Today from 3pm -10pm the Spring Hill United Methodist Church (5286 Main Street in Spring Hill) will be open for anyone one to come and take communion.  There will be a guided prayer journey available to remember the crucifixion. 

Also, if you have been going through Lent there will be a station available for you to bring and leave something symbolic of what you have given up or taken up during Lent.

This time is open to the community (not just our churches).  We would love for you to come by and take part in remembering Good Friday.

Today is the beginning of 40 + days of prayer and introspection as we journey with Jesus toward the crucifixion and rejoice in the beauty of His resurrection. Tonight our church will gather at 7pm for Ash Wednesday observances and recognize that we are part of 100,000s of believers around the world and millions throughout history who have acknowledged their humanity and sought repentance and clarity of heart and purpose as they take on the sufferings of Christ during Lent.

I have journeyed through Lent for each of the past four years and it is one of the most centering experiences of my year.  It helps me to ground my self in the story and see what is really important in my life.  It helps to see what forces are impacting me and what snares I have allowed to entangle me.

Lent for many is seen as a time to give up things but that is only have the story.  It is also a time to take up new things as we fill our lives with the passions of Christ and not just those of ourselves.

So…A few thoughts.

1) Join a church tonight for Ash Wednesday.  We are gathering at 7pm (5286 Main Street in Spring Hill).
    *I will be reading through the liturgy on our church website for those who cannot attend a gathering.

2) Participate in the daily readings and prayer.  You can find a Lent Book and other resources on our church website.  We are also talking over the next six weeks about how God is greater than the plans, pains, emotions and traps of life.  You can join us on Saturdays, watch us live or by archive online or follow our podcast.

    *My friend Keith at Spring Hill UMC is teaching through the days that lead up to the crucifixion.  His
     church gathers at the address above on Sundays at 11am.  This should be a great series.)

3) Give over the things that have mastery of you and take up the passions that God has placed in your heart.  I think you really know what they are.

4) As part of my journey I will be praying through how I manage my time and so, this is the last post you'll see for a few weeks.  I am disconnecting from blogging…twittering…and Facebook.  I hope to fill up this time with praying, serving and being a better husband and parent.

I'm praying for you right now..and hope that you will engage this experience and daily become more and more like Christ.

See you on the other side.

Peace ~

wm