A Letter from Pastor Erlandson Dear friends in Christ, It’s that time of year again, when snow still covers the earth, trees are bare of leaves, everything looks still and dead……and our thoughts begin to turn to spring.  It’s the season of Lent.  The term lent is an old English word for "spring".  For many Christians the term "Lent" has become synonymous with penitence for sins, or "what are you giving up for Lent"?  But actually, the word is more about new life "springing up" from what once was dead. Like you and me, when we were baptized.  In our baptismal liturgy we say that God "frees us from sin and death by joining us to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We are born children of a fallen humanity; by water and the Holy Spirit we are reborn children of God, and made members of the Church, the Body of Christ.  Living with Christ and in the communion of saints, we grow in faith, love, and obedience to the will of God."  Freed from death.  Born and reborn.  Growing in faith, love, and obedience.  Sounds like spring to me! During the month of March the days will be getting longer, the sun will shine brighter, and warmth will begin to overcome the cold.  In the months to come, new shoots will come up out of the ground, miracles of new life once more.  What was a dead, cold earth will become fertile soil for flowers and plants once again, a new Resurrection. In the Church during this time we will observe the season of Lent by reflecting on what has been barren and cold in our lives.  Times when we have neglected our faith in God and love for neighbor.  We will hear God’s call in scripture to wake up from our sleep and follow our Savior.  The prophets will remind us to "return to the Lord your God, for God is gracious and merciful, abounding in steadfast love."  We will hear the stories of awakening faith in God’s people, not only in the Bible but throughout the centuries, and in today’s world among us.  During Lent we will have opportunities to "go deeper" into the wells of faith so that we can grow as followers of Christ.  In worship, Bible study and prayer, we are invited during this season to dig into the rich earth of God’s Word that sustains and nourishes us in life. By the end of this month and season we will be ready to enter Holy Week, refreshed and renewed by the disciplines of faith.  This will prepare us for an even deeper celebration of our Lord’s resurrection on Easter, when God raised Jesus from the grave of death to new life, a promise given to each of us as well.  So I invite you to join me in exploring the richness of the Lenten season, in worship, scripture, and prayer, so that we can celebrate with even greater joy the new life that God gives us through faith. Peace in Christ, Pastor Jim Erlandson