Reflect, Repent, Reconcile, and Reconnect This Lent
The older I get, the more I regret. Thoughtless words, careless actions, and bad decisions over the course of my lifetime cause me to wonder why I didn’t exercise better judgment and greater forethought. Thank God for the gift of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ! Where would we be without His grace and mercy?
Although we can’t take back what we’ve said or done, we can have it expunged by our Savior, whose blood cleanses our soul and purifies our spirit. During this solemn period of preparation, we have a unique opportunity to strengthen our faith by reconnecting with our God and rethinking the way we live our lives.
The first step in the process of reconciliation is the awareness of our sinful nature and the desire to be more obedient. We are invited to bring our sins to the foot of the cross and to repent with sincerity and transparency. This helps us to re-establish our relationship with the Lord and pursue the pathway to redemption.
During the Lenten season, we invite you to expand your commitment through prayerful reflection and worship. If you happened to miss our Ash Wednesday Service this week, you can view a pre-recorded version on our website. Then, on Sunday evening, we invite you to participate in the first of our five Lenten Services, during which we will gather at one of five area churches — Oak Chapel, Church of the Cross, Moreland, New Pittsburg, and Wooster — each week.
We will also have other opportunities for fellowship during Lent, including our monthly Retirees Breakfast on Monday (March 7 – 8 a.m.) and the United Methodist Men’s Breakfast next Saturday morning (March 12 – 7:30 a.m.) at Greenleaf Restaurant. In addition, Art & Soul meets Monday (March 7 – 7 p.m.) at the church, and Days for Girls gathers the following Tuesday (March 15 – 1 p.m.), also at the church. And don’t forget about choir. Our faithful ensemble rehearses on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m., and there is still have plenty of room for more singers.
With the weather improving and the pandemic fading (we hope), let’s breathe new life into this great church. Active involvement not only serves the Lord, but it can also be a source of great joy for those who participate. I remain optimistic about the future of Oak Chapel because of people like you — loyal, dedicated, selfless, caring, compassionate, and so much more.
What we do throughout the Lenten season and in the months that follow will have a profound impact on the course and direction of our church. Let us join together with a renewed commitment to discipleship, and let us honor our ancestors who worked so diligently to ensure that our church would not only survive, but also thrive.
It will take a period of time and a considerable amount of effort, but I believe in each of you, and I am confident that you will do everything in your power to guide this church into an exciting new era of service and stewardship.
Until We Meet Again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John