Togetherness

By Donna Winchell 

 

This week we are taking another step in our Lenten journey toward Holy Week and the beautiful celebration of Easter. This will be my third Easter season at EPC and I marvel at the uniqueness of each year’s preparation and celebration.

In 2019, we enjoyed worshipping together on Palm Sunday, listening to a beautiful Cantata performed by our wonderful choir and enjoying the Fellowship breakfast that followed. Then Easter morning we gathered again to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ in our lovely sanctuary decorated with flowers donated in memory of loved ones. What a marvelous start to Holy Week culminating in our Easter celebration; a time of being together and sharing in our love for God and the glory of His resurrection.

Then last year we found ourselves worshipping together in a very different way, unable to physically congregate, but celebrating nonetheless in a very gratifying way thanks to technology. We still had the experience of togetherness with song and stories and another fellowship, this time virtually.

So I sit here today trying to imagine how 2021’s celebration will look. But as Mike would say: “Wait, there is more….”

More to do before we can rejoice together in the resurrection of Jesus Christ–––Lent provides this special time for us to repent, to grieve, to love, to hope and follow Jesus on His way to the Cross. A chance to grow and to strengthen our faith, binding us together and making all things possible because of our love and devotion to Him, and our love for each other.

More time to continue to pray, to reflect and to journey together during these last two weeks–––Our journey on earth is not just personal, but expands to our community and beyond. It is about our togetherness, and the call to mutually encourage one another. As we connect and share with others, it helps us to grow into the image of Christ – who lived and died for others.

With togetherness, we can reflect on Christ’s journey to the cross at each week’s Lenten service. We can walk jointly through the depths of salvation history into the fullness of redemption by taking some time to focus on what scripture says – letting us nurture the art of praying and reflecting together as a communion in Christ. We can seek a prayer partner – a family member, a friend or a neighbor to pray and focus on God’s message with us.

More living for others, walking with love for others–––Jesus teaches us the way and I love the passage in Ephesians 5: 1-2 – Walk in Love Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ²And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Lent allows us to examine that living for others also means when we sin or hurt someone else, or they sin against us, it is important to be aware, to love, to forgive, to reconcile with the power of  healing. As Paul declared: “If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. “ (Philippians 2:1-6 MSG)

Togetherness!!  When the body of Christ responds in a unified “Amen!” there is power in those words. The one thing I truly believe is that serving our Lord and being together in mind, body and spirit is an important part of Lent and the Easter celebration of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection, no matter where or how we celebrate in 2021 and beyond.

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” - Matthew 18:20 NIV.

Let’s Pray Together:

O God of mystery, in your Triune life you show us how to live as one in joy and peace. Bless our families and all relationships of care. With your Spirit, shape us into communities of respect and affection, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

(Prayer cited from Koinonia: Services and Prayers - Geneva: The Lutheran World Federation, 2004).