The Church marks off forty days (not counting the Sundays) of special preparation called “Lent,” which begins with Ash Wednesday (Feb. 17). It is a time reminiscent of Our Lord’s fasting in the desert for forty days and the Israelites’ wandering in the wilderness for forty years. During Lent, especially, the Church urges her members to fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. Even as true repentance is not simply feeling sorry, but is a turning away from sin and toward God, or is sorrow over sin and at the same time faith in Jesus, so likewise, Lent is not so much a time of simply “giving things up” as it is a time for adding things that increase our awareness of God’s mercy in Christ Jesus.

What we give up, as a Church, are the Alleluias and the Gloria in Excelsis (“Glory be to God on High”). These songs of praise are muted during Lent, not because we are sad, but because we are sober and so that they would return on Easter with greater exuberance. For a feast to be truly satisfying, you must be hungry.

Though it seems, in a way, counter-intuitive, one of the things we add are soup suppers on Wednesday evenings preceding the service at 7:00 p.m. The soup suppers begin at 6:00 p.m. The idea is that this will make it easier for busy families to attend the service and also provide some fellowship time for us.

Why not mark this Lent in some way, by making a Lenten resolution of sorts, picking up some discipline or duty as a way of remembering the time and preparing for Easter? While it might seem self-serving, Lent is a great time to diet or pick up an exercise routine. While those things might have physical benefits, if done prayerfully and deliberately, they can also have spiritual benefits. Why not set yourself to attend every Sunday and Wednesday from now until Easter? If nothing else, why not at least pledge to attend all the services of Holy Week, including Maundy Thursday (April 1) at 7:00 p.m., Good Friday (April 2) at 7:00 p.m., and culminating with the Easter Sunday service (April 4) at 10:30 a.m.?

Acting upon Voters’ Assembly action from last summer, President Kinnaman has appointed a Call Committee of the following members: (Council:) Rev. Kinnaman, Kurt Rolland, Rebecca Mayes, Rev. Mayes, (Congregation:) Barbara Szofran, Karen Rolland. The committee met informally a couple times over the past holiday and then met formally on February 4, 2010. The committee’s first goals are to construct a Ministry Plan for Emmaus. This has been requested by District President Mirly, and will be used in the calling process to faithfully communicate the direction of our congregation. The committee will also be working to draft a pastoral care description (a job description) that will set out the congregation’s expectations of a pastor. Drafts of these documents will be presented at the next committee meeting and published in the next Emmaus Lutheran newsletter. Please keep the work of the Call Committee in your prayers that the will of our Lord may be accomplished in His Church and in this congregation.

Thanks to some recent adjustments to the heating system at church, Emmaus now has a fully heated sanctuary! Those of you who have been with us during the winter months for the past few years will remember how cold it was–reminded me of a European cathedral in the dead of winter! It was common for us to keep on our coats and for women to bring blankets. But now that is changed. Despite the 20-degree weather outside, it was a toasty 68 degrees inside.

A courageous step was taken by the Voters Assembly to adopt a balanced budget for 2010. In past years the expected shortfall was not included in the budget. Nevertheless, cash assets have been used to pay the shortfall. We can no longer afford to ignore this situation. By passing a balanced budget we are placing before us the realistic costs associated with supporting the ministry of Emmaus Lutheran congregation. This realistic budget challenges us to our monthly income to meet our budgeted expenses. Please prayerfully consider the blessings that God has given you and what you can give back to Him to support His ministry at Emmaus. Perhaps you can increase your regular giving in the coming weeks and months, or give an additional gift of support.

Beginning this Sunday we will begin to note the monthly and weekly giving as a way to thank God for His support and care. We will also note the monthly need according to our budget to encourage us in our stewardship.