A Season of Preparation, then Celebration!

Greetings, Church FRamily. Grace to you. It feels like Christmas just ended, but the Resurrection Season is just around the corner!

I would like to invite you to join me during the period between Sunday, February 22nd, and Resurrection Weekend (April 3rd to 5th). During this time, we will take a break from the noise and clutter of daily life and refocus our hearts on Jesus. Imagine it as a ‘lent-like season’—a simple and intentional period of prayer and (if possible) fasting—to help us avoid rushing into Easter the way we rush into everything else: busy, distracted, exhausted, and therefore, not fully present.

Through our exploration of Exodus, we understand that we don’t seek to earn anything from God. Grace moves first. Jesus has already paid the full price. We add nothing. However, we create space to receive more of what He loves to give: deeper repentance, renewed affection, a greater hunger for His Word, and a steadier joy in the gospel. For some, fasting might involve skipping a meal and dedicating that time to prayer. For others, it could mean stepping back from social media, streaming services, sweets, soda, or the constant scrolling. The goal isn’t misery; it’s more Jesus.

Let’s do this together: pick one practice of prayer and one “fast” (big or small), and ask the Lord to use it to help prepare your soul for the Cross and the empty tomb. By Resurrection Weekend, may our hearts be so full of Christ that “He is risen” doesn’t just sound true—His new life feels freshly applied.

May the presence of His grace and peace and strength be manifest TO you and THROUGH you in this time!

MUCH love!

~doug