LENT 2022

A Time for Mending 2022 
Pastor Jim Wendt

The gospel of Matthew tells the story of Peter pulling in nets full of fish while John sits in the boat mending the nets which allows Peter to continue his fishing. While many focus on the call to action of being “fishers of people”, the role of John’s “mending of the nets” is often overlooked. John’s mending was more than repairing a simple tear, but restoring, fixing, equipping, perfecting, making the net stronger. During the time of the disciples, fishing nets were made of linen so the nets had to be carefully cleaned and dried each day or they would quickly rot and fall apart. One of the most important skills of fishermen was mending the nets.

We are God’s nets that he casts into the world to be “fishers of people”, that they might be saved. But in that casting we get worn, torn, bruised, battered, hurt, and broken. We are all in need of some mending. It is important that we learn that life is cyclic. That is true about every area of life. The marriage vows mention, “For better or for worse” because every marriage goes through good times and difficult times. As parents, we sometimes feel that things are going very well and then there are those times when it seems to be a struggle. The same is true in ministry. Not all those we share the good news of Jesus will be saved. Not all those who get saved come to church. Not all those who come to church stay in church. Not all those who stay in church grow. In our personal walk with God there will be times when the Bible comes alive in our hands and there will be other times when we struggle to grasp its truths and how they apply to our lives.

Join us this Lenten Season as we seek God’s mending power to restore, repair, perfect, and equip us making us whole again, in all areas of life: mental health, spiritual health, and physical health. Please pick up one of our daily devotion books called “A Time for Mending” for daily reading, reflection, and prayer.

Thursday’s & Sunday’s worship services will be centered around the biblical lessons and message of Jesus and His apostle John’s ministry of mending.

Wednesday evenings will be centered around the theme of mending as we invite guest speakers to discuss mending on a deeper level and what the needs of mending really require in relation to mental health, spiritual health, and physical health.

Lent Soup Suppers

Lent soup suppers will be on Wednesdays at 5pm prior to the 6pm worship. You can sign up below or on the bulletin board in Friendship Hall
To sign up for soup https://bit.ly/FLCsoup To donate soup items https://bit.ly/FLCsoupitems

We will not be serving soup on Ash Wednesday, March 2.

March 9: Chicken Noodle

March 16: Chili

March 23: Ham & Potato

March 30: Vegetable Beef

April 6: Cheesy Broccoli

March 2 - Ash Wednesday
1pm In Person
6pm In Person & Online

Week 1
The Lord Calls the First Apostles
Matthew 4:18-22 & Ephesians 4:1-16
Wednesday, March 9th
Fishing and Mending
Speaker: Pastor Jim Wendt

Week 2
John’s Mending Ministry of the Nets
1 Corinthians 1:1-10; 2 Timothy 1:14-2:1-19; Colossians 1:24-2:7
Wednesday, March 16th
Mending the Spirit Through Prayer
Speaker: Pastor Sara Gillespie

Week 3
Mending Ministry of John is the Life of Christ
John 1:4; John 6:60-71; John 5:19-24, 25-29; John 11:17-27; 1 John 1:1-4, 5:11-13
Wednesday, March 23rd
Mending of the Self Through Therapy
Speaker: Doug Schefft – C.H.S.

Week 4
Only Life Can Mend
John 2:19-22; Isaiah 58:11-12; John 11:25-26, 14:2-3
Wednesday, March 30th
Mending the Body Through Mindfulness Practices
Speaker: Sandy Salvo

Week 5
Equipping of the Saints
Ephesians 4:1-16; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:18
Wednesday, April 6th
Equipping The Body of Christ
Speaker: Rev. Walter Baires