I already know vs. I want to learn

It's been one heck of a season.

Even a foreigner quietly rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers could feel the palpable excitement, confidence, and energy surrounding the Carolina Panthers this fall. It seemed like the thrill of winning and the excitement of excellence could not ever get old or run dry. I'm sure all of us could watch Cam throw perfect passes and Kuechly pound offensive players to the ground over and over and over again.

The Panthers ran onto the field on Sunday night as winners, filled with confidence, pride and excitement. It was thrilling. As I stood in line at Dominos to pick up my Super Bowl pizza behind 12 people all dressed head-to-toe in Panthers gear and face paint, I couldn't suppress a grin of happiness. The build up to Super Bowl 50 was electrifying. 

 

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Then, something unthinkable happened.

 

They lost.

 

Now, of course, as a Pittsburgher, I'll give credit to those of you who are claiming a conspiracy theory. It seems a little convenient that Sir Peyton Manning's appearance in the Super Bowl was also his 200th professional game...also probably his last game ever... But in reality, the Panthers simply made mistakes and failed to capitalize on the mistakes of their opponents.

 

They lost.

 

And now for something completely different...Ash Wednesday

It's kind of awkward in my mind that we are beginning Lent right now, but that is where it falls on the calendar. Like the Panthers, we seem to still be coming off of the nearly perfect season of Advent. Jesus has just been born, baptized, and preached his first sermon. We have not even had a chance to hear stories from Jesus' life and ministry, yet here we find ourselves: at Ash Wednesday, the commencement of Lent, preparing for Jesus' death and resurrection.

 

Lent is a tricky season. It requires us to suspend our imaginations, to look forward to Good Friday, but not so forward that we see the empty tomb and take the journey to the cross for granted. It requires us to remember our sin, even to dwell in our humanity, but not to become self-abusing about it. Lent requires us to give something up that keeps us from delving further into our faith journey, and to take up a new spiritual discipline to walk more closely in the footsteps of our Lord. We put away the songs with "Allelujah!" in them; everything is written in the key of e minor, according to Miss Patsy; we begin the season by smearing ashes across our face and reminding ourselves that we are dust. Not exactly a trip to Disney.

 

In Lent, we are asked to start the journey fresh. We are asked to leave what we think we already know and seek the things that we want to learn. We set aside our arrogance, our pride, our self-righteousness, and we seek humility, grace, and empathy. In short, we have to lose something in order to move forward in our discipleship with Jesus. It is similar to the Carolina Panthers, who are right now grateful for the success they have had, but they take their loss as an opportunity to learn how to be better in the future.

 

Some opportunities

Unity Presbyterian Church is taking its call to discipleship during Lent very seriously. There are lots of ways to learn and grow, to seek humility, grace, and empathy. We hope that you will join us as we leave our baggage and our pride at the door in order to follow our Lord more closely.

 

Sunday Night Live

Youth Group will remain normal during Sunday Night Live, but classes for adults and children will be available on Sunday nights. We will also join the congregation for the meal at 6:00 pm those evenings.

 

For more information or to sign up for a meal, go here:

 

Sunday Night Live

 

At Table With Jesus

On Wednesday evenings in Lent (February 17-March 16), we will have a program for adults and youth (both Middle and High School). Together, we will look at some lessons from the book At Table With Jesus by John O. Gooch. This will be the schedule:

 

6:00-6:30: Soup Supper

6:30-6:45: Brief Worship

6:45-7:30: Breakout Study groups

(Adult, High School, Middle School)

 

For more information, please go here:

 

At Table With Jesus

 

There is no need to sign up for this event. A free-will offering will be taken for food.

 

Sunday School

Every Sunday we have Sunday School from 10:00-10:45 am. Even if you've gotten out of the routine, it's never too late to come back.

 

Here are some adult classes:

 

Adult Discipleship

 

Here are some youth classes and youth group information:

 

Youth Discipleship

 

Devotionals

We have devotional books for people of all ages available. They include daily readings, prayers, and activities. Please visit our table in the Narthex following worship this Sunday to get a copy.

 

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Wherever you find yourself this season of Lent, I pray that you would find the wisdom and the strength to shed the things that hold you back, and I pray that you would find a way to follow Jesus more deeply and more closely.