In the Old Testament covenant between God and the people, a rhythm of life was established. There would be rest on the seventh day. All living things were to follow the lead of God the Father, who rested on the seventh day of creation. Not only are humans and animals called by God to rest every seventh day, but fields are to lay fallow every seventh year. Jesus built on this understanding of Sabbath when, instead of robotically only taking the seventh day off, he sometimes ‘worked’ on the Sabbath as he healed those in need, but also sought out connection with God by leaving crowds for times of rest and prayer. Jesus clarified what Sabbath is for: “the Sabbath was made for humankind, not humankind for the Sabbath.” Jesus knows human beings can become human doings. God knows humans need time for renewal.

“Come to the Table” where God feeds and forgives so that you may be made ready to bring others to the table of God’s grace! In a nutshell, that’s what Lent is about this year at First.

Since September, we have been considering what it means that God not only becomes present at the altar table in a church, but also in our tables at home; amidst a celebration, a family feast and even the ‘normal’ weekday evening. The 40 days of Lent will be the climax of this year’s theme when small groups, Wednesday worship services and personal devotions will center around biblical texts that dwell on Jesus, food and the people he eats with. We will remember how Jesus gladdens feasts with ‘new’ wine, how Jesus chooses to share meals with outcasts, how Jesus is able to multiply blessings among us and how Jesus eventually uses food to make himself present in 2016 in Onalaska. But we will not do all this remembering for academic purposes. Recalling these stories of Scripture will hopefully move us into action. God feeds and forgives us not only for our own sake, but so that we may be a blessing to the world.

Do you frequently feel like you are running around so fast being busy, that you’ve forgotten why you are even doing what you do every day? Are you searching for something more? Tired of running in circles, but not really living life with direction, purpose or passion? It’s pretty easy to get caught up in the drama of classes, family and work. Our lives are filled with distractions that take us away from living a life with Christ.

Thank you to the 12 current and potential volunteers who attended the January orientation and training for the First Teen Clothes Closet. We anticipate being able to expand the hours we can take appointments or host open house/drop-in availability to better serve those who need our services.

The OWLs braved the cold for two very nice events in January. Many of us traveled to Winona for a fun day of lunch and a visit to the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. We are blessed to have such a fabulous art collection so close by. The potluck was a rousing success with 32 of us attending Pastor Karyn’s educational and inspiring presentation on the trip to Israel.

It is a year of contemplating tables and as Christmas approaches I find myself reflecting on the tables of my youth, especially the tables at my grandmother’s house. Recently, I came across a card I wrote to my grandmother when I was maybe 6, the writing big and crooked, the spelling not quite on point, the message short: “School (spelled scool) is getting better. I am glad that we are going to your (spelled you’r) house for (turn over) Thanksgiving.” Since my grandmother’s death, we have found quite of few of her letters and several of them from me. I think my Grandma Brown was the person I told things to, the person I looked to for guidance on what it meant to be a grown up and after much reflections I am pretty sure she was one of the people in my life that seemed to get me. And I remember what it was like to be a child sitting at her table.

Recent publicity in the news media, outreach to schools and other agencies and a $10,000 grant from the Franke Foundation are helping the First Teen Clothes Closet touch the lives of more and more young people from our area.