“While all the runners in the stadium take part in the race, the award goes only to one. In that case, run so as to win! Athletes deny themselves all sorts of things. They do this to win a crown of leaves that withers, but we a crown that is imperishable.” 1 Corinthians 9:22-24 Evening Prayer II, First Sunday of Lent

With prayer, sacrifice, and the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday, we, the Church, have begun the season of Lent. During these forty days, we seek to be a different, better Church by Holy Week and Easter.

During this Season of Lent 2018, members of our Parish Council and others will gather to experience a journey of adult faith development called “Alpha.” Ultimately, this journey will be opened and offered to all interested adults, but the gathering, training, and beginning this journey in faith together will take time. This Lenten Season seemed a wholly appropriate time within which to call together and form the team for our parish. As we achieve certain benchmarks in this initial phase we will create opportunities to share information with you. I ask all of us to hold this initiative within our parish community in our prayers!

As I am putting these thoughts to paper, the passage cited from 1 Corinthians above is especially apt, since all forms of media are carrying images to us from the Winter Olympic Games in South Korea. As Paul surely admired the dedication and skills of the athletes of his day, we, too, find joy and pride in the achievements of athletes from countries the world over who join in these quadrennial competitions. But also like Paul, we can discern the difference between a record achievement on snow or ice that will hold that record only until a future athlete proves faster or better, and arrival at that reward for which we were created that will not fade, be eclipsed or forgotten. Our minds and hearts know that while “Gold” is the best it gets, that is so only within time and within the limits of this created order.

That for which were created and for which our spirits are destined in the truest sense requires a taste of eternity and a reach that exceeds every limit we know!
Fr. Tom