Pastor’s Ponderings February 2024

To the church of God as found at Marion Salem Church, called to be saints together with those in every place who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: You are miracles of God’s grace and mercy!

I was encouraged on January 21st to have 6 youth and 3 adults join me for our first youth group meeting. They had great discussion around 1 Timothy 4:12, where Paul writes encouraging Timothy not to let anyone look down on him because of his age. Instead, Timothy is charged to set the example for the church. This is something that I think the youth group can do for Marion Salem Church too and told them this.

Their group will continue meeting on Sunday evenings provided that we have adult chaperones to help. The chaperones are not responsible for teaching or leading discussion—the teaching is from RightNow Media videos, and the youth will lead their own discussions. If you are able to help, please see me as soon as possible!

Because of the timing of Easter this year (March 31) we have an early Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday on February 14th. We’ll be observing Ash Wednesday with a Soup Supper at 5:30 pm and a worship service at 7pm. All will have an opportunity to receive ashes and communion at the service. The Lenten Sermon Series will be “Gloves Off.” The focus of this series is spiritual warfare as Jesus taught in Luke chapters 16-18. We’ll be able to put this to great practice during Lent with the “Our Easter Hearts” campaign, where we’ll be praying specifically for people who are unchurched, dechurched, and/or unsaved. Keep Wednesday, March 20th at 7pm on your calendar as we’ll join together that evening to pray over all the names we have collected as a congregation during Lent in preparation for Holy Week services.

The final thing I want to raise up to you this month is the beginning of a semi-weekly pastor’s study on Wednesday evenings. We’re going to dive into the Word together reviewing questions of basic Christian faith. All are invited to attend this study, we’ll pace ourselves and keep sessions to an hour. Keep an eye on the bulletin for week-to-week schedule changes.

Blessings,

Jason