Newsletter: Spring ahead...

Beginning the Lenten Journey…

As we enter into Lent this year, I would like to invite everyone to ponder three themes that will turn up through the season in three different hymns.

The first theme is listening to God and the hymn is on that comes out of the Lutheran church called Listen Up. In the midst of these very strange social and political times, what are some of the things that we can do to listen for God’s voice.

The second theme is justice and the associated hymn is one called Let Justice Flow Down (we sang this on Ash Wednesday). In our world we are increasingly seeing the powerful become more powerful and the weak becoming more cast aside. What can we do to give voice to those who are struggling to simply survive in these tumultuous times?

The third theme is about building up the church. The hymn comes from an Irish band called Rend Collective: Build Your Kingdom Here. The church has been both a force of good and evil throughout its long history, but when we focus on the themes of listening to God and of justice, we can make the church into a force for good. What can we do in our lives to ensure that the church is working for the good of all rather than the good of just one particular group of people?

My hope is that we use these hymns through Lent as jumping off places to imagine how ministry at St Andrew’s will look from this point and going forward. Even if you don’t consider yourself a singer, takes these good words into your hearts!