Rev. Zach

Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 ; Romans 5:12-19 ; Matthew 4:1-11 The parades have passed, the King Cake is all gone, and the season of Lent has begun as we prepare ourselves for the severity of the cross on Good Friday and the joy of the empty tomb on Easter! Some of us imposed Ashes on our heads last Wednesday, but that does not mean we got any extra points. It just means we engaged in a meaningful tradition that reminds us of our mortality and the grace and mercy of God that holds us as we all get through this thing called life. In case you are curious about the season of Lent and the way ashes and other disciplines might help us to get ready for Easter, there is a video by Rev Anne Russ posted on our Facebook page. One thing I will say about Lent is that I am routinely asked whether or not Presbyterians give things up and why or why not. The simplest answer is that it doesn’t hurt, but God’s going to love you no matter what you do. The longer answer is that some people find that giving som...

Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 Romans 5:12-19 Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus was baptized and led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit of God. That’s how the story of his temptation begins. He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to fast and pray and be tempted by the very presence of evil. Have you ever thought about that? I’ve heard this story a thousand times, but I’ve never thought about the way it overlaps with the Lord’s prayer. That prayer comes from the disciples asking Jesus how to pray, and he told them to start with glory, move to basic needs, repent for sin between us and between God, and beg that we do not have to face the same kind of trial that he did. Of course, it ends giving glory to God, too. I’ve always wondered why God would lead us into temptation in the first place, but I guess the real issue is that temptation always seems to come along in the wilderness. That’s not to say that there is some weird demonic force living in the woods. The woods are not the s...