FaithGroups Lent Season 2021 (Feb 21 - Mar 28)

There are so many things competing for our time, energy and allegiance these days. The list is long and it can leave us feeling exhausted and depressed. Do you feel it, too? The pandemic has been raging for a year, now, and we know many of us are yearning for connection and encouragement... just a positive, hopeful word to let us know we're not alone.

Lent--the 40 days before Easter--offers time to take an honest and grace-full look at ourselves and our world, how we practice community and God's presence together. This season in the church invites us to acknowledge all of unsavory stuff, and live into God's promise to be with us through all of life's twists and turns, shadows and storms.

Using Awesome Mystery (a short devotional published by Luther Seminary, Saint Paul, MN) as a guide, we'll carve out time to respond to life/faith, God’s work, weekly Sunday/Wednesday messages, etc. Together, in community. 

This will be a flexible and open time, so join in via zoom when you can. Come as you are. Kids, messy houses, pets and all. All are welcome. No matter who you are.

We’ll keep it brief, focused on support and encouragement. We’ll do a short opening/intention and then breakout into smaller groups. During this time, we'll listen to, share with and support one another. Then, we'll come back together to wrap things up and send you off into the world with a deeper resonance with God's grace. We'll lift up hope for one another.

There will be just enough direction to facilitate healthy conversation and reflection. Each session should last about 45 minutes... brief and focused. This seems like just the right length to fit into your Sunday evening schedule. It might be a good way to prep for the coming week's schedule and possibilities.

Here's the bullet points...

• What: weekly zoom gathering for support, encouragement and connection

• Why: we're made to share life in supportive, diverse, truth-seeking communities of transformation

• When: weekly, Sunday @ 4:00pm, February 21 thru March 28

• Where: via Zoom to ensure our health and safety during pandemic (click here for the zoom link)

• Format: start in large group, break out for discussion, then come back together for closing remarks

• Discussion Guide: Awesome Mystery (a short devotional by Luther Seminary, Saint Paul, MN)

• Weekly Participation in Zoom: ideal, but not required

• Registration: email Nate Bergengren, modern worship arts director & FaithGroups leader - 

No matter where you are on this part of the journey, we hope you will prayerfully consider joining us for this weekly community-wide Zoom FaithGroups experience. More info to come, so leave some room in your heart for what God wants to do in you through this exciting endeavor. The invitation has been extended... the "table" has been set.