Dear Members and Friends of the River John-West Branch Pastoral Charge:
Over the next forty days (not including Sundays) from Ash Wednesday until the Saturday before Easter, we will be on a journey in search of who Jesus is in our midst. This is not a new journey, but one on which we find ourselves for much of our lives. Lent is an intentional time in which we focus on this search and seek to grow closer together with our God and closer together as a Christian community. And so we ask, “Who is Jesus for us today?”
As a way of beginning, we might ponder a bit of our history as a Christian people. The symbol of the Fish (as pictured above) has a long history of being a symbol containing the very early beliefs of what it means to be a follower of Christ. The Greek word for fish is ichthus, which early Christians used to identify themselves, as well as to spell out their very basic beliefs. Each letter stood for a word in a sentence that indicated the belief held. “Jesus Christ is the anointed Messiah, the Son of God and Saviour. “ Early Christians would use this to identify each other, for they were in fear of persecution.
In our time, it might not seem as urgent to declare who Jesus is for us in such a secretive way. But during this time, it is quite important for us to continue to discover who Jesus is as we deepen our relationships with Him and with each other as a community of Christ followers. Enclosed with this letter is a schedule of community events and worship opportunities to which you are invited and in which we can enter into moments of quiet contemplation and reflection as a means of furthering our discovery as we support each other in our search.
It is my sincere hope that during Lent, as we journey to Easter, we will continue to more fully understand who Jesus is for us and who we are as a community of those who follow His way.
Wishing you a Peaceful and Contemplative Lent, and an Easter full of celebration,
The Rev. Catherine Stuart
