“When you fast …”
(Matthew 6:16 ESV)
Dear Children of the Light,
Lenten greetings!
Today I share with you a devotion based on Matthew 6:16-21, written by Bo Giertz (1905-1998), former bishop of the Lutheran Church of Sweden.
This week is Ash Wednesday. This day marked the beginning of the Lenten fast for the Early Church. Jesus fasted for forty days in the desert. In memory of that, Christians fasted for forty days. But since Christians didn’t fast on Sundays, because it was the day of resurrection, and a day of great joy, they had to start on a Wednesday in order to fast for forty days before Easter. The evangelical church doesn’t mandate a particular period of fasting. The practice has disappeared without a trace from many Christians lives.
Today we’ve read a portion of the Sermon on the Mount, which constitutes the ancient Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday. Actually, Jesus says something obvious: “When you fast…” Jesus Himself fasted. He spoke of prayer and fasting as a powerful resource in the fight against evil. But He didn’t make a law of it. He definitely did not want anyone to use fasting to make himself look important. His opponents noticed that His disciples didn’t fast like the Pharisees. Jesus answered that the wedding guests didn’t fast while the bridegroom was among them. But He added, there will come a time when “the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast” (Matthew 19:15). In Acts, fasting is spoken of as if it wasn’t even a question.
What does it mean to fast? It means to willingly abstain from something that in itself is both permissible and good. You abstain from it in order to free yourself to serve Christ. You show both yourself and your Lord that you can take this earthly thing or leave it. This is the right way for a Christian to live. We should use this world and its goods as if we didn’t need them. There is a lot of good we should rejoice over, but nothing should control us. We should not let ourselves be bound or captive to anything. Nothing should be allowed to be more important to us than the Lord Himself. By abstaining from certain things – at least for periods of time – we can give money and possibly time to serve Christ in a special way. It can be a good form of fasting to abstain from something and instead give the money to a special Lenten collection or to something else. To regularly give a portion of what you’ve earned is also a form of fasting. You abstain from something you otherwise could’ve purchased for yourself, and you do it for Christ’s sake. Jesus tells us we should do it joyfully. We shouldn’t make a big thing about it. It’s a secret between you and your Lord that He alone knows.
We pray: Lord Jesus, You have to teach me about fasting Yourself. Show me what You want. Help me do it the right way and with joy in my heart. Help me rejoice when You give me this life’s wonderful gifts, and help me to be twice as happy when You let me abstain from them so they will be of benefit and joy. Guide my will and rule over my heart so I can always do just what You want me to do, both when I receive and when I willingly choose to abstain from something. Your will be done, Lord, in everything.
The Lord be with you!
Coming Up at Prince of Peace …
Sunday, February 14, First Sunday in Lent
9:00 Sunday School, Confirmation and Adult Classes
10:30 Worship Service
PoP News …
“Sounds of the Passion”: Because the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, occurred in real time and history, we can better grasp the events and their meaning by considering how people experienced it using their five senses. This Lenten season we will ponder the sounds of the passion. Let us draw near and listen! – Wednesdays at 7:00pm here at Prince of Peace.
Thank you! For the reception after Bill’s funeral and for the Ash Wednesday soup supper, I am so thankful to God for all of you who helped organize and brought food for these events. I rejoice when we have the opportunity of getting to know one another better. You helped make that happen. Thank you and the Lord bless you!
Couples of PoP and friends of PoP are invited to a Valentine’s Day event, Friday, February 12, at 7:00pm. We will show the video, “Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage.” It’s a hilarious video featured on YouTube that will be a blessing to your relationship. Here’s the menu: lasagna, salad and Texas garlic bread. We will serve the meal at an incredible price of $15.00/couple ($7.50/person). What a deal! And it will be fun!
Niagara Zone LWMLC Prayer Service will be held on Sunday, February 21 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church (5003 George Street, Beamsville), starting at 2:30 pm. Guest speaker will be Dr. Rev. Tom Winger. Please bring squares, goodies or fruit ready to serve. All are welcome!
Online News …
“Love’s Greatest Sacrifice” – Copies of these Lenten devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries are available in the lobby at the church. However you can also access them on-line in English at www.lhm.org/lent
The meaning of repentance and Lent: Click here to see a video.
Lutheran Church-Canada Survey re: Restructuring: Pasted below is a letter from Pastor Ney, chair of the LCC restructuring committee. Input is being sought from pastors, congregational leaders and members. Work is being done to reorganize the administration of our synod to better serve the members and mission of LCC. Your input is welcome. You can do the survey online as per the instructions or you can print out the attachment to submit a paper copy. I encourage you to take part. Paper copies of the survey are also available in the lobby at the church.
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE SOURCE FOR NEWS, INFORMATION & TRUTH…Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken and produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL. This week’s topics include: Cohabitation, The Temptation of Jesus, Christianity & the Arts, The Movie “Hail, Caesar!, The Apostle Matthias and more. You can listen on-demand at http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001vNUCJh7agRQX7NqPIt4NwK-fBaKBiAMIaP75l9dTqMSCV54S0qkM-3rXj35qIlF_D9U3CQ5c4g8GgC7Io5LdWA5CBN3iLP4TyBt_HsBmqZ7eKbmd_vr1H9_525fHo44enb4EYu7UBnuNgqGuNJ3Ksu7WcGDGDET56of-nWMC5q0=&c=l1qKBJFiCZa6Kc9qHv5AmMBrUobG6iqhkyLprF-AmfjBW1GXS-oHrw==&ch=R2nCCXXz2q3ZvVp55xdqVSZ6ScU_KnqSn9pecwThOzKye4LXNWO9bg== and on the Lutheran Public Radio mobile app.
2015 Mission Newsletter now available: Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) is pleased to announce the release of its 2015 Mission Newsletter, highlighting this year’s mission work around the world. If you want to just view the newsletter on your computer, download this web-friendly pdf.
American Lutherans March for Life: Thousands of people descended on Washington DC on January 22 to take part in the annual March for Life—the largest pro-life rally in the world. This year, members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod were at the head of the march. READ MORE
2015 worst year on record for Christian persecution: Christian persecution watchdog Open Doors has released the 2016 World Watch List, which details the level of Christian persecution taking place around the world. They report that 2015 was the worst year for persecution on record. READ MORE
Sudanese Anglicans hold meetings with LCMS; consider becoming Lutheran. READ MORE
In your prayers, please remember:
- Those undergoing radiation treatment
- Those undergoing surgery
- Those who mourn
- Friends and family struggling with cancer
- Families – particularly that they treasure and enjoy each other during this Family Day weekend
- Our observance of Jesus’ passion this Lenten season
The Lord be with you.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Kevin Walrath
January 29, 2016
To Pastors, Deacons and Congregational Leaders and Members throughout Lutheran Church-Canada
Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! In this package you are receiving a copy of the National Restructuring Survey for Lutheran Church-Canada. At the direction of the LCC Vancouver Convention (in 2014) and the near-unanimous resolutions of all three LCC District Conventions (in 2015), the Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure (CCMS) has begun the task of putting together a proposal for restructuring LCC to help us more effectively and efficiently work together in carrying out Christ’s Great Commission both at home and abroad. We are serious in wanting our proposal to reflect the wisdom and guidance of people in local congregations across the church. This is why the CCMS now comes to you with this National Survey in order to receive the grassroots input from all in the Synod. Therefore we are bold to ask you to fill out the Survey either on line or using a hard copy. Please respond as soon as possible since the Survey will only be available until February 29, 2016. The results of this survey will be shared with the entire church and the proposed new structure will be brought to the LCC Convention in October, 2017. We are asking that you take the time (approximately one hour) to complete the Survey very carefully and thoughtfully. Your responses are vitally important to the CCMS and eventually the whole Church. The on line Survey can be found at the login address: www.surveymonkey.com/r/LCC60<http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LCC60> The password is: LCC2017
(Those who complete the Survey online may actually find it helpful to print off a paper copy to use as a “worksheet” for reflection before they enter their online answers. Afterward the paper copy should be discarded.) We thank you in advance for filling out the Survey. Please pray for God’s gift of wisdom for the CCMS as it continues to work on this important restructuring project. Your fellow-servant of Jesus, Pastor William R. A. Ney, Chairman LCC Commission on Constitutional Matters and Structure
