Pastor's Corner: Plans for Lent

I hope everyone read Pastor Sean Janssen’s excellent column in the Havre Daily News Friday, Feb. 21. What a great way to usher in the season of Lent. If you didn’t see it, I recommend trying to track down a copy. With Ash Wednesday occurring two days ago, we are now officially in the Lenten season.

Pastor Janssen’s article brought back some memories of the first time I heard more than a few snippets about the death and resurrection of Jesus. I was 8 years old and went on vacation with my mom, my grandmother, and a friend of Mom’s from her bowling team. The friend blessed us by doing all the driving, and she was the one who suggested bringing my grandmother, who passed away unexpectedly later that year. Mom and I were so grateful for that special time with my grandma.

Our trip consisted of a drive from Billings to Spearfish, South Dakota, to visit Mount Rushmore and attend the live Passion Play in Spearfish. At the time, I didn’t understand everything going on in the play, but it left a lasting impression on me. I remember being moved to tears.

As I gained more knowledge, I came to understand the Passion of Jesus Christ to refer to His suffering and death, which it does. The word passion comes from the Latin word for suffering. Thankfully (to put it mildly), His death was not the end of the story. He conquered sin and death and rose from the grave!

A couple years ago, I read an article that presented a new perspective on the Passion. Regrettably, I don’t recall the author’s name but his point remains firmly lodged in my memory: Jesus endured the Passion because of His incredible passion for us. He loves us, He longs to have a vibrant relationship with us, and He was willing to pay the price to open the way for us.

Or a slightly different angle is found in this excerpt from the Bible: Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).

“For the joy set before Him” — what is that? Obviously, He knew He would be resurrected and ascend to heaven. What a joyous reunion it must have been when He returned home! I think we can also interpret “joy” to signify us. As He prayed in the garden, walked the road to Calvary, or hung on the cross, perhaps he was thinking about you and how wonderful it would be to know you and to build a friendship with you that would start on earth and carry on through all eternity.

As you ponder some of these ideas, I invite you to attend the upcoming Lenten lunches hosted by the Greater Havre Ministerial Association during Lent. All lunches will be held at noon at the Havre Assembly of God Church, 901 Ninth St. W. The cost is $3 and lunch consists of soup and sandwiches. A brief message will be shared each week, as well. We will begin Thursday, March 5, and the schedule is as follows:

March 5: Assembly of God

March 12: Abundant Life Ministries

March 19: Van Orsdel United Methodist

March 26: St. Jude Thaddeus

April 2: Messiah Lutheran

Again, all the meetings are held at the Assembly of God Church, but the schedule indicates which church will be providing the meal and the message. I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to get acquainted with members of different churches around town, to share your thoughts on the Passion and passion of Jesus, and to “break bread together” with other community members who are also preparing for Easter. Whether I see you there or not, I pray that you will have a very meaningful Lenten season and a wonderful, joyous Easter!

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Vicki Barrows

Abundant Life Ministries