February 27, 2023

Blessings to all of you in the midst of your Lenten Journey. I hope you will join us for a soup supper, Bible study, and prayer this Wednesday, and every Wednesday during Lent, at 6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall.

Last week, on Ash Wednesday, I suggested to you ten things that you might want to give up for Lent. Many of you have asked for a list of those ten things which I actually took from a larger list. This list is from Pastor Phil Ressler of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Old Bridge, New Jersey.

Instead of just the ten that I mentioned in my sermon, I thought I would share his whole list. Giving up these things will shape your Lenten Journey in a whole new way. Here’s his list, with the ones I highlighted in my sermon in bold print.

1. Fear of Failure
2. Your Comfort Zone
3. Feeling of Unworthiness
4. Impatience
5. Retirement
6. People Pleasing
7. Comparison
8. Blame
9. Guilt
10. Over Commitment
11. Lack of Counsel
12. Impurity
13. Entitlement
14. Apathy
15. Hatred
16. Negativity
17. The Spirit of Poverty
18. Going through the Motions
19. Complaint
20. The Pursuit of Happiness
21. Bitterness
22. Distraction
23. Giving Up
24. Mediocrity
25. Destructive Speech
26. Busyness
27. Loneliness
28. Disunity
29. The Quick Fix
30. Worry
31. Idolizing
32. Resistance to Change
33. Pride
34. Narrow View of God
35. Envy
36. Ungratefulness
37. Selfish Ambition
38. Self-Sufficiency
39. Sorrow
40. My Life

On the journey with you to the cross,

Pastor John D. Morris, Senior Pastor