Dear New Life,

The season of Lent kicks off this week with Ash Wednesday on 2/14. For the first part of my Christian journey, I pretty much ignored seasons like Lent, knowing that my relationship with Jesus was secured on faith in what He did for me on the cross. As I've matured in my faith, I've come to realize that I was missing out on something that could draw me closer to Jesus. In a related way, my marriage is not contingent on whether or not we maintain a tradition of date nights, but when we practice that tradition, we end up with a stronger personal connection. Lent is a season when many fellow Christ followers focus on their worship of God by taking part in things like prayer, fasting, and giving. If you want a closer relationship with Jesus, I invite you to engage this Lenten season as we prepare to celebrate all that Jesus has done for us. Lent  starts with Ash Wednesday (2/14), a time of humility and repentance. It concludes with the Passion Week: Palm Sunday (3/24), Good Friday (3/29), and Easter Sunday (3/31), when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

May the Lord draw you closer and closer to Him!

Pastor Joel VanderSchel, on Behalf of the Elder and Minister Team