"Lent" or "Lint"
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? 2 Corinthians 13:5 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. I Corinthians 11:28 As a child, I was confused by this season of the year and could not figure out why Christians would celebrate "lint". I knew lint was that stuff that I had to get out of the dryer screen so the house wouldn't catch on fire. Lint was those annoying balls of material that appeared on wool coats, sweaters, socks and pants and had to be picked off one by one. Lint would get on the sofa and have to be brushed off. Why in world was the church excited about "lint"? Of course, as I got older, I learned the difference between "lint" and "Lent", the season of preparation for Easter in the Christian Church. But in my mind, when I hear the word "Lent", those childhood images still pop into my mind. Interesting enough, I have found a connection between the two sound-alike words. Lent is a time of self-examination and penitence. As we recall what Christ did for us through his death and resurrection, believers are called to recommit themselves in a sacrificial spirit. That is why many people "give up" things - sweets, sodas, meat - for Lent. Lent is the time when we are to open our eyes and acknowledge the things that prevent is from fully being who God made us to be. We pick off the things that don't look good in our lives - greed, laziness, doubt, fear, impatience, selfishness, bitterness and so on - just as we would pick the balls of lint off of a precious garment. Often these attitudes and behaviors seem small and inconsequential, but they are barriers to true faithful living. Just as we are instructed to examine ourselves before we take communion, the church's Lenten season is an invitation to examine ourselves. Lent is the season of getting ready to receive the gift that God gave us through his son Jesus' sacrifice. God wants us to be our best, so "Lent" is a good time to take care of the "lint" that has been distorting our true beauty as the children of God and as inheritors of eternal life through a resurrected Jesus Christ. Bits and Pieces. Classes for the Spring Semester of the ACADEMY FOR PUBLIC THEOLOGY began February 4th. Courses include New Testament Survey (February), Contemporary Preaching (March) and Church Administration (April). Classes will be in Birmingham, Huntsville, Phenix City and Chatom. For more information, email Dean Gloria Haynes at [email protected] or call 205-929-1153. If you want to invite Bishop Snorton to preach or visit, you will find her schedule on the Fifth District website www.cmefifthdistrict.org to check her availability. The CME Church has a new website -www.thecmechurch.org. For instructions on how to keep the site updated by visit www.thecmechurch.org/Announcements/CMEWebsiteupdate.htm. You can add your local church in the CME Church directory, submit photos and videos of your local church, Region or Episcopal District special events (with the appropriate permissions), and provide feedback. Donate to the Faith Walk March 24, 2013 Please support Rev. Kenneth Smith, pastor of the Mt. Ararat Church in Alexandria, Alabama on his Palm Sunday, March 24th Faith Walk of 18 miles. Individuals and churches are asked to make a donation. Donations can be made online on his website. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Association. Rev. Smith is a cancer survivor! For more information click here to go to his website! Download his information letter here! Upcoming Events March 3-9 National Week of Prayer for the Healing of HIV/AIDS www.nwpha.org March 7 (Th) Birmingham Pastors meet with School Superintentent, Churches Addressing Violence Project, Sixteenth St. Baptist Church, 10 - 11:30 am March 16 Come see our own Desirae (Desi) Washington (member of Oak Grove, Athens) in concert with the University of Alabama Afro American Gospel Choir at 5 pm at the University Church of Christ, Tuscaloosa, AL March 22 Miles College Founder's Day 11 am First Baptist Church, Fairfield, AL March 22-23 Alabama Regions Spring Convocation Sheraton Hotel, Birmingham March 24 Birmingham Region Annual Stewardess Day 4 pm, Thirgood CME Church, Birmingham March 25-29 Holy Week Click here for information on Smith Tabernacle (Anniston) Tent Revival April 5-6 Florida Region Spring Convocation Wyndam Hotel- Tampa Westshore Click here for Registration, Hotel, and Schedule information and forms for both the Alabama and Florida 2013 Spring Convocations. The HOTEL deadline for the Alabama Regions Spring Convocation at the Sheraton Birmingham was FEBRUARY 19! Reservations now taken based on room availability. The HOTEL deadline for the Florida Regions Spring Convocation at the Wyndam Hotel-Tampa Westshore is MARCH 22! 2013 ANNUAL CONFERENCE DATES AND LOCATIONS are posted on our website, www.cmefifthdistrict.org, or click here. Contact Us: Mailing Address: P. O. Box 13383 Birmingham, AL 35202 Office Location: 4901 Lloyd Nolan Parkway Fairfield, AL 35164 PLEASE DO NOT SEND MAIL TO THIS ADDRESS, USE THE POST OFFICE BOX ABOVE!!! Website: www.cmefifthdistrict.org Facebook: 5th Episcopal District of Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME) Email: [email protected] Twitter: @cme5th Office Phone: 205-929-1145 Office Fax: 205-929-1190 NEW! CME Church Website: www.thecmechurch.org |