Do we have the faith to go out into the wilderness? Do we trust that God will provide? Even if it's not in the exact way we had hoped? And how exactly does one cultivate faith?  Personally and as a community?  How do we cultivate trust? 

Suzanne Guthrie, an Episcopal Priest and author offers what might be familiar images of the wilds in our own lives. She writes,  

"The desert wilderness is both a primary and recurring landscape of the soul. A place of danger and unspeakable beauty, of demons, wild beasts, roaming spirits, and temptation. The desert also hosts ministering angels and offers an unhindered sphere for the encounter with God."

Lent is a season full of opportunity for each of us to examine our own questions of faith and to journey further into our own wilderness. One way to do this is to set aside time to pray. The children and youth have been examining different forms of prayer - prayers said in community, like The Lord's Prayer and 'prayers in motion' that can be done alone, like walking a labyrinth.

This Sunday, we offer a service of music and while there will be no church school, this is a rich opportunity to be together in worship. Our children's choirs will sing. A newly commissioned hymn will be presented and sung. Ask your children to notice times in the service when our worship includes prayer. Does this happen in other ways besides the spoken word?

May God bless our trek into uncharted lands so that we may be a blessing to others.

A fellow sojourner,

Chris