Carnival: “Build a New World”. Read more about the theme and the meaning of Carnival Sunday here! The last Sunday before Lent, Feb 15 this year, we gather for worship, to sing, to hear Scripture, to confess. We poke fun at ourselves and some of us wear playful costumes. We add a little magic, a little banter, and we indulge in doughnuts. Laughter and play can help make space for the Holy Spirit’s work of restoration and our work of repentance. Especially as we practice not taking ourselves too seriously, exploring our “shadow side”, and exaggerating what we usually try to hide about ourselves. Sometimes some surprises show up along with balloons. There will be Donuts and Coffee at 9:30am; Worship at 10am; and a Fellowship Meal at 11:45ish.

Lent begins in the wilderness. The Spirit guides Jesus into the wilderness where he comes face to face with temptation and struggle. Yet, in his forty days of fasting, resisting, and wandering, Jesus is shaped and formed for an active, life-giving ministry of healing, blessing and teaching. Similarly, through the wilderness of Lent, we are invited to surrender to the wild leadings of the Spirit. We rarely enter the wilderness willingly, but hopefully through our wandering we remember who we are and whose we are. The wilderness can give us space to prepare for the work ahead. You can read the full intro to our Lenten series here.