Lent 2012 officially begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22. In a devotional written by Dr. Rich Bimler he writes the following:

"The pastor marks a cross on our foreheads and says, "ashes to ashes, dust to dust!" We are reminded that from dust we were formed and to dust we will return. Doesn't sound very encouraging, does it? But look what happens in between! In spite of our falling from God in the Garden of Eden, our ashes turn to alleluias because of Christ's suffering, death and resurrection! We begin our Lenten journey fully aware of our sin-filled condition, but also aware that those ashes on our foreheads are in the form of a cross to shout out to the world that the alleluia is coming!"

Our mid-week Lenten services will once again lead us from "ashes on our foreheads" to "joy on our faces." The theme for our Wednesday evening services is The Trials of Jesus. If you are intrigued with courtroom drama you will appreciate what will be happening each week during February and March. Each week a series of witnesses comes forward to give testimony about their experiences with the accused--Jesus Christ. Will they be truthful? Will they perjure themselves? Will any of them be guilty of murder themselves? As the six weeks of Lent unfold we will get anwers to these questions and who sits in the defendant's chair each week.

On Ash Wednesday our worship will begin at 7:00pm. The service will include the Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion. The soup suppers that precede each mid-week service (except on Ash Wednesday) are a wonderful way to gather with fellow Concordians to enjoy an excellent meal, engage in visitng and become further acquainted. Information on the soup suppers is located in the newsletter.

I hope all of you will set aside some time to take the Lenten journey as we go from death to life, from sinner to saint, from fear to forgiveness, from Good Friday to Easter. It's an annual trek that will enable us all to focus on that which ismost important in our daily lives and beyond.

Cordially in Christ,

Pastor Nolting