Sunday, February 18, 2007
Marking Time
Our small church began about 8 1/2 years ago as a group of believers who came together convinced that church really could and should be done differently. We were an interesting mix of people,each carrying their own baggage and seeking somewhat the same goals. It has been an incredible journey.
We had the challenge of making decisions for all sorts of things, big and small. What time would our classes and services start? What was our belief statement? How do we accept members? Baptism practices? It was the first time in my life I had to actually sit down and ask myself what I truly believed and why I truly believed it. As I said - it was a challenge.
It was also our Pastor's first job of pastoring a church. He made a choice for our congregation to observe the Christian calendar and follow the Lexcionary for scripture study. This was not a very Baptist decision, but it opened up a new way of marking time in my life.
I would be fooling you if I even tried to say I understood what all the seasons of the Christian calendar represent. As you will see, I am still learning on my journey.
So, today is the "Last Sunday after the Epiphany." Basically that means we have been marking Sundays after the Epiphany (January 6) and that we are about to move in to the season of Lent.
My tiny town in the southwestern part of my panhandle state did not have a Catholic church, although there was one in my husband's metropolis about 14 miles away. The word Lent was not a part of my vocabulary until I was an adult - well, that is if you don't count lint. . .
Learning to experience Lent has been at times comical, at times frustrating, and at times a really cool spiritual season in my life.
But first, we must make it through the next few days. . .
simple faith
Our small church began about 8 1/2 years ago as a group of believers who came together convinced that church really could and should be done differently. We were an interesting mix of people,each carrying their own baggage and seeking somewhat the same goals. It has been an incredible journey.
We had the challenge of making decisions for all sorts of things, big and small. What time would our classes and services start? What was our belief statement? How do we accept members? Baptism practices? It was the first time in my life I had to actually sit down and ask myself what I truly believed and why I truly believed it. As I said - it was a challenge.
It was also our Pastor's first job of pastoring a church. He made a choice for our congregation to observe the Christian calendar and follow the Lexcionary for scripture study. This was not a very Baptist decision, but it opened up a new way of marking time in my life.
I would be fooling you if I even tried to say I understood what all the seasons of the Christian calendar represent. As you will see, I am still learning on my journey.
So, today is the "Last Sunday after the Epiphany." Basically that means we have been marking Sundays after the Epiphany (January 6) and that we are about to move in to the season of Lent.
My tiny town in the southwestern part of my panhandle state did not have a Catholic church, although there was one in my husband's metropolis about 14 miles away. The word Lent was not a part of my vocabulary until I was an adult - well, that is if you don't count lint. . .
Learning to experience Lent has been at times comical, at times frustrating, and at times a really cool spiritual season in my life.
But first, we must make it through the next few days. . .
simple faith
Labels: Spiritual Journey
# posted by simple faith : 1:40 PM
Comments:
<< Home
I'm looking forward to this lenten journey. I really like how our church follows the Christian Calendar because it has opened my eyes on more then one occasion.
Post a Comment
<< Home
