News You Need to Know – (Lent 1 edition)
Happy Friday Fort King Faithful,
Here’s the News You Need to Know
as the Season of Lent begins…
WELCOME TO THE SEASON OF LENT
This week we entered the holy Season of Lent—a time set apart for reflection, renewal, and returning our hearts to God. Lent is a 40-day period that invites us to slow down, to listen more deeply, and to make room for the grace of God that reshapes our lives. As we begin this journey together, may these forty days draw us closer to God, to one another, and to the hope that leads us toward Easter’s joy.
Joy – finding joy and making room for joy – is our overarching theme this Lenten Season. While Lent is often framed as somber season, Scripture keeps surprising us with joy erupting in the very places we least expect it – which leads me to this Sunday’s sermon “Joy in the Wilderness: Experiencing God’s Presence in Hard Places.” I do hope you’ll join us, either in person or online.
Because Joy grows when we are together and when we look beyond ourselves and serve others, I have two requests of you this Lenten Season:
- Invite someone to church. Maybe a member whose been absent for a while, or a family member, a friend, or a neighbor. And don’t just invite them, offer to pick them up or take them to lunch afterwards. This Sunday in church there will be invitation cards available for you to pick up and use!
- Bring something for our Lenten Food Drive. Over the next six weeks I hope we will collect a “mountain” of food for the Interfaith Food Bank! And let me encourage you to ask others – again, your friends and neighbors (the one’s you invite to church?) – to contribute to this food drive and help feed our neighbors in need.
For those of you who are interested, pick up a copy of our Lenten Daily Devotional, “Discipleship in a Divided Age,” copies are available in the church narthex.
Crossroads Class
Prior to worship, join us for this week’s Crossroads Class as we wrap up our current (and fascinating) series on “The Process of Science.” This week Gwynn Pealer will lead us in a discussion of “Issues in Making Scientific Decisions,” Join us for coffee and conversation at 8:45, and class starts at 9:00 a.m., in person and online. All are welcome!
Legacy Luncheon and Planned Giving Program
Following the worship service this Sunday, the church’s Legacy Team has scheduled a “Legacy Luncheon and Program.” Following a sandwich and salad luncheon, noted local attorney Samantha Shealy-Rauba, who specializes in estate planning and elder law, will lead a seminar addressing: What is Planned Giving – why it’s important, how does it work, and what’s are the best ways to get started. These are important conversations to have and decisions to make, so we do hope you will make plans to stay (11:30-1:00 p.m.).
Lenten Blessings,
– Pastor Bob
Rev. Bob Scott, Transitional Minister
Fort King Presbyterian Church
13 NE 36th Ave., Ocala FL 34470
Church: (352) 694-4121
Mobile: (727) 599-6767
Email: Pastor
