Message from the Pastor - Everything [In] Between

The story of Lent is a story of messy middles. Jesus is on the road, but he’s not there yet. Jesus is telling stories, but the crowds don’t understand. Jesus is leading a parade, but the crowds don’t understand. Jesus is risen, but the disciples can’t forget the cross.

Rev. Sarah Speed

We live in the messy middle – the spaces between what was and what will be. We live between joy and sorrow, mountaintops and valley lows, brokenness and wholeness, certainty and doubt. This Lent, our church will journey together through Everything [In] Between, a beautifully crafted resource by A Sanctified Art. We will wade into the middle of our sacred texts to find God and stretch our understanding beyond the binaries that our world so often gives. 

Beginning on Ash Wednesday, the Gospel of Luke will be our guide with Jesus setting his face toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51). From there, we will explore several familiar stories – the Good Samaritan, the Lost Sheep, Zacchaeus, and more. We’ll notice the dichotomies – intention and action, stranger and neighbor, lost and found, righteousness and mercy. And we will also imagine where God might be meeting us beyond the categories we create. 

Throughout his ministry, Jesus often highlighted the cultural and political polarities of his time to emphasize the radical, inclusive, and surprising love of God. When we study these stories in their historical and cultural context, we begin to see how they mirror the cultural and political divides many of us experience today – in our families, churches, and communities. 

Rather than seeking clear-cut, easy answers, this series encourages us to trust that God shows up in ways we don’t expect. Instead of the monochrome tones of right or wrong, true or false, this or that, we’ll encounter the kaleidoscopic hues of the messy middle. 

Each week, we will engage with scripture, art, and poetry designed to expand our imagination of faith, deepen our understanding of justice, and open our hearts to the Spirit’s work in the in-between. Lenten Devotional Booklets and Lenten Cards will also be available. This journey is not just about preparing for Easter morning – it’s about embracing the sacred unknown, honoring our questions, and finding courage to participate in God’s ongoing work of love and liberation. 

I invite you to join us as we walk through this sacred season together. May we step boldly into the messy middle, trusting that God is not only with us, but is also calling us forward in this moment in history – a moment that desperately yearns for resurrection hope. 

Blessings, 

Donna