Weekly Newsletter

Hello friends,

When I was pastoring in Las Vegas, I volunteered at Potosi Pines Camp. This United Methodist Camp is nestled within 160 acres of the beautiful Nevada desert. One can’t help but stand in awe of the tremendous landscape.
After I arrived, I was told the following morning everyone would be up early to climb the mountain. “What mountain?” I said out loud. “We all climb that mountain” as the leader pointed to the enormous mountain in the distance. Just to get a better understanding I asked, “Everyone goes – even the little kids?” Truthfully, I was thinking I could offer to stay behind and watch them. “Yes, everyone” she replied. My mind starting racing, How safe is this? “What about snakes?” We are in the desert, there must be snakes. They assured me no one has ever seen a snake. By now I’m giving myself the internal motivational talk, “You can do this Robyne, if the little kids can do it, you can.” And then the logical part of my brain said, “Yeah that’s because they don’t know any better.” But, very early, with a hat on my head, water bottle in hand, and smelling like banana boat sunscreen, I joined the group and headed towards the large mountain in the distance. The experienced campers took the trail like moths to a flame.
When one person lagged, everyone cheered them on and someone was always willing to stay and guide them forward. Soon we made it to the top and stood on this rocky peak. The view was truly glorious, and everyone was thrilled to say they made it, including me.
Given the opportunity to climb that mountain today, would I make it to the top? – probably not, I’m a few years older and not in the same physical health. My doctor recently told me my acid reflux could be better if I lost a few pounds. I told him to give it to me straight and he did – I can’t be mad about that.
I thought about what Adam Hamilton once said, “Our spiritual health is not unlike our physical health. Without spiritual exercises we will find it difficult to keep up as Jesus calls us to follow. We become spiritually lethargic and out of shape. We may exhibit less, patience, kindness, mercy and love. We worry more and trust God less. We need to take care of both!
With that in mind and Lent coming up, I’m excited to complete “The Way” a self-guided journal that follows our Lenten Sermon Series. Self-guided journals will be given out to interested individuals after our Chili and Chat on Ash Wednesday at 6pm. I also signed up for The Forty Forty Challenge. This challenge requires you to walk 1-mile each day - focusing on the Lord and completing scripture readings. I’m also going to read a book my doctor recommended, and to keep my mind centered and focused, I am taking a 40-day break from Facebook.
How might you heighten your awareness of God’s love for you, and your need for God during the 40 days of Lent?
Below is a synopsis of our Lenten Sermon Series. A movie night and a discussion group will be offered for individuals who choose to complete the journal with others.

This Sunday we will be looking at the Book of Jude.
See you Sunday at 10
God Bless
Pastor Robyne

Synopsis of our Lenten Sermon Series, “The Way”
Lent is a time of reflection, and there’s nothing like a pilgrimage to conjure that up. Making intentional journeys has been a ritual of humankind across time and traditions. Inspired by passages in the Judeo-Christian scriptures that talk about the journeys, roads, and pathways of life, we will make our way together through this season. The popular and poignant movie, The Way, about a father’s pilgrimage in honor of his late son on the famed Camino de Santiago in France and Spain, accompanies us as our modern-day inspiration to live the life we’ve been given to the fullest.