Lenten Reflection - Day 36: by Shirley Evans

READING: Isaiah 50: 4-9a

“The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary….”

As I’ve grown in the Word of God, I’ve been taught to be direct in prayer, to ask for something specifically, not to be general (although that’s OK too). So this is a prayer story and a faith story.

Throughout our lives together, my husband and I were sailors – sailing small boats in lakes and oceans near where we lived. We sailed small Corps of Engineers lakes in the Midwest, the Great Lakes, the Atlantic, the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and enjoyed our weekends and vacations on the water. When it came time to quit sailing, we needed to sell our boat – one we loved and used for many years. It had often become our home away from home on long distance cruises.

We listed the boat with a boat broker and anxiously hoped for a quick sale. Our days of waiting turned into weeks and then into months. During this time my husband’s health continued to decline. My anxiety increased as time passed.

One morning as I drove to work, I said a prayer asking that the boat sell soon – thus making my life less complicated as Carnot’s health worsened. (Is that a specific enough prayer, Lord?)
That same morning in the middle of a meeting at work, I got a phone call and briefly left the meeting. The broker had an offer, close to our asking price, and the boat was sold!

I felt like the Holy 2x4 had hit me – it’s that submission thing that Pastor Nathan is telling us. Why hadn’t I prayed for help before? Why is it that we are surprised when He answers our prayers?
…”it is the Sovereign Lord who helps me.” (Is. 50:9a)

Lenten Reflection - Day 35: by Troy & Angela Goetz

READING: John 12: 20-33

“Why don’t we pray together for God to bring us a baby?” When my husband spoke these words, I knew our faith was real. These words took both of us by surprise since neither of us was very religious. We had been trying to have a baby for some time. I thought for sure I was being punished by God because of sins from the past.

Troy always believed, yet didn’t feel a need to attend Church. He felt it was more casual, he knew the basics. I wasn’t sure I believed, and felt going to church would help me get there. Once we started going, we both felt this peace, this wholeness that we hadn’t felt before. Suddenly it became o.k. to talk about God and this even brought us closer. So when Troy asked me to pray with him for the first time in our 13 years together, we both knew what faith truly felt like. We didn’t know what we were missing until we came to know God and each other in this way.

I no longer think I was being punished, but brought to have a relationship with God that I couldn’t imagine before this time in our lives. As for that prayer, it was answered and we have beautiful baby Christopher. We like to consider him our little ‘miracle of faith’.

Lenten Reflection - Day 34: by Renee Rose

READING: Hebrews 5: 5-10

The two words that came to me when I read this verse and other readings related to it, were responsibility and obedience. When first thinking of these words I would describe myself as a highly responsible individual. I would also say that I was fairly obedient as a teenager and even in my adult life I am moderately to highly obedient. Until writing this I never thought about this further, but as I wrote this I found myself asking how I would apply these two words to my faith. The bottom line is I fall short. I am sure that we can all identify areas that we fall short in our responsibilities and obedience in life, but perhaps especially in our faith. Perhaps like me you are struggling with the conflict between responsibility to your life and responsibility to your faith and making it grow. Where do the two meet or do they? What do I know for sure? Christ is with me and I have known that all my life. I have never questioned that. I also know that he is pushing me to make the next move but why am I holding back?

Christ I pray that you give us the strength to be obedient and responsible in our faith and give us the strength to make the next move. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - Day 33: by Melissa Hauck

READING: Psalm 51: 1-12

My mother married a Lutheran Minister when I was ten years old. So our lives consisted of church every week. When I moved out, I only went on Christmas, Easter and an occasional Sunday.

When I met my husband Steve, we knew we wanted to find a church we liked together. We found St. Stephen and knew we had found our church. We had both our boys and baptized them here.

The guidance my parents gave me, helped me find the place I needed to be as an adult and with my family. My husband and children are what has made me stronger and grow with my faith in God. I know now I can guide my children to love themselves and God. I look forward to seeing them grow stronger in their faith with God as I have. I feel so blessed to be part of such a great family here at St. Stephen.

Lenten Reflection - Day 32: by Crystal Law

READING: Jeremiah 31: 31-34

All I can say is Wow! Can you feel the impact of those words? “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts because they will know me.” I will be the first one to admit that I have struggled with my faith and religion. It was never that I did not believe in God but I couldn’t align the protestations of the people of God and their actions. I would watch people of faith, see how they love their neighbors but not act neighborly at all. While reading the actions of our forefathers in the Inquisition, all I could think is, “Why am I a part of this?” I have come to the realization that others actions or lack there of do not define me. I have my own Story, though not a published one, since it is a journey. It is manuscript that is constantly undergoing editing and revisions and the next chapter is blank ready for me to pick up a pen to write it. That doesn’t mean some passages are easy to write. Faith looks like a heart rate monitor, your heart goes up and down just like your faith will, but when it is flat lining, stagnant; you have problems.

There are times in my life that I wished I had listened to God and his word a bit closer because it would have saved me a lot of trouble. I remember reciting the Lords Prayer on my own accord when I was 7 years old and walking home with Brett from school. I can vividly remember walking past the baseball park and reciting “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation.” Now if only I could have applied that to any offences and affronts my lovely siblings have done, I would have saved my Mothers a lot of grief from breaking up fights. Tomorrow is a new day, a chance to learn from the past and become a better friend, sister, and daughter of Christ because declares the Lord, “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Lenten Reflection - Day 31: by Jennifer Knurek, Solid Rock Youth

READING: John 5: 19-29

Worn out screen-print, a tethered American flag, and chew marks appear on this pen that I hold. The woman, similar in appearance, is limp, hopeless, and emotionally drained. As I ask her if she wants the pen back, she meekly replies, "No, it’s my gift to you; I’m sorry that is all I have." Then while I was standing there trying to decipher the meaning of the pen in my hand, I recognize that my life has changed forever. Just moments before I received this gift I was volunteering at the Christian Sharing Center Christmas Toy Drive, where underprivileged mothers and fathers come to receive free toys for their children. As I was helping unload the toys into this woman's rusted car, I was handed this pen; it redefined Christmas for me. This woman and the experience affect me everyday. Whether it is giving on a mission trip, or simply lending an ear to someone that has had a bad day, I know that I am giving a gift to them that is even sweeter than money or material goods. As in the words Eileen Elias Freeman once said, "It isn't the size of the gift that matters, but the size of the heart that gives it." Not only did I learn to not take small things in life for granted, but to look into the future with a positive attitude and to cherish the people that have formed me into the person I am today.

Lenten Reflection - Day 30: by Erin Swenson-Reinhold

READING: Psalm 61

Hear my cry, O God;
Listen to my prayer. – Psalm 61:1

Lent has always been a special time of reflection and prayer for me. During Lent of 2000, our oldest, Samuel, was merely a newborn, and Nathan and I were struggling with learning how to be parents in addition to our vocational calls. Fortunately, we were blessed to be part of a supportive congregation and an active small group where we could set our prayers before God. During this period, I often found myself crying out with my questions and concerns. Nathan received the call to enter the ministry that Lent -- I knew that call was God answering our prayers even though the answer was not what I expected. I also knew that it was our turn to respond to His call.

This Lenten season I find myself in a similar predicament – parenting a newborn again and crying out to God for strength, hope and wisdom. I know God will answer my prayers and provide for all of our needs often in the most unexpected manner – I just have to trust and believe. I pray that all of you will be filled with the knowledge that God is with you in the midst of your journey – wherever you may go and whatever may happen, God hears our prayers on our faith journey.

Lenten Reflection - Day 29: by Jim & Carol Detzel

READING: Amos 5: 18-24

“Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord!” Are you ready? What if Jesus returned today – are you ready? The Jews of Amos’ time were asking for the coming of the Lord, but they would experience only “darkness, not light.” They were holding feasts celebrating pagan gods and God was not pleased. Their hearts were not right with God and he “….will not listen to the music of your harps.” They were reveling in their celebrations but not honoring God. It was an outward expression that was not based on true love and adoration for God. It was a sham.

“Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them.” Why would God not accept their offerings? It is because they were not from the first and the best. The offerings were merely a “show” of their respect for a God that had done so much for them. WOW! Did this strike home! Many years ago, I would sit down on Sunday mornings and pay my bills and calculate what I would need for the following week. Only then would I write the check for our weekly offering to the church. How about that? Not burnt offerings, but I was giving leftovers to God! I was not giving the best or the first. How pleasing must that have been to a Lord that had given his life as atonement for my sins? I think not much.

During the course of a 3-day weekend retreat I realized that I could experience Jesus in a more personal relationship than I ever had imagined. He walked with me daily, and all I had to do was PAY ATTENTION.

Many of us have seen the picture “Footprints in the Sand.” It depicts Christ walking with us on our journey, and yet sometimes there is only one set of footprints. It is then that Christ is carrying us. I came to realize how many times I had been carried by Christ – and yet, I was offering leftovers. I realized that all I have is a gift from God – talents, good health, and a loving family – what was I offering in return? Suffice to say, I have revised my bill-paying routine to put my offering ahead of my own wants. In this time of Lent, let us examine our daily routines to see what time we have for God. Or, perhaps adjust our schedule to put God first – start the day in prayer and thanksgiving and ask for His guidance as we journey through the day.

Dear God, please let us recognize that all we have is a gift from you. Once we accept your grace and forgiveness, we offer our gifts in thanksgiving and take the time to spread the word of your goodness and mercy. Amen.

Lenten Reflection - Day 28: by Katie Murray

READING: John 3: 14-21

First a disclaimer, I was baptized & raised a Lutheran. In fact I have been a member of the St. Stephen family since I moved here in 5th grade. So, I went through communion, confirmation, married, & had my son baptized here. That said my journey has not been void of anger, disappointment, sorrow, or confusion.

After confirmation I turned away from the church and for the most part God. He never once turned from me though. After High School I continued to feel a tug my heart to work with youth, teenagers in particular. I would constantly have conversations with Jesus and yes he would answer. Every time I would feel that tug towards working with teenagers I would tell him I was not ready yet, that I needed more experience, I didn’t know how to do what he was asking, I was not the right person, I was not good enough, and I even at one point tried to bargain with him. Every time I would say no or do nothing about it I could hear him saying its okay but that is where you need to be. Each time his requests would get louder and harder to ignore. Finally one day I was personally approached by someone to help with the youth and I literally turned to God and “Okay enough already I get it I’ll do it”. I would not change the relationships I formed during that time or the love I felt for each and every one of them like they were my own family. It is a time however, that holds both joy and sorrow for me. During that year, I dealt with a personal situation with a pastor that shattered my own self worth and also confidence in the church. I tried hard to turn away from the church but found myself unable no matter how hard I tried to turn away from the youth. Also, later in the year I was presented with an ultimatum to support something I did not believe, in my opinion, was in the best interest of these youth I love or have to sever ties all together with them. It was a very tough decision for me because on the one hand I felt a deep need to stand up for what I felt was in the best interest of the kids and on the other hand if I did it meant I would not be able to speak to the very kids I felt I needed to protect. I was left in tears as either decision would cause pain. I found myself questioning the church and its leadership, wondering if they were listening to God. I questioned God as to why he would fill my heart with this calling and then say of never mind. I questioned myself wondering if I was not good enough or if maybe God realized he had made a mistake. I did not understand why he would call me to do something so hard only to break my heart.

The next year or so was the hardest and darkest time for me as every time I came to church I felt like I was reminded of how much of a failure I was. I eventually tried to fill the void by volunteering in the role of Handchime director and starting Stephen People Jr. I’ll be honest, I started them mainly for selfish reasons, my love of drama and music, with the added bonus of being able to do it for God. Then came this young new pastor who made me reevaluate myself and my life. He made me uncomfortable in my skin and made me stop listening to me and start trying to listen to Jesus. Shortly after his arrival there was a ministry op to help with Confirmation. I decided for the first time in my life to volunteer for something purely out of wanting to serve God where I felt he wanted me to be despite still feeling not worthy and being afraid God would change his mind on me again. A funny thing happened when I opened my heart to do something for God first. I realized after only 2 weeks that though I did this for him and not for me this time he gave me an added bonus…. I found joy and love in what I was doing. It is the kind of pure joy that can even out weigh my love for music… which for those of you who know me realize how crazy that sounds because I absolutely love to sing, it’s part of my DNA. But the joy and love that I feel in serving those middle school kids far exceeded anything I could ever describe. I finally realized that what happened before was not God taking away from me or breaking my heart. He was just saying this is not the time or the group for you. He sent me there to prepare me for what he really had in store. He was equipping me with the confidence and the knowledge to be able to step up and do his will with the Middle School Youth. So sometimes even when our darkest days come and we question his wisdom and decisions, keep your eyes open because there is always a lesson to be learned. Remember he never leaves you alone; Jesus is always by your side. My favorite illustration and how I envision the love of God through Jesus is the poem “Foot Prints”. I now no longer want to give my time to the ministry of youth I want to give my life, though at this point I don’t know what that will look like I am sure if I walk with Jesus it will be amazing.

Lenten Reflection - Day 27: by Tracy Daniels

READING: Ephesians 2: 1-10

Lost, alone, sad. Feelings of despair and the need to control everything around me. Stop. Just stop and listen. Take a deep breath. Breathe in new life, I mean New Life. The Life of Jesus. Christ raised me up on that day filled will sadness, when I didn’t think I could go on any longer. When would it stop? When would life be “normal” again? Questions that had been rolling around in my mind, unanswered for weeks, months. But when I stopped, took a deep breath and really let it sink in I realized what my life is all about.

It’s not about me, my kids, the life that I had built up in my mind so longing to return to. It’s about listening, really listening. Opening my heart, letting go of all the things I want to control. I’ve come to realize it’s not MY life, its Christ living through me. These decisions I felt I had to make, could wait. This life that had to keep moving, kept moving whether I wanted it to or not. And it’s okay. Because I’m the one that doesn’t have to decide anymore. Everything will be decided for me, I just need to listen, breathe deep, and open my heart.

This Easter I vow to grow deeper with my relationship with Jesus Christ. He died and rose again so that I could be forgiven, and have new life every day. What a gift! All the things in my life are a blessing in some way, shape or form. I just need to let Christ flow through me because in Him is New Life, every single day. Just stop, listen, and breathe. An open heart with Jesus Christ saved my soul, and my life.

Lenten Reflection - Day 26: by Pastor Nathan Swenson-Reinhold

READING: Psalm 107: 1-3, 17-22

Many streams, one river. I can’t ever get over just how complex our world is. From the variety of our planet’s ecological systems, to the particularity of the cultures that shape the human relationships on this planet, it can look like there is very little to hold us together.

NASA astronauts often report that their first trip into space is a deeply moving and spiritual experience. From 250 miles up, certain realities become clear that simply aren’t clear on the ground. We’re one planet. One ecology. Ultimately one relationship and not a billion, with a common destiny held together by our interconnectivity on this beautiful space suspended marble called Earth.

I know in my own journey, that how my own story is connected to a larger story hasn’t always been clear. I’ve often thought of my own waters as distinct, flowing in their own manner, in their own way towards an unidentified ocean.

My earliest years began in the church. As many of you have heard I walked away from the faith of my childhood soon after my baptism at age 11, mostly because the pat answers of that particular church couldn’t handle the complexity and splendor of the world around me. You were either in or out. The world I experienced wasn’t generally black and white…instead varying shades of gray. I knew then what I know now, that if there is a God, s/he is more than capable of rolling with the gray of the world. After all, God created this world and all that’s in it.

But I still struggled personally. I struggled because I had it in my head that faith was a sort of race. You trained for it, and then ran in it, and it was ultimately marked by a test. You could either pass or fail. For those who failed, eternity wasn’t pretty. The surprise for me, and the thing that brought me back into the life of the church, was the discovery of GRACE…the reality of the love of God that refused to let me go. In grace I discovered I wasn’t graded on some sort of point system, or by how well I performed morally or ethically or some such. No, the gift of God’s love was given to me carte blanche regardless the shape my life might take.

This was news almost too wonderful. It turns out that there is only ONE river, and we all flow through it. The forces of the world want to divide and conquer us...make us think that the ebb and flow of our lives are unique and separate and disconnected. But this couldn’t be farther than from the truth. The task of faith is waking up to a single truth: our lives already, surprisingly, flow in and through God. There’s only one game, and the rules don’t damn us. In the river of God, they free us.

Lenten Reflection - Day 25: by Cindy McClellan

READING: Numbers 21: 4-9

At the age of 23, I was going through a difficult time as I had watched my mom battle cancer for four years. I wasn’t angry with God. I just didn’t feel Him in my life. Finally, in April 1976, my mom left the hospital for the last time so that she could spend her final days at home. After she settled in, that evening each of us shared a special moment with her. My sister and I laughed over childhood memories and heard mom’s final words of love and encouragement. The conversation with my dad was more deep. They talked of their love for one another and of her dying – and that she was not afraid. That night she slipped into a coma and three days later she passed away. As I walked into her room early that Saturday morning, the Saturday before Palm Sunday , the sun was just coming up. I sat on the edge of the bed one last time – for one last goodbye. I wasn’t bitter or angry with God – I was just numb. But then, like a warm wave, I felt something remarkable as I looked at my mom. Yes, her body was there . But she wasn’t there –no laughter, no smile, no loving touch. And just like that I got it. God’s gift to us - the proof that He is real – is the gift of our soul – what makes us who we truly are. Like a spring thaw, the numbness melted into a sense of peace as I knew, right then, right there, that God truly did exist. And Easter, just eight days later, took on a new meaning for me from that moment on.

Lenten Reflection - Day 24: by Ann Shaffer

READING: John 5: 1-18

My faith story begins recently when we relocated back to Florida from Texas. Due to family situations in Florida, we really wanted to move back. We didn’t know how we were going to accomplish the move, but we prayed and asked God to help us. One big factor in the move was selling our house in Texas. I had worked one solid week cleaning the house and getting ready to show it. The morning the photographer was to be at the house turned out to be a grey rainy day and not very good conditions for taking pictures. I was a little disappointed, but kept working and continued to pray. About ten minutes before the photographer was to arrive, the clouds passed over and the biggest sunny blue sky appeared. When the photographer arrived, she commented on how she had been taking pictures all morning long in the grey overcast and it was amazing how the sky had cleared up as she was driving into our neighborhood. She took the pictures and they turned out great. Right after the photographer left, the sky clouded up again. We had a contract on the house the first day it went on the market. The whole story is too long to write about here, but the summary is that within a 3 month period, my husband and I both had new jobs, sold our house in Texas, bought a house in Florida and moved all our belongings. Everything just seemed to click and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that God answered our prayers and helped us to move. We had faith that God would answer our prayers and give us the wisdom to see his answers.

This Scripture reading shows us how Jesus did such miraculous things for people. At first the man questioned how it could be done, and then Jesus told him what to do. He followed Jesus with amazing results. How many times in our lives do we find ourselves in situations where we don’t know what to do and think that it is hopeless? God is always there for us and will help us in any situation. It requires Faith on our part to never have doubt and know that he is always there for us and will give us the answers if we would just take the time to pay attention to what he is telling us. Thanks be to God.

Lenten Reflection - Day 23: by Ryan Traher, Solid Rock Youth

READING: Psalm 43

I was thoroughly worried that tragedy would hurt my relationship with God one day. However, I never thought it could give me a better understanding of life and actually help my relationship with God. Thankfully, only the latter occurred.

When my best friend Lauren Detrio was killed by a drunk driver I was devastated. I was determined to keep my faith in God, and although that wasn’t much of a problem, I never really turned to Him for help. The reason for this was that the only thing I would have asked Him was “why?” and that was the last thing I wanted. If I started asking “why”, it would only lead to doubt. So instead I just kept thinking “there has to be a reason that I am not meant to understand behind this.”

Looking back this had a very large effect on my outlook on life and my relationship with God. I realize that in this very twisted world, despite being afraid sometimes, we need to turn to God for help. We think we can do it all on our own, and we can’t. I didn’t realize how much losing someone so close to me really affected me, but change is rarely instantaneous. After looking at what I was like a year ago before it all took place, I realized that now I am a very different person with very different views, and a very different but better connection to my faith in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who can help and save me in any situation.

Lenten Reflection - Day 22: by Melissa Izzo, Solid Rock Youth

READING: Revelation 22: 1-9

For me, the mission trip that Solid Rock went on in the summer of 2008 turned into more than just a mission trip. It turned into a trip of faith, experience, learning, and love. Since this was my first mission trip, I began the week nervous and excited, though my nervousness quickly changed into even more excitement as we arrived in Alabama.

On one of the work days I was fortunate enough to be stationed with a few of the other youth in a hurricane-damaged house, painting the walls of a bedroom. We all worked together and within a few hours the entire room was covered with bright yellow paint. Later that day, we found out that the room we had painted for Mr. Jack, the owner of the house, was actually the room he was born in, and we had put the room back into a state that it was safe enough for him to live in. At the end of the day I was listening to Mr. Jack tell stories of his life and I could see a twinkle of faith and gratitude in his eyes. Seeing the affect we had on Mr. Jack really touched my heart in a way that made me realize that I needed to help Mr. Jack as much as he needed the help. Faith brought us to help him, and I know that faith will always lead me in the right direction.

Lenten Reflection - 21: by Eli Bauder, Solid Rock Youth

READING: John 2: 13-22

Have you ever experienced a period of hopelessness, loss, or trouble in your life? If you've been living on this earth, you probably have. And if you've ever prayed to God to help you through your trouble, you will have found out this little token of advice: God is brutally honest. Lost your job? God will console you, yes, but he will also tell you to suck it up and head to your garage and find that dust-infested resume of yours, and start job hunting. Bad grades? He'll tell you to stop watching TV and start studying. He may not say the things you want to hear, and He will probably say things that seem out-of-place and not called for. But later those same words you hated to hear in the first place will make you realize the reason you became Christian in the first place: God ALWAYS loves you. And he's the only one on the face of this earth that loves you so much that he will tell you the stuff that you don’t want to hear to make it through. Your friends and family are always going to side with you, console you, make you feel better; it’s because they don’t know the other side to the story. God is omniscient. He knows everything, even the stuff that doesn’t come out of your mouth. God’s advice is not always going to be that things are going to be alright, and your problems will go away by themselves, and you will get that free Porsche you’ve always wanted. But you should always know that he will give you the right advice, every time.

Lenten Reflection - Day 20: by Brandon Johnson

Reading: 1 Corinthians 1: 18-25

The most influential experience that shaped my faith and solidified my belief in God was my experience at Camp Luther growing up. While my family attended church when I was young it was not a moving experience. Not to say that I don’t have pleasant memories of my childhood church but I didn’t grow the special lifelong relationships with people there as I did at Church camp.

I still remember the first day, not knowing anyone and my older sister checking up on me to make sure I was OK. It didn’t take long for any nervousness to go away, make new friends, laugh, and play and feel completely free in this new environment. As an 8 year old it was merely a week filled with games, crafts, singing and candy. (Lots of it!) I remember enjoying Vespers in the woods sitting on flat stones but the “Church” experience was not as paramount to an 8 year old brain as the games and goofing off. In retrospect, what the early years created were strong friendships, trust, love and acceptance that would grow exponentially each passing year. As a Jr. High and High School camper it was much more than playing 4 square, dodge ball or basketball. (Although it was still fun) It was about reconnecting and building on the friendships and relationships from the previous years and sharing in growth of our faith as a tight knit group. At times that group of 100-120 of us felt as close to a cohesive whole as one could imagine. We came from different backgrounds, economic statuses and family situations but tried our best and succeeded 99% of the time to include and accept EVERYONE. For a lot of us, I certainly included, camp became the one place we could show our true selves, share difficult thoughts, feelings or escape our lives and know that we would still be loved. ..no matter what. In fact, the openness and sharing brought us closer together. It was a place of happiness, tranquility, love, and spiritual growth during a time in your life when self doubt, peer pressure and shaky self esteem were the norm. What we were experiencing and expressing as individuals and as a group was God’s love if we knew it or not. It just developed much more naturally at camp.

We used to play a game called finding “It”. The game was designed so everyone would eventually get to know and interact with each other in their quest to find who “It” was but became the perfect conduit to teach what “It” symbolized. God’s Love in each of us for all of us. Each day a different person was selected to be “It” and your job was to find out who that person was by hugging them and asking them, “Are you IT?” (And of course not telling anyone else for it was their duty to find “It” on their own. Oh, by the way, hugs were the greeting of choice to any and everyone regardless of the game) Once found you would get a big written “IT” on your hand to let everyone know you had found it. For us “It” was the perfect title because it named or explained the unexplainable. When you don’t know, have or share “It” it becomes difficult to feel or describe “It” the person or “It” God’s love but when you find “It” you can sure feel “It” and share “It” even if you can’t explain “It”. (Make sense?)

In the midst of all of this I experienced an incredible peace, happiness and flow of energy. It was something that had been building for a long time but the light bulb came on one night for me in one of our famous camp talks late at night. The feeling was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was pure. It was during this time that I moved beyond what I was taught to know into feeling and believing into what I personally knew and experienced of God. For me nothing else could explain or have created the moment or feeling. By the end of camp the tightness of the community would grow and strengthen. Our task and lifelong challenge as campers was not to keep “It” special for this one week of the year and to share only with those friends but to, “take IT off the mountain” and spread it to everyone you know. Easier said than done, especially when the world and all its distractions drag you down, but knowing how good you and others felt and knowing the energy that is generated when “It” was found and shared abundantly is easily enough to make a goal I will continuously pursue. This memory and countless others from my church camp experiences certainly confirmed my belief but also help strengthen me when times become difficult and doubts creep in. I may become confused, cloudy or even reject or lose “It” from time to time but I can always find “It” again to share with others.

Lenten Reflection - Day 19: by Joe Anderson

READING: Psalm 19

I actually believe in God the Father, Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only begotten son, our Lord. I have studied His word. I have walked according to His counsel. I followed His precepts with vigor and determination. And then my brother died.

You would have liked Art. Everybody did. They called him “Mad Dog” in college because at 167 pounds he was still the fiercest competitor on the field. He had a heart as big as all outdoors. And at age 45 cancer took him away. Then Mom died on her way to get a drink of water one night. And Pop suffered the indignity of losing both his feet to diabetes, and chose finally to drift away in a fog of dementia. So at age 53 I became an orphan.

All in all, I haven’t seen much reward growing out of my faith. I’m not persecuted because of it, but neither am I protected from a thing by it. It didn’t keep my family alive and well. It hasn’t protected my prosperity. It buys me no cushion, whatsoever. Fortunes fall as fast as they grow. Illness strikes without invitation. Loved ones die. My heart rips asunder. I grieve and twist in the pit of despair on occasion. But here’s the one truth I know first hand. When I am in the pit, I am not alone. When I mutter to myself, there in the dark, I am not alone. And there in the dark, I have learned that the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, are acceptable in His sight, even when they drip with bile and angst. In the painful dark He has, therefore, become my strength; and from that, I trust that He will be my redeemer as well. It is enough.

Lenten Reflection - Day 18: by Barbara Vincent

By: Barbara Vincent
READING: Exodus 20: 1-17

Using a river as a metaphor for Jesus may be new to some yet there are many references in the Bible that do exactly that. Rivers have been called the Nile, the Missouri, the Euphrates, and the Hudson; the name we called it matters little because the waters all flow from the same source, replenished by the same cycles and stemming from the beginning of time. These rivers continually wind their way to seas that cover so much of our earth’s surface: each is different and yet the same. I grew up living close to a river. It wound its way through the upstate, eventually forming the Tappan Zee and then joining the Atlantic as it slid past NYC. I loved the river’s water; I swam in it and boated on it. I fished and caught blue claw crabs in its brackish tides. I watched ice breakers come and free the frozen barges. I climbed aboard a warship en route to the “moth ball” fleet anchored near West Point and, while attending college far away, I longed for the river sounds and smells, the Palisade Mountains and the Tappan Zee Bridge. I felt attached to that river’s life and the people who shared its beauty and promise, just as I feel close to all of you at St. Stephen. I rejoice in the belief that the river will be there, embracing us, quenching our every need, forever; He will be in each of us “a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14
The Ten Commandments are God’s guide for a good life. Imagine how different our lives would be if everyone obeyed them! With a realistic view of mankind, I think that God wants obedience but does not demand perfection. Our Father in heaven has given us the instructions we need to solve many of the world’s problems, but most people have rejected a vitally important part of that solution, the Ten Commandments. "…Fear God, and keep his commandments: for that is the whole duty of everyone. " (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Lenten Reflection - Day 17: by Mary Knurek

READING: Matthew 5: 1-12

The Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes; how many times have we heard this text over the course of our journey. But do we really listen? Please take the time to read and reflect on this message.

I found that as I reflected on these passages I could see different stages in my faith journey. As a young adult I had circumstances that caused me to stray away from the church and my faith journey. Then slowly I was led back into a more positive faith journey which has enriched my life.

Verse 4 says “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” when I read this I thought back to this last summer when my brother was killed in the Midwestern floods. I am glad I had my faith, it was a real comfort to me. As the waves of emotion overcame me I would just have to ride them out and let them pass, I could not imagine trying to survive such an ordeal with out faith.

Then here at St. Stephen we have had 3 losses recently of men that were close in age to my brother. Watching the families come into the office and seeing their pain was a reminder of my loss too. But seeing how strong each of these families were in their faith during such a difficult time was a reminder to me of how much Jesus loves each of us and will guide us through even the most difficult situations.

I hope as you read each verse you can relate each of the “Blessed are those…” to different events in your life and reflect at how can each of us find ways to be a comforter, merciful, pure in heart, peacemaker…

Lenten Reflection - Day 16: by Becky Rotroff

READING: Psalm 42: 1-5

I was brought up in an Indiana Presbyterian Church. My Mother made sure, no matter whether we were home or on vacation, that my sister and I went to Sunday School or Church. I got all the pins each year for perfect attendance and really never had reason to question my faith – I was a Christian because I always went to Church, could recite Bible verses and prayers. I had a blessed life - a wonderful family, college degrees and was popular with my friends.

It wasn’t until several years later when I found myself in a situation that all of my education didn’t prepare me for and it was then I discovered what faith truly means. I would pray every day for God to “fix” my problem; to “rescue” me; to “protect” me; to “save” me. Guess what?? Nothing happened! So, I continued to pray all over again the next day. This went on for longer than I care to admit and my situation only got worse. I even tried making deals with God. I’d promise to do something once He did something for me. And guess what??? Nothing happened.

Then, in the wee hours one morning I sat quietly and actually listened for God. What I heard was to trust Him and that I had to do something – not sit and wait for God to do it for me. So, I made plans to do just that – leave an abusive man who threatened to take my life if I left. It was then I had an overwhelming sense of calm and peace. Looking back, I honestly didn’t know what would happen – literally if I would live or die. But I did know that I was protected by a God who loved me and that all would be ok.

I continue to be so blessed in my life since those days that seem to be another lifetime ago. I found love again and have wonderful friends to share my life with. And, in wee hours of the morning, I still listen for God.

Lenten Reflection - Day 15: by Carolyn Champagne

READING: Matthew 3: 1-17

In reading this text about John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus Christ, it makes me think of my sons baptisms. For each child the day was very special. Kevin was baptized on an Easter Sunday, which made it even more memorable, even though he screamed like a banshee. I remember the feeling of strong emotion and yet a feeling of peace too. The presence of the Holy Spirit was felt as both children were blessed by God. I feel the same way today, as children are brought before the baptismal font to be baptized “in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”. He makes His presence known and felt. It gives you added strength and a reminder to carry out His command to bring little children unto Him.

And yet there are many adults out there who have not been baptize either, who have not felt the calm and peace that comes from knowing Jesus. It is our responsibility to bring all people to Christ, to be baptized in the saving water of the word. I love the part of this text that states:
“ And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved.” with whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3: 16-17

Don’t you think He does the same for each of us? I think He does.

Lenten Reflection - Day 14: by Russ Hauck

READING: Mark 8: 31-38

I was born and raised as a Missouri Synod Lutheran, the second oldest of five boys and my parents did not have much money. But something they did have was a solid commitment to our religious upbringing. They made sure that we attended church every Sunday and that we went to Sunday School and confirmation class, and had an opportunity to participate in church activities. I didn’t have an “Aha!” conversion experience. I liked the structure. I really liked the formality and ritual of the worship experience. I liked having a regular routine for the service. I even liked attending confirmation class on Saturday mornings for a couple of years! As a result, I have always felt pretty confident in my faith. My parents and church certainly gave me a solid faith foundation. That’s maybe the good news part of my faith story. But the not so good part of that story is that feeling pretty confident in your faith that can also tend to make you complacent in terms of acting out or putting that faith into action. I haven’t done as well in this over the years.

In this Bible passage, Jesus says, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Most of us tend to think that “taking up our cross” means carrying our burdens, but what Jesus really meant was that we need to be willing to die to our old self – surrender completely – if we are to be truly committed to Him. So, I think my faith background in an odd way makes that both easier and at the same time, more difficult for me. It’s like this: It’s easy to dive over and over again off of the low board, but that level of confidence and experience doesn’t necessarily help, and might even hold you back, when you get to the edge of a high diving board and then hesitate to make the jump. Why not just go back down the ladder and make the safer dive? Fortunately for Barbara and me, we are blessed with a congregational family that together now has an opportunity to learn what it truly means for each of us to take up our cross and follow Jesus.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a tribute far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Lenten Reflection - Day 13: by Julie Parker

READING: Romans 4: 13-25

In 1990 my husband & I were at our home in the Florida Keys. The men in our neighborhood planned a day of fishing, while we women planned a fun day in Key West. While I was waiting to leave I began having severe pain in my extremities, paralyzing pain, but as quickly as it came, it departed. Then with the same severity nausea struck. I thought it must be a form of flu, so I called a neighbor & asked them to go on without me. For the next 3 days I experienced variations of those original symptoms but worse each day. We came home and saw my doctor who had just read a medical paper about a very rare disorder call TTP, Thrombotic Topenia Purpena. When the doctor saw me, I was jaundiced, my kidneys had completely shut down and my platelets were in the low hundreds. I was barely conscious. The doctor recognized the symptoms, sent us straight to the hospital. It was the first case of TTP at Florida Hospital so it garnered a great deal of interest. That began a journey that ended with a 26 day hospital stay. During the first 2 weeks all the new plasma was destroyed in 24 hours, so they were keeping me alive but making no progress. I saw the sympathy and distress in their eyes when the doctors stood by my bed. Michele had called every family member and friend asking for their prayers as well as Saint Stephen's. The outpouring of love and support brings tears to my eyes to this day. I began praying and talking to God, trying to think of a reason that he would consider worthy for saving my life. I won't say it came quickly but it was truly like a light shining in my room. The complete knowledge that there was absolutely nothing I could offer God, after all He is God. Obviously I was not going to cure any diseases, bring world peace or anything else that gave my simple life importance and worth. Beyond being his beloved child, a mother and wife, I had no worth. As I lay there with all this love and knowledge pouring into me; I began to feel that he was going to save me, because he could. And that is all, not because I was important, worthy or deserving; but because of his unending love and grace; he saved me. The doctors marveled, for finally the platelets began building again and slowly I improved.

Why me? I do not know. I have known people I consider far more deserving who lost their battle with cancer, heart disease or other life taking situations. I am humbled further in the knowledge that God did save me. I will never doubt it.

Lenten Reflection - Day 12: by Susan Ricardo

READING: Psalm 22: 23-31

Psalm 22: 23-31 is a quiet reminder of my Truth about my experiences of faith -- about what I believe to be true about this world...what was true before I came here and what will be true long after I leave this world. Psalm 22: 23-31 is a reminder of homebase for me.

Many years ago I found myself floundering. I had lost an immediate member of my family to suicide, my personal relationships were suffering as a direct result of my being active in my addiction and my unwillingness to look at or work on the broken pieces of myself. I was angry with God, disappointed in organized religion and felt despairing and unable to cope. One of the kind and generous people that God has sent to me as a teacher kept encouraging me to examine my relationship with God. She pushed me for answers about my spiritual program -- which was almost non-existent at the time. When I reported this back to her...she asked me to look around my world and come back to her and report what evidence I could find of a power "greater than myself." I did not like the idea of this exercise but I liked the serenity this woman had and I wanted what she had more than anything. I was also growing tired of my own depression and the sad voices in my head.

I stumbled into my back yard late one night and noticed a large sycamore tree that I had only in the past cursed for producing enormous leaves that had to be raked. Observing the tree I noticed that it grows toward the sunlight...toward God. Blades of grass do this, too. (So do humans...grow towards sunlight (God, health, wellness). This fact was true whether I was here on earth or not. Trees will grow, people will grow, blades of grass will grow with or without Susan. The sun will continue to rise daily and there is an undercurrent of energy that sustains all living creatures and beckons us in His direction. I could fight it, I could ignore it, I could rebel against it, I could curse it -- but it would still be there and it would always be there and it would always be available to me. Just like God. God is timeless Truth...as is this passage.

In the many years that have passed between this awakening and now, I have not forgotten about the lesson of the sycamore tree. I still live in the same house with the same tree. And sometimes, when no one is looking, I give that tree a big hug and whisper into the trunk that I do believe....I believe in exactly the undercurrent of energy that grows the tree, that grows the Susan, that never gives up in the face of weather, chance, circumstance, depression or surrender. I believe.

Lenten Reflection - Day 11: by Bill Nasworthy

READING: Genesis 17: 1-7, 15-16

Have you ever felt that someone is moving your feet and it is not you? That is what happened to me when I was about 8 years old. As most of you know, I was raised a Baptist and one Sunday morning at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Augusta, Ga., beside my feet moving, a voice whispered in my ear, “Accept me and have eternal life.” Without thinking, I let my feet move and I walked toward the front of the church to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. During that time, I promised that I would always do whatever I could to show Christ in my life. I am not going to say that it has always been easy, but I have tried to put Christ first.

My faith was tested when Evelyn and I were planning on getting married. We both had agreed that it really didn’t matter which faith we belonged to as long as we worship together as a family. When I spoke with my pastor, he stated very bluntly, ‘If you are not a Baptist, you are going to Hell!” I thanked him and left his office. It was at this point that my wonderful mother-in-law suggested that I speak to the pastor of their church, Bill Waddell. I’m so grateful to both. Pastor Waddell took me under his wings and spent multiple weekends providing me with the basics of the Lutheran doctrine. It was his passion for Christ and the faith that no matter who you are, what church you belong to, as long as you believe, Our Savior Jesus Christ will open his wonderful arms and welcome us into his fellowship.

I have now been a Lutheran for over 41 years and feel so at home in the faith of our church. At the time I accepted the Lord as my Savior, I promised him that I would serve him in whatever way he wanted me to do for him. Unlike the Bible passage Genesis 17, 1 – 7, 15 – 16, I was not as old as Abram, when the Lord spoke to him and He did not tell me that he would make me ancestors of many, but I did promise to obey him and do what is right.

Lenten Reflection - Day 10: by Carolyn Champagne

READING: Mark 12: 28-34

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

I grew up learning this and having it drummed into my head. However, it is not hard to believe. As you look at the world, our community, etc., and pay attention to things around you, you can see how Jesus shows himself everywhere, as He answers our prayers.

He answered mine one day about 15 years ago when my dad was very ill and not expected to live. He slipped into a coma for 5 weeks and the doctors had pretty much run out of ways to heal him. So my mom, my sister and I sat on the floor at home and prayed together. We had never done this together before. It was a very healing experience for us as we turned my dad’s fate over to Jesus. Eight weeks later my dad was alive and well and ready to come home. It was nothing short of a miracle. Jesus gave us our dad back for a wonderful 5 more years. I will cherish those extra days with him always.

It is hard to totally let go and turn your troubles over to Jesus, but that is what He wants us to do. So during this Lenten season, let’s work on putting things in His hands to fix or to heal. This is what He wants and what He expects us to do. God Bless.

Lenten Reflection - Day 9: by Beth Wigert

READING: Ezekiel 36: 22-28

Our Baptismal Covenant: “So you will be My people, and I will be your God.” (Ezekiel 36: 28) My personal stream of faith joins the River of Faith….I become a child of God.

From my parents I know that they have and continue to love me every single second of every single day. Throughout my childhood and adulthood I have known that they sometimes might not like or agree with my decisions or actions, but the unchangeable fact that they love me is never in question. I see that also in my relationship with God. By His Grace I am guided, my shortcomings forgiven, because He loves me every single second of every single day…..for ever and ever. If I take in all the love that my parents give me, and that God gives me, and if I never share it, it would be like building a dam that selfishly guards the precious water from the valley beyond. That love is validated and given such importance because it is shared with others. I have been taught and shown love, how could I not let that love flow through me to others?! In Ezekiel 36..”Thus the nations shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when in their sight I prove my holiness through you.” My faith is that we are to be instruments of God’s love and forgiveness…of God’s peace. From infancy my faith has been Christianity. My lifelong goal is to continue to grow and learn how to follow the teachings of my Lord Jesus Christ. My lifelong goal, with the help of the Holy Spirit and with Jesus by my side, is for others to learn of the GREAT LOVE through my actions even more than my words.

Lenten Reflection - Day 8: by Fred & Sandra Wisch

READING: Psalm 46

Water is vital to life! We spent the first nine months of our life growing in water. We are told to drink eight glasses of water daily. It is the best and most refreshing drink out there. We buy it by the case, and carry it with us wherever we go.

What is the importance of water to us as Christians in this time we call Lent? Consider this—Without the waters of our Baptism, and the words of God’s blessing, we would not have the forgiveness of our sins, and new life in Jesus Christ that marks us as Christians.

In Martin Luther’s Small Catechism we read that Baptism is not water only, but it is water used together with God’s Word and by His command. In Matthew 28, our Lord Jesus Christ says: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” Luther goes on to say that in Baptism God forgives sin, delivers from death and the devil and gives everlasting salvation to all who believe what He has promised.

It is not water that does these things, but God’s Word with the water and our trust in this Word. Water by itself is only water, but with the Word of God it is a life-giving water which by grace gives the new birth through the Holy Spirit. St. Paul writes in Romans 6: “We were buried therefore with Him by Baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

As I shower each day, I use the warm, invigorating waters of the shower as a symbol of my baptism and of my Lord Jesus continuing love and care for me. May these thoughts on Baptism be meaningful to you as you contemplate this season of Lent.

Lenten Reflection - Day 7: by Kay St. Pierre

READING: Mark 1: 9-15

After spending more than fifty years in a main-line religion, attending their schools, educating my children in their schools and teaching in their schools, I felt a need – not necessarily for something “different”, but definitely for something “more”. The story of David in 2 Samuel 6, ‘dancing before the Lord with all his might…with shouts and the sound of trumpets’ kept coming to mind and I felt a need to be able to really worship God. While I never needed to “dance” up the church aisles, my faith-life did grow exponentially in an Evangelical, Pentecostal church where I was baptized by immersion (an incredible experience), and received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I was called to go on a mission trip to Uganda (another incredible experience) to share my faith with lovely people who did not know Christ. I cherish the history and traditions of my up-bringing and eventually followed my husband, Al to St. Stephen’s. I continue to learn a lot about the Lutheran church and I already cherish everyone I have met here. I know I have the freedom to “worship” here – and, no, I won’t dance up the aisles – unless we have liturgical dance at some point, and then I just might! But I loved having an Advent season again and know that having a Lenten season in my life again this year will be yet another time of walking with and growing closer to the Lord. Thank You, Jesus, for what You did for us. Our God is so incredible.

Lenten Reflection - Day 6: by Matthew Swope

READING: 1 Peter 3: 18-22

When I was a child, my grandparents would take my cousins and me to a wooded park in south central Pennsylvania. We would picnic, play games, and explore the park grounds. One of our favorite activities was the game that has become known as “Poohsticks” (due to A.A. Milne’s mentioning of it in The House at Pooh Corner). In this game, the participants stand on a bridge and simultaneously drop sticks on the upstream side. The player with the first stick to emerge from underneath the bridge wins.

Obviously, many factors contribute to a player’s victory including the timing of the drop, obstacles in the stream, and the physical properties of the stick. In reality, most of these factors are outside of the players’ control. Still, as kids, we would spend time carefully selecting the perfect stick and locating the optimal spot to make the drop so as to avoid rocks and other obstacles.

In many ways, our faith journeys are analogous to this childhood game. No matter how hard we try, we cannot be the “perfect sticks.” Nor can we always seem to locate the path of least resistance. The miracle is that God accepts us with all of our imperfections—our misshaped branches, our failed blossoms, and our splintered ends. God extends His loving hand to help us overcome the obstacles, and He reaches in the water to retrieve us from any traps. We might not know where the stream will lead, but we do know who made the stream.

When I decided to move to Florida a year and a half ago, I knew very few people in the area. I was leaving almost a thousand miles behind me an amazing collection of family and friends as well as a tremendously supportive faith community. I trusted that God would drop me in the right spot and lead me toward a fuller realization of His will. Although I am sure many of His reasons will not be known to me for a long time, I must trust that He will continue to lead me forward on my spiritual and personal journey. Thus far, I have only been pleasantly surprised.

Unlike the game of Poohsticks, there is no winner or loser in God’s eyes. Some of us may be farther downstream in our faith journeys, but by the waters of baptism and Christ’s death on the cross, God stills the rapids of our lives, quiets the waters of our hearts, and leads us toward our salvation.