Phew, the forty days have passed.  We gathered together for a Seder Supper, we sat in silence and darkness as we recognized Jesus' death, we gathered for His rising.  We have come out of

If we compare Lent to a wilderness experience, we can conjure many images.  Wilderness can be a welcome experience, as when we go camping, backpacking or hiking. 

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.  Luke 4:1-2

Many (if not all) of us have wilderness experiences in our lives.  We may lose a job. 

“Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold I will do something new, now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”- Isaiah 43:18-19  

 I do not look forward to Lent. I haven’t been willing to participate but to a limited extent –  showing up on Ash Wednesday to sing with the choir and “get ashes”, then avoiding the singing of “Alleluia” while waiting for the celebratory time of Easter.

And to dust you shall return.

Today is the day, it is the beginning of our journey to Easter.  For some, myself included, Lent is a time of wilderness. 

Trinity has a history of supporting Elijah's Pantry in Logan Square.  Each month, we donate food to the pantry and throughout the year, we go to the Greater Chicago Food Depository on their behalf.  We work with St. Philip Lutheran Church (in Glenview) and we earn food credits for our food pantry.

This past Sunday our ninth graders were officially welcomed to Hi-League.  They may not have asked for the welcome, or even appreciated it, but they were welcomed.  Our upperclassmen gathered at church around 5:15 a.m.,

It happened once again just a few days ago.  When being introduced, I was referenced as "My Pastor."

I always appreciate that designation.  There's a difference:

Here's a quote from an anonymous source which wasn't included in Sunday's sermon.

Take time to think; it is the source of power.

106 years ... that's a really long life!
106 years ... that's a lot of time to live and share!
106 years ... that seems like plenty of time to get things done.