The LORD brought Abram outside and said,

“Look at the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them.

So shall your descendants be.”

– Genesis 15:5

People of the Covenant,

As we begin the season of Lent this month, we prepare ourselves for a journey once more; a journey with Christ that takes us from the source waters of baptism to the foot of the cross.  What will we steer by along the way?  Who will be our guide during these 40 days?  Our Wednesday evening gatherings with sisters and brothers from Calvary (our final time for sharing, since Calvary will be completing its ministry in June of this year) will focus on the five baptismal promises/practices that we make at the baptismal font.  In response to God’s adoption of us as beloved children, we commit ourselves to: Living among God’s faithful people; Hearing the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper; Proclaiming the good news of god in Christ through word & deed; Serving all people, following the example of Jesus; Striving for justice and peace in all the earth.  Baptism is the wellspring for our lifelong relationship with Christ.  I hope you will participate in the simple rhythm of Meal and Worship and the conversation we look forward to together.

What else can guide us as we take up the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving?  Brother Martin once addressed this question in response to a query posed by his barber Peter.  “How should an ordinary person like me pray?” Peter asked.  In response, Luther wrote A SIMPLE WAY TO PRAY, encouraging Christians to pray in their own words rather than reciting prayers they had memorized, and to trust the Holy Spirit to guide them.  Though Christians nowadays have more experience with personal prayer than the men and women of Luther’s day, we can still sometimes feel uncomfortable or inadequate in our praying.  Luther offered to his barber Peter, and offers us, a simple way forward.

Start with a scripture text or hymn, wrote Luther, and read it four ways.

• Read it as a schoolbook, reflecting upon what God is teaching you.
• Read it as a song or praise book, giving thanks to God for the gifts God give or bring to your awareness.
• Read it as a penitential book, confessing your sins, your needs, and your weaknesses as they are reveled to you.
• Turn the words into a short prayer you may speak to God.

There are no “right” or “wrong” prayers in this approach. Luther’s core conviction was that the Scriptures are not intended to fill our heads with interesting ideas, but to bring the active power of God’s Word into our lives.[1] Perhaps this is where we can begin our own Lenten journey.

Whatever other practices might guide our feet, we can also take our cue from the Genesis 15 above. Years have passed since Abram first heard God’s word of promise—“you will have an heir”—yet he and Sarai remain childless. In a vision God visits Abram to reassure him, but Abram wants something more. So God invites Abram out of his tent and tells him to look up at the stars. COUNT THEM, IF YOU CAN MANAGE, God says. SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE. Beholding those stars, Abram is struck by the enormity and sweep of God’s promise with is for him and beyond him. And trust finds a nesting place in his heart once more. On this Lenten journey we do not place our trust in our ability to successfully follow disciplines or acquire good habits—though are helpful things to do. Our invitation is always and forever to trust that what God promises, God will deliver. Those stars are a confirmation of that promise, so keep your head up!

Pastor Erik

[1] Luther’s response “For Peter, the Master Barber” is summarized in Kathryn Kleinhans, Lenten Journey: Seven Wonders of the Word. (Augsburg Fortress, 2010)