Blessings friends and families of Christ Conyngham,
  January has presented some challenging weather for church attendance.  The subfreezing temperatures and snow accumulation may have many of us feeling âsnowboundâ.  No worries.
  Lent begins on Ash Wednesday the 18th of February.  There will be supper every Wednesday at 6:00pm and a formal service following every other Wednesday (including communion).  The other weeks there will be Bible study following supper.  This is a great reason to get ourselves up and out of any winterâ doldrumsâ we may be experiencing.  I will be preaching on excerpts from the book âLent in Plain Sightâ by Jill J. Duffield, A Devotion through ten objectsâ.  It is a wonderful exploration of how we find sacredness in objects like shoes, coins, coats etc.  You wonât want to miss it.Â
   The three practices of Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  It is a prayerful decision to determine which is best on an individual basis.  I suggest that we might want to find a Lenten partner to discuss our choice of discipline and what we are learning throughout these 40 days.  Lent is a quiet and sobering time of reflection; however, we surely donât have to experience it alone.Â
   I continue to pray for safety and strength for all of us during these difficult times around the world.  What better time than Lent to speak up for peace.  The Prince of Peace cries out for justice and mercy always and everywhere.  May our Lenten journeys provide sustenance for those of us that have days when we feel weary, worn and/or hopeless.Â
  God continues to be in charge beloved children of God.  Let us continue to love boldly and live out the Good News in faith.  Nothing and no one can take our joy in the Lord away from us.  Thanks be to God. Â