Happy Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Punchki Day, Mardi Gras, Carnival…

By whatever name you recognize this day, it is a day characterized by its excesses. While some may treat this as the last of indulgence before the scarcity of Lent; personally I see this day and the season of Lent from a different perspective.

I look forward to Lent. I see it as a time not for less, but for more. It is a time to retreat and renew with Jesus. Shrove Tuesday (a word which actually depicts confession and absolution) is personally a day to prepare for the journey. Here’s the illustration I use: Shrove Tuesday is the final day in which I pack my suitcase, get out the map, check in with my family and pray for the journey. What I mean is this…

• My suitcase: I gather the resources I would like to take along to practice spiritual disciplines.

• My Map: This is my retreat plan for the journey.

• Check-in: I connect with other Lenten travelers who are willing to pray with me and help me to be accountable to the plan.

• Prayer: Lent is journey with Jesus and beginning that journey with confession and laying before the Lord my plans allows me to surrender the journey to his lead.

I’d encourage you to do some of these things today as you take a bite of that punchki. As you pack your suitcase and route the trip consider some of opportunities available to you through our ministry.

Ash Wednesday Worship: Tomorrow there will be services at noon and 7:00 p.m. They will include the opportunity to receive ashes and the refreshment of the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Our elders are also serving their traditional Chili Supper at 6:00 p.m.

New for Ash Wednesday: Commuters can meet me at the Caribou Coffee shop on La Grange Road and Ogden. I’ll be there from 6:00 a.m. till 8:00 a.m. to pray and share ashes with anyone who would like to begin the day in this way. I’ll even buy the coffee! You can find me on the couch near the fireplace.

Join a Small Group: The core activity of our Lenten journey is our Group Life ministry. These groups that meet in homes (and some at the church) offer the opportunity to pray, study and serve together in a supportive community. There are just five sessions to attend, but the experience can be transformational. There are several opportunities to help connect you at time and location to fit your schedule. Contact our Group Life communications leader, Katrina Murphy (x. 211) or the group leader to get connected to a group.

The Lenten Devotional: Nearly 50 writers from St. John's produced this year's weekly journal for Lent. The online version can be accessed at www.sjlagrange.com/Lent12/today.htm.

Make a Daily Appointment for Prayer: We have 24/7 access to our Heavenly Father, but its easy to let hours and days go by without a regular discipline of prayer. Consider setting a phone or watch alarm to remind you to pray. If you want to share a prayer request by all means contact us. There’s even a quick online way to send in a request at www.sjlagrange.com/pray.

Map a Daily Bible Reading Plan: A great road trip for Lent includes a bible reading plan. But where do you start? A simple idea: look up the short readings in the devotional booklet. Another way that I’ve found help is through a website called, “youversion.com.” Here’s a link to their blog with hundreds of Lenten Bible reading plans.

Grace Place Retreat: The center-piece of our Lenten Journey is a retreat experience led by Dr. John Eckrich (March 16-17-18). I highly recommend this experience. We’re especially thankful to Wheat Ridge Ministries for sponsoring this event at St. John’s. While the maximum benefits will come from your full participation, don’t stay away if you can’t be at every session. You can read more about the retreat and register for it online at www.sjlagrange.com/graceplace.

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