Be Still

Amidst everyday life in today’s world, many are yearning for spiritual renewal and connection in their lives. This year’s Lenten season has been planned with that in mind.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18.  First-Centenary will hold two services – one at 12:05 in the Sanctuary, and a second in the Vine at 6:30 p.m.  The noon service will be much like what we have done in the past, but the evening service will be quite different. Designed by Rev. Dr. Amy Steele, the service provides an opportunity for quietness, reflection, response and challenge. Dr. Steele will lead an online session to prepare us for the Lenten journey on Monday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m. You are invited to join us for this 45-minute gathering to prepare not just for Ash Wednesday, but for the season.  A Zoom link will be provided, and the session will be recorded for those unable to attend, as well as for use in Sunday School classes, small groups, or personal reflection.

About Amy Steele:
Dr. Steele is a social ethicist, ordained minister, and certified spiritual director. She has for over 20 years led conversations and classes on religion and society, prayer, spiritual formation, Black religious history, women’s civil rights engagement, the works of Howard Thurman, and more. She deeply values listening, asking well-placed questions, honoring histories, and curating stories for soulful well-being. A graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School, Amy presently serves as Campus Minister at Tennessee State University.

Join us on February 18th for one of our Ash Wednesday services, with opportunities to receive the imposition of ashes and enter this holy season together. Services will be held at 12:05 p.m. in the Sanctuary and 6:30 p.m. in The Vine.

For those who are unable to attend a service, ashes to-go will be available from 7:00–9:00 a.m. at Mean Mug on Main Street. Wherever you are in your day, we invite you to pause and begin this sacred season with us.

The rhythm of Lent is a gift if we will receive it. Just like the night seems darkest before the break of dawn, Lent can be a moment of pause before the gift of Resurrection. Take a few moments each day this week to sit in the quiet. Allow the gift of stillness to enter in and begin to draw you into the presence of God.

Oftentimes one of the loudest noises/voices in our lives comes from within. We need to quiet the internal noise to hear, listen, and follow the voice of God in our lives. What is one of the loudest sources of "noise" in your mind? Self Doubt? Anger? Emotional strife? Trauma? Fear? Anxiety? Intentionally name that noise and hand it over to God.

Sometimes the noise in our lives is outside of our control. The choices of our parents or children. Pressures from work. Political or social  tension. Intentionally name that noise and hand it over to God. Ask God to open your eyes to the next faithful step towards peace in that situation.

Our modern world is defined, and in many ways controlled, by the 24-hour news cycle. Pause. Try to start a pattern this week. Start with 5 minutes. Put your phone away, turn off technology. Step outside or shut the door. Just be with God for a moment. See if you can increase that time each day. Another minute each day? Another five? Take a change and be still.

Jesus met the grief of Mary and Martha. Jesus also meets us in our grief and weeps with us, for us.  Offer to God a piece of grief that you are carrying. Ask Jesus to weep with you about that situation.

We often think about how we can avoid tension emotionally, socially, politically, even theologically. There is a term to express a Methodist approach to theology called the middle way. It is an idea that through the work of discernment and the activity of the Holy Spirit we are able to discover a more Christlike option in the middle of the piles of life. How might the example of Palm and Passion Sunday teach us about the tension of stillness and the middle way of Jesus?

Early in the morning on the first day of the week... As we receive the gift of resurrection this Easter may we be inspired by the women who experienced resurrection first. Early in the morning. Set aside some time this week in the morning to meet with God and to listen to God's resurrection hope for your life.