Letter From the Pastor – March 2025

Dear Church,
When you receive this edition of The AveNews we will be just a few days away
from the beginning of Lent. Lent being the six-week period leading up to the celebration of Easter Sunday. The first Sunday in Lent this year is March 9th, which also marks the start of Daylight Savings Time. We will set our clocks to “spring forward” one hour. This is appropriate because one of the original uses of the word lent was to mark the spring season and the days becoming longer. Spring, of course, is also a time of year when there is much growth. All the life found in nature that had died off, receded, or hibernated during winter begins to come back and grow anew. Likewise, during the 40-day season of Lent, observant Christians have opportunity to focus on spiritual growth and renewal. And it all begins with Ash Wednesday (March 5th this year) when we observe the ritual of being marked by a cross of ashes on our forehead. This is to remind us that death is a reality of life, and part of all our journeys. Even a journey of growth and renewal. This is especially true when we are on a journey with Jesus from the cross to empty tomb and the resurrection. This year CWCC will observe Ash Wednesday on March 5th at 12 pm with a meal and the imposition of ashes at First Presbyterian Church of Troy. In addition to our friends from First Pres, we will be joined by members of Northminster Presbyterian Church and Congregational Church of Birmingham. Additionally, here at Central Woodward we will be sharing in Lenten Suppers, which will be a time of fellowship, prayer, and devotional study. Our first two suppers will be on Wednesday March 19th at 6 pm, and Wednesday April 2nd, at 6 pm. There will be a light supper followed by a time to discuss the Lenten Devotional for this year, Unsettling Lent. The devotionals are available, free of charge, at the church. There will be more information about special services during Holy Week in next month’s AveNews. In the meantime, I hope that you will mark your calendars with the dates shared here and undertake this time of spiritual growth and renewal together with your friends at CWCC.
Peace,
Pastor Zach