Monday, March 03, 2014

Introduction - 2014

Introduction
    Once again, it’s been my honor and privilege to edit this book, and as always, it’s been a real Joy to me. As usual, we cut it very close in getting the devotions in – as usual, much closer than I would really prefer! (I’m writing this intro a bit after 2:30 AM on printing day!)
    One thing that is different this year is that there are no repeats of any devotions from years passed. You’ll note that once again each Sunday holds a hymn, and that this year each Saturday serves up a Psalm.
    Well, you may notice that one Saturday holds a devotion from Ron Draper, but if you were at Lake Louise (which you’ll find in these pages a few times as well), you’ll know that our worship focused on the idea that we can each write our own Psalms – prayers of thanksgiving, supplication, awe, love, fear, just about anything we need to tell God about, so consider this a new Psalm.
    Speaking of new things, along with the temperature and the piles of snow outside, the devotion from Vivian Anderson on March 06 gave me permission to include a piece I had written for Christmas, but that I think fits quite nicely any time of the year.
    Just as we have each year since reviving this Lenten tradition, we repeat the introduction from our congregation's first book of devotions of well over thirty years ago:

Keeping a true Lent requires us to be vigilant in many ways: in prayer, study, worship, sacrifice, giving, meditation, and fellowship.
One or all may take precedence, depending upon our daily commitments. From these devotions, lovingly prepared, may you find a well spring of faith to renew and sustain you, so that the Glorious Triumph that is Easter will remain with you always.
The Lenten Committee

Again, we can but say, “Amen.”
Charlie van Becelaere, Editor

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