Faith Alive, February 2012

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From the Senior Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ:

The season called Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. During the Lenten season we focus more intentionally and prayerfully on the cross of Christ. This is a uniquely and decidedly Christian thing to do.

While people who do not have faith in Christ “celebrate” secularized versions of Christmas and Easter, our celebrations always point to God’s love given and demonstrated in his Son, Jesus. Reindeer, candy canes, bunnies and chocolate eggs can be fun...but we need more. We need nothing less than a Savior.

I invite you to join your brothers and sisters in worship on Ash Wednesday, February 22. At Faith East, we will have two services at 12:00 Noon and 7:00 pm. At Faith West, worship will take place at 7:00 pm. At these services, you will have the opportunity to receive the sign of the cross on your forehead as a remembrance of our mortality...and our baptism into the death and resurrection of Christ. It was Martin Luther who wrote these words:

How do I approach this Savior and Redeemer? By means of cowls or monastic orders and rules? No! Just cling to the Son in faith. He conquered death and the devil, and He slit the devil’s belly open. Therefore attach yourself to Him, and you will tear through death and devil; for this text [John 3:15] assures us: “Whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life.” Accept the truth of this miracle of God’s love for the world, and say: “I believe in the Son of God and of Mary, who was lifted up and nailed to the cross.” Then you will experience the new birth; for death and sin will no longer accuse, harm, and injure you. Whoever believes in the Son will have eternal life. Cling to His neck or to His garment; that is, believe that He became man and suffered for you. Cross yourself and say: “I am a Christian and will conquer.” And you will find that death is vanquished. In Acts 2:24, St. Peter says that death was not able to hold Christ, since deity and humanity were united in one Person. In the same way we, too, shall not remain in death; we shall destroy death, but only if we remain steadfast in faith and cling to death’s Destroyer. (“Sermons on the Gospel of St. John,” Luther’s Works, Vol. 22)

In the evening, when you go to bed, you shall make the sign of the holy cross, and you shall say: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Then, kneeling or standing, you shall say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. (The Small Catechism, An Explanation of Dr. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism)

Some may say to you, “Isn’t that cross on your forehead a Catholic thing?” If so, then you will have the opportunity to educate and edify them. The sign of the cross, truth be told, is actually a Christian thing. It is done in Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Episcopal and Lutheran communities of faith...and is increasing in use among many other Christian communities.

God bless you during our Lenten journey! Your brother in Christ,

Dr. Bruce Wilder