Hello Church Family,

I trust you’re having a good week and a meaningful Lenten season… for those who are actively observing it. I’m going to be honest with you – this year’s Lent, for me, has so far been a bust. I find myself struggling to connect with the season’s depth and purpose. And I know this is probably not a good confession for a pastor to make, but, it’s real. Typically, Lent is a time for reflection, repentance, and renewal—a period where we draw nearer to God as we prepare our hearts for the mystery of Easter, the centre of our Christian calendar. Yet if I’m being totally honest, this year, that closeness feels… elusive at best.​

I imagine the main culprit for this distraction from Lent has been my mind’s preoccupation with the challenges facing our world and even our own country. We don’t need to rehash it all here but there has arisen a keen awareness, for those paying attention, that the assumed way of life we’ve always enjoyed may be on the verge of disruption, to put it lightly. Add to this the sudden ending of a ceasefire in the Gaza, the ongoing and even escalating war in Ukraine, the volatility of the markets and on and on it goes. Oh, and then there’s the ever increasing challenge of navigating conversation with friends and family that avoid the *many* elephants in the room in order to preserve relationship. You know what I’m talking about. It’s all just… unsettling.

This is where I’m at this Lenten season and I felt like maybe I needed to acknowledge this openly and with you my church family as it presents the opportunity to share the reality that your pastor does not, in fact, always have his collective $*%! together. Go figure. But maybe if you only read this newsletter or you heard me speak on Sundays it might sound as if I do, so let me assure you: I do not. But this admission isn’t just about sharing my experience and all-too-real humanity with you; it’s also about recognizing that our spiritual journeys are communal. I have spoken with many of you in the past few weeks and you have shared your own particular struggle with this historic and cultural moment. I suspect for every person who has shared their struggle with me, there are half a dozen more who have not. This is the beauty of Christian community though: when one of us struggles, we all feel it… yet together, we trust God’s Spirit and presence to guide us through.​

And so on that note, in this moment of shared honesty, I invite us all to reflect on a few thoughts as we continue to trudge through Lent:

1. Embrace the Discomfort: maybe feeling distant during Lent will lead us to a deeper longing and dependence on a God who is present with us and the world in our struggle. 
2. Simplify and Prioritize: Disconnecting from the constant barrage of noise from the world, even briefly, can create space for spiritual renewal. Easier said than done for some of us, I know. Still, make an effort.​ 
3. Lean on One another: The Grassroots community is a source of strength. Sharing our struggles and supporting one another, as I’ve done here, can lighten the load and bring us closer together. Even writing this has made me feel better already!​
4. Reaffirm Our Hope: Despite external uncertainties, the essence of Lent and Easter remain—a promise of renewal, hope, and unending love demonstrated and initiated profoundly at the cross. Meditate on this truth.

I apologize if my own struggles have hindered our collective Lenten journey. Let’s move forward together, embracing the remainder of this season with renewed commitment, understanding that it’s okay to struggle as long as we have each other’s back.​ Speaking of, if you need to reach out to chat, I’m always up for it as is our Pastoral Care Team. 

With heartfelt sincerity,

Pastor Steven