811 E. Clark Boulevard
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
(615) 893-0338
From Your Pastor
Ash Wednesday
The celebration of Ash Wednesday as the beginning of Lent has been credited to Gregory the Great. The days of Lent (40 days) do not include each Sunday of the weeks of Lent. Our bulletin has a title for each Sunday, for example, “The First Sunday in Lent”. The reason for the word “in” is that Sunday does not count when numbering the forty days of Lent. If the Sunday was to be counted or to be included within the season of Lent, then the title would be “The First Sunday of Lent”.
Each Sunday is still to be considered the Lord’s Day and a celebration of our new life in Christ. During the season of Lent, the Gospel is to be heard. Christ died, once for all, and now Christ lives and reigns over all. We live because He lives.
A long time ago, it was the tradition of Christian congregations to have the people who wanted to join the church prepare for membership during Lent and they would be baptized on Easter Sunday, the Day of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Today, we still view Lent as a time of being in the presence of the Lord with deep humility. In preparing to celebrate Good Friday, Lent calls for a deep repentance for our sin and a mourning that the Son of God had to die to save us. The plea from God’s Word is heard throughout the Lenten season, Turn to Me (God) with all your heart. Lent has never been about external examples of suffering or hardship. The tradition of giving up something for Lent did not have the purpose of making you “look” more pitiful or grieved. This tradition is meant to help your heart and your body unite in the same mode, humbled by Christ’s gift and sorrowful because of your own sins for which Christ died.
Since we know the whole account of the mission of Jesus Christ, Lent is not meant to make you feel guiltier than other times of the year. It should not surprise you that our hearts can become “dull” to the message of the cross of Christ. Lent brings you the opportunity to shine instead of being dull and to be passionate instead of being complacent in your heart. By the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word your faith is to be renewed and your heart cleansed and restored.
Please make coming to every worship service a priority during the season of Lent. Come to be forgiven, restored, strengthened and equipped by your Savior, Jesus Christ.In Christ,
Pastor Wenck
Our mission: “Bringing People to Christ by Bringing Christ to People”