Honor the Sabbath

This calendar year, one week in February, four weeks in March, and one week in April comprise the Lenten Season for Christians. Lent represents the journey to the cross and to Easter. The practice of Lenten observance began as a time of disciplined preparation for Baptism. Catechumens, those preparing to be baptized, took part in a year-long journey of study and prayer that culminated at Easter.

My prayer is that this year, as we make the important journey together towards Easter, we will practice Sabbath time, not leaving if for some other time of convenience. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The time for change is now. Tomorrow isn’t soon enough.”

Each one of us must look within to find a time to grow in our faith and our love for God and neighbor. Sunday may be that time or you may need to set aside an additional time of Sabbath rest.

Whenever the time is, be intentional about what you do during that time. Set time aside each week to listen and reflect on God and God’s word. Open the Bible, let the Word come alive, pray, talk to God, listen to God, write down your thoughts (if you’d like), be still, and rest in God’s arms. Set aside that time just for you and God. Do whatever helps you draw near. It will be different for everyone.

As you set aside this time this month, know that you are following God’s command:

If you refrain from trampling the sabbath,

from pursuing your own interests on my holy day;

if you call the sabbath a delight

and the holy day of the LORD honorable;

if you honor it, not going your own ways,

serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs;

then you shall take delight in the LORD,

and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth;

I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob,

for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 58:13-14

and you will be preparing yourself for Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Thank you for sharing the journey!

Grace and peace,

Lucia

Greetings from the Pastor

Greetings from the Pastor

February is "the" love month. I am reminded of what is called "The Law of Love." As Christians and as Presbyterians, we are called to do everything in a spirit of love.
Hear the words from the Law: " You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. Lev. 19:17-18 (NRSV)
Hear these words of Jesus Christ: "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35 (NRSV)
Hear these words from our Book of Order: "The Church is called to be Christ’s faithful evangelist demonstrating by the love of its members for one another and by the quality of its common life the new reality in Christ" (G3.0300c2)
And from C. S. Lewis: "The rule for all of us is perfectly simple: Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less." (Mere Christianity, bk.III, p.116)
Four kinds of love are referred to in the New Testament Greek: Eros (sexual), Philia (friendship), Storge (family affection), and Agape (charitable love). "All [are] good in their proper place, but Agape is the best because it is the kind God has for us and is good in all circumstances. (C. S. Lewis, in The Quotable Lewis, p.402)
The rule of love should be practiced as we do our work in the world. We are to be friends and lovers of humanity. We are to love God in all we do, say, and are, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Every business meeting, fellowship gathering, church workday, and in the reverence of worship, we are to conduct ourselves with love. We can have fun and vigorous discussions but with an overarching spirit of love. Then we know that Christ is at the center.
I reiterate what a blessing it is to be among you and say with the Apostle Paul: "I thank God upon every remembrance of you!"
Happy Love Month!
Lucia

Greetings! A Word from the New Pastor:

Grace and Peace to You, indeed! How exciting it is for me to begin as Minister of Word and Sacrament at First Presbyterian Church of Bridgeport, Texas. Please come join us for worship every Sunday morning at 11:00 am and for Sunday school at 10:00am. We have breakfast goodies at 9:30! Come and experience God's love in this place. I can't wait to get to know everyone!
Love in Christ,
Reverend Lucia McKee Kremzar
Email address:
Lemmaus0999@aol.com
Cell phone:
817-915-3558