MARCH 2017
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“One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” – Matthew 4:4 (NRSV)
There are many signs around us letting us know spring is coming!! The season of Lent is coming to us, too. Lent is a forty day journey, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter). When we look at church history, people have observed this season of Lent in various ways, and in A.D. 352 the Council of Nicea decided it was to be 40 days long.
The number “40” appeared many times in the Bible, such as Moses’ 40 days of fasting at Mount Sinai, the Israelites’ 40 years living in the wilderness, the 40 days of temptation Jesus faced in the wilderness. We understand the meaning of 40 as the period of suffering and renewal based on the Bible. Furthermore, Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter” and the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with the joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.
The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of reflection and penance for 40 days. According to the Bible, traditionally when people have committed sins they repented in sackcloth and ash, so the church tradition has followed that action through the imposition of ash to remember and understand the meaning of the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus.
For this year, as we begin the season of Lent, I would like to encourage you all to join in reading the New Testament. I made a New Testament reading schedule (continued on the next page), so if you begin reading the New Testament according to this schedule you can finish reading it by Holy Saturday. You may not begin or finish it by the Easter season, but that is ok. Through the reading of the whole New Testament, our goal is to realize God’s amazing grace, love, and plan for each one of us.
As you start reading, you may have various pitfalls and temptations that may make you stop in the practice. However, I am sure you will find out how every word of God makes you truly alive. I will pray for you and also join together in this great journey to take one more step in faith. Let’s all celebrate the most memorable Easter together!
Blessings,
Pastor Ran
Matthew – Mt
Mark – Mk
Luke – Lk
John – Jn
Acts of the Apostles – Acts
Romans – Ro
1 Corinthians – 1 Co
2 Corinthians – 2 Co
Galatians – Gal
Ephesians – Eph
Philippians – Php
Colossians – Col
1 Thessalonians – 1 Th
2 Thessalonians – 2 Th
1 Timothy – 1 Ti
2 Timothy – 2 Ti
Titus – T t
Philemon – Phi
Hebrews – Heb
James – Jam
1 Peter – 1 Pe
2 Peter – 2 Pe
1 John – 1 Jn
2 John – 2 Jn
3 John – 3 Jn
Jude – Ju
Revelation – Rev