Pastoral Musings

As I write this in January, the snow is coming down at a fairly good clip. So far

this winter, we have seen more snow than in the previous four. I am grateful to be

warm and safe as I look out on the snowy scene and appreciate the quiet that has

descended on my neighborhood. Yet even as I am grateful for these things, I’m

thinking of the tents I have seen nestled into a small outcropping along the highway, and I lift up a prayer for those for whom that is home. I pray that they, and others, have found a warm and safe space to weather this storm.

As we enter February, we have many more weeks of winter. But, as a

friend of mine noted many years ago when I was weathering my first New England winter, at least it’s a short month. For all of you snow lovers who look forward to this weather, I apologize for my lack of enthusiasm. I do admit to enjoying the snowmen, and women, that have been sprouting up in front yards. Some of those have been quite creative – and quite large this year!

This year, February is also the month in which we enter Lent, which will

begin on February 18th, Ash Wednesday. Each year, Lent offers us the opportunity

to reflect more deeply on our faith journey. Just as Jesus invited the disciples to

journey with him to see and experience God’s presence in their midst, so too we are invited into a more intentional journey with Jesus. His invitation to “come and see” is an invitation to us as well that we too may witness anew God’s abundant grace expressed in our lives.

May the grace of God guide each of us along our Lenten journey.

Blessings and Peace,

Pastor Linda