017 – The Good of Giving Up

Welcome to Lent at Restoration. This season of 40 days before Easter is a journey up to Holy Week, when we remember Jesus’ death and we celebrate his resurrection. We take this time before the celebration to come to a deeper understanding of our desperate need for a Savior and of the magnitude of Easter’s Good News.

Lent is a season of sober self-examination, of confession and repentance, of recognizing our dependence on God, and of practicing generosity toward others. We do these things neither to wallow in our miserableness nor to demonstrate our holiness. Instead, we want to give God a little more space in our lives to work in us, to show us that we are both broken and beloved, and to gently shape us to look more like Jesus.

At Restoration, we’re offering a few ways for you to engage in this season:

• We invite you to consider reading The Good of Giving Up – Discovering the Freedom of Lent by Aaron Damiani, an evangelical case for Lent and a guide to its practice. It will help you to receive the gift of clearing your life to make room for new growth, encouraging you to participate in this rich spiritual journey. During our corporate worship, we will hear brief reflections of peoples’ experiences as they consider and practice the challenges and gifts this Lenten season offers.
• Our children have a Lenten Devotional Booklet filled with a variety of activities. It is our payer that during this time of remembering, the prayers, the Scripture, the hands-on activities, and the music will help us to know more deeply the Lord’s “Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love” and that knowing his love for us will draw us ever closer to the Father who delights in us and loves it when we call to him.
• Mid-week Eucharist. Take time in the middle of your week to pause and receive from the Lord by coming to our mid-week Eucharist services, which will be happening on Wednesday’s from12:15 to 1 pm (starting on March 8) at the church.
• Giving to RILA – Consider going one step farther in your giving this Lent. This year all the offerings from Ash Wednesday and Holy Week will be going to support the work of Restoration Immigration Legal Aid (RILA). We encourage you to give generously to this vital ministry.

Lent is a serious and rigorous season. But it should be a joyful one as well, for we never lose sight of the good news of Easter: death has been defeated, our sins have been forgiven, and we’ve been restored to intimacy with God. Join us as we journey through this season together.

Nathan Dickerson