“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you.” – John 15:15-19 (RSV)

That was an interesting experience! I have spoken and taught in a variety of different settings over the years, but this is the first time I have ever officially delivered a “lecture.”

Our church, Howard Memorial Presbyterian here in Tarboro, has traditionally hosted a spring lecture series, “The Lenten Lectures.” It runs – preceded by a dinner – the five Wednesdays between Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday.

This year our Clerk of Session, Cindy, was researching ideas online when she stumbled on Reaching Toward Easter. First she was intrigued by the description of the book, and then it dawned on her that she recognized the name of the author!

So the church graciously asked if I would be willing to deliver the 2025 Lenten Lectures and to base them on my Lenten book.

Wednesday evening after dinner we kicked things off in the sanctuary and I was pleased to see somewhere around 80 people. I am always a little nervous (which is a good thing because it means I understand how important it is) but it is a huge help when those attending are such lovely and generous-hearted people.

My key point was/is that these 40 days leading to Easter comprise an opportunity for us to be intentional pilgrims. The phrasing I used during the lecture was “The specific intention of a pilgrim path.”

We have this choice:

• We can check the calendar and say to ourselves, “Palm Sunday is April 13, that’s always fun. Then next week is Easter. Note to self: go to church.”
• Or… we can make Lent this deliberate pilgrim path. We can arrive at Palm Sunday and Holy Week in the right frame of spirit to experience Easter in renewed faith and resurrection glory.

Join us. In worship Sunday mornings at 11:00, or Wednesday evenings at 6:30 for the remaining four Lenten Lectures.

PRAYER (from todays’ reading): May the beauty of your holiness rest in each one of us; may the assurance of your love comfort us; may the active presence of your Spirit take up residence in our consciousness. Amen

– DEREK

If you would like to listen to the first lecture in the series: