Lent 2012

I am excited that we - Pastor Bob and I - are trying something a little different on Sunday mornings. Rather than using the four reading prescribed by the Revised Common Lectionary we will be reading and preaching on the Pasion Narrative from Mark's Gospel. It divides nicely into four parts so after an introductory piece tomorrow, the First Sunday of Lent, we will read the arrest in Gethsemane on March 4, the trial before Jewish authorities on March 18, the trial before Pontius Pilate on March 25, ending with the death and burial scence on Passion/Palm Sunday, which is ironically on April 1 this year.

On March 11 the whole parish will gather in Wyndmere for my service of installation with Bishop Rindy presiding and Pastor Bob preaching. I am excited that, weather permitting, my kids and grandkids will be in Wyndmere for the occasion. I miss my visits to Grand Forks, and going to Church with my little buddies.

If you are following the Read the Bible in a Year schedule, we are finishing up the Gospel of John during the week of February 26, and then starting with some Old Testament history the week of March 4. The books of Joshua and Judges tell of the time in the history of the Israelites between the Exodus from Egypt under Moses and the beginning of the settement in the Promised Land. First and Second Samuel are focused on King David and the final conquest of the land centered in Jerusalem. First and Second Kings form a long narrative which details the decline of the Monarchy in the northern and southern kingdoms, and the destruction of the Temple and the Exile of the people during the time of King Nebuchadnezzar in the early 6th century BCE. God's providence is an overarching them throughout these history books.