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  • Home
  • About
    • Who is Welcome?
    • Visitors
    • Faith and Care >
      • Our Journey to a New Kitchen
  • Contact
  • Give
  • From the Pastor
  • Calendar
  • Newsletter
  • Let the Children Come
  • We Support
    • AFACT
    • Brother Francis Shelter
    • Clare House
    • F.I.S.H.
    • Food Bank of Alaska
    • Little Free Library
    • Lutheran Social Services
    • Lutheran World Relief
  • Study
    • Lent Madness
    • The Other 4H Group
    • 10W
  • Harvest of Hope Memorial Garden
    • Harvest of Hope Blog
  • Hope Lutheran Church Women
  • Stand Against Racism: A Community Prayer Vigil
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF HOPE

From the Pastor

holy ground

3/1/2022

0 Comments

 
As we enter this season of Lent, I am drawn to a particular image in the Bible: Moses, standing before a burning bush, hearing the voice of YHWH (the Lord), and taking off his shoes. He is standing on holy ground. 

What if we entered this Lenten season believing that we are entering into holy ground? Here, we will need to remove some things. Here, we are invited to remove what encumbers us; we are invited to let go of what is no longer helping us; we are invited to make a mark in our lives that something is different. This is holy ground. 

What happens on holy ground? A message is received. Here, a new calling and mission is given; a new identity and a new encounter with the God of our ancestors. This is what happened for Moses. The start of something new that led to freedom and liberation for the Israelites. While we remove our shoes on holy ground, we receive what God has for us and are led into new life. 

Our theme for Lent is “Cultivating and Letting Go.” I encourage you to join us through this season with intention and expectation that we are entering holy ground. Here are some questions to consider:
  • What are you called to let go of in this season? There will be an opportunity to name those things during our Ash Wednesday service, whether it is fear or bitterness or self-hatred or prejudice or…(insert your need here). 
  • What are you hoping God will cultivate in you? There will also be an opportunity to name those things during our 1st Sunday of Lent, whether it is courage or forgiveness or healing or love or… (insert your need here).
  • What might be your way of taking off your shoes, a marker for your entry into this holy ground? It could be a fast from television, social media, a food item, or shopping. It could be taking up a daily practice of prayer, giving, helping others, getting outside, making art or journaling. There are many possibilities! How would you like to acknowledge the holy ground we are entering and help it to draw your focus on the Lord who is present?
 
I invite you to stand like Moses, before the Lord who calls you, and say, “Here I am.” We are entering holy ground. I look forward to walking with you through this land. 
 
Peace,
Pastor Liz 
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