Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus!
In just under three weeks, Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent will be upon us. As you might imagine, for the past few weeks, the St. James staff has been busy with preparations and planning. I am excited about what we are putting together and look forward to soon sharing it with you.
Our theme for this Lenten season will center around the life-giving waters of baptism. Through baptism, we are connected to the life of God in Christ Jesus. We are washed in the promises and blessing of God’s grace. These waters continue to nurture and refresh us each day of our lives.
As a community of the baptized, God calls us to lives that are just, compassionate, and filled with mercy. Baptism joins us to the creative and redemptive work of God to the whole world. Do these words sound familiar? They come from the welcome we share in worship when someone is baptized.
Throughout Lent we will be using Luther’s Flood prayer (which we use when we baptize) on Sunday mornings in our Livestream worship. As the pastor prays the prayer, we will show images of people interacting with water in their lives. We need your help!
Would you share a WATER PHOTO of you? It could be of you washing your hands, drinking a glass of water, pouring/splashing water, turning on the faucet while you brush your teeth, etc. ? We want to see you interact with water. Maybe you have a good picture from the summer of when you jumped into the lake or was out in the boat fishing? We only ask that the picture contain people and water - be creative as you look through your photos or stage a new shot.
Please be sure that the photos:
Contain both people and water
are oriented horizontally.
are in Jpg. or png. formats
are sent to communication@stjameslc.com by February 14.
if the photo involves another person, you have their permission to share it.
Thank you ahead of time for your participation and creativity. All folks who submit a photo will be placed in a drawing for a St. James water bottle. I look forward to this gathering of WATER PHOTOS as a way of involving more people in our Livestream worship for this Lent season.
I pray that this email finds you safe and in good spirits. May the God who claimed your life in the waters of your baptism strengthen you today with reminders of God’s love and grace. Whether it is online, in the parking lot, or in the fellowship hall, I look forward to waving to you in worship this weekend.
In Christ’s Light,
Pastor Walt