Never have I been so perplexed, nor waited so long to decide what to do for a Lenten program. For months I thought I knew what we would be doing for our Wednesday evening program. Then the election happened. Why should that matter, you might wonder? Now it seems that so much of our conversation gets viewed through the lens of “What’s happening in Washington” or the latest CNN News Alert to pop up on our phone. So it seemed this year that it was important to return to our roots– to consider the most basic premises that underlie any outward manifestations of our faith right now. For our conversation this year we will be engaging with the brothers of the Society of St. John the Evangelist in a conversation about mission. The foundation of our Lenten study will be something that everyone can engage in, either in a group, or if you choose, on your own. If you are going to do it on your own (I encourage you to do this if you are going to join either of the groups, too) please register at www.5marksoflove.org. For our Wednesday evening group we will enjoy a light meal, view selected very short videos, engage in exercises and thoughtful conversation, and close with prayer– all from 6:30 – 8p on five Wednesdays: March 8, 15, 22, 29 and April 5. For the Tuesday group (March 7, 14, 21, 28 & April 4), we will meet at 12:15p. The same program will be offered, but folks will bring their own bag lunch, and we’ll wrap up by 1:30.

–Cynthia Black