Opportunities for the Season of Lent at Custer Road
The Season of Lent, a 40-day time of spiritual formation before Easter (April 20), officially begins with Ash Wednesday, March 5. However, this year at Custer Road we are stretching it out a bit. On March 2 we’ll begin a new sermon series for Lent on the Seven Deadly Sins, continuing through April 13. Taking things even deeper, the Seven Deadly Sins will be the theme of special weekly Lenten worship opportunities in the Chapel on Wednesday nights beginning March 12, (the Ash Wednesday service is in the Sanctuary) and I will lead a companion Bible study on the Seven Deadly Sins following the services. Click here to register.
Why the Seven Deadly Sins? Are we a Catholic church now? Well, no… but the Seven Deadly Sins were an important teaching tool well before there was a Catholic church, or a Methodist church, or any other denomination. This is just Christian Church stuff. The Sins as they are now formulated were solidified by Pope Gregory the Great in the 6th century. We’ll study them during Lent because it is a natural vehicle for self-examination and reflection. Now, if you’re worried about seven weeks of fire and brimstone preaching, don’t be. Each sin also has a corresponding virtue associated with it—so instead of hitting folk over the head every week we’ll speak to opportunities to grow in grace. Each sin also has a color ascribed to it. This will add a little fun to the mix!
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds" (Titus 2:11-14).
This series will be different than previous ones, in that Pastor Kory and I will divide it between us: I will preach three of the sermons, he’ll preach four.
March 2: Pride (violet; Humility)
March 9: Sloth (Light blue; Diligence)
March 16: Greed (yellow; Generosity)
March 23: Gluttony (orange; Self-Control)
March 30: Envy (green; Contentment)
April 6: Lust (blue; Chastity)
April 13: Wrath (red; Forgiveness)
Following Bishop McKee's lead, I will fast one meal a week and donate those funds to the Zip Code Project. I hope you will make every effort to join us each week during Lent and participate in the many opportunities we're offering as spiritual disciplines. You will come to Easter full of grace, having fully acknowledged your need for God’s help to overcome challenges we all face. Your relationships and faith will be stronger, and you will celebrate Christ’s victory with renewed joy.
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