The Lenten journey

I pray that your Lenten journey is transforming you by God's grace this year. Remember that the Christian life is not about trying to be somebody we're not, it's about becoming more fully who God intended us to be in the first place. Be firm and intentional about your spiritual disciplines but be gentle and humble too. If we hold those seeming opposites together, I believe we'll find where God meets. Our Lenten disciplines are not meant to make us heroic but more like Christ. If you have tried some practices and failed, offer that to God too and begin again. If you haven't undertaken spiritual disciplines this season, it's not too late to commit. Name a time of day to pray, if health allows, fast, be regular in your worship attendance and your giving, participate in our Lenten mission - Health Kits, read the Scriptures faithfully, use a devotional. My prayers are with you in whatever your choices have been.
I want to shift briefly to lift up where we are in the "Embrace our Heritage, Build Our Future" Capital Campaign. The year 2010 began the second of our three year pledge committments. The first year was very fruitful in that pledges fulfilled totaled where we needed to be at the end of year one. I encourage you to continue that faithfulness to your pledge. If you did not make a pledge at that time, you can always make a pledge now and give to the construction of the Wesley Center. It is coming along very well and we look forward to experiencing mission and ministry in that space.
Always remember that our pledges to the Capital Campaign, are "above and beyond" giving. They are gifts given in addition to our regular giving to the ministry of the church. We have many ongoing ministries that continue to make a grace-filled difference in the lives of children, youth and adults. Our ministries are growing and need our support to remain strong. By giving, we are "embracing our heritage and building our future" together in ministry. To God be the glory!