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| A member congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | ||
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Thoughts from the Pastor February No, it’s not a disease that affects your big toe, nor is it the stuff that you put between the tiles in your bathroom, and it is definitely not a very small fish that has been saved from extinction. Actually, the Grout is an automobile — rather, it was. To be more precise, it was what was once called a steam carriage. It was first made around 1900 by a man named Grout. The car was propelled by a small steam engine with the boiler located under the driver’s seat. By the way, the boiler carried 225 lbs. of pressure which made driving the Grout an interesting adventure. The Grout was quite successful and was manufactured in what was said to be the first factory in the United States designed for the manufacture of automobiles. At its peak, the plant produced one car per day. For unknown reason, the Grout faded in popularity and disappeared from the scene in the early 1900’s. It is estimated that there are 12 Grouts left in the world today, one of which is in the Carriage Shed of the Orange Historical Society. The Grout Fan Club purchased it for $5,000. Sometimes I think the season of Lent, which begins this year on February 21st, has become like a Grout: there is a small fan club that keeps its memories alive, but for most of us it is something that belongs in the past with little or no use in our lives today. Originally the season of Lent was a time of special repentance and cleansing of the heart and mind as a way of preparing to celebrate Easter. It was a time of disciplining the heart and mind to conform more and more to Christ. It was a time to stop and think, a time to renew commitment and faith. But in recent years the notion of repentance has come to be seen as somehow unnecessary or old-fashioned. Given the many demands and the busy schedules, many of us have found it almost impossible to stop and think, but that’s exactly what we need to do. Unless we do stop and think about our lives unless we allow the gospel of Christ to confront and challenge us, unless we seek to discipline our hearts and minds to conform to Christ, our faith will not grow. Unless we turn to God, which is what it means to repent, little of hope and gladness will come. Unlike the Grout, the season of Lent still has great use -- it can be a time to be renewed and refreshed in God. It can be a time even to have our hearts and minds transformed with faith and joy in Christ! And that is the purpose of our mid-week Lenten services of worship each Wednesday: to be renewed and refreshed, to think, pray, commune and be conformed to Christ. Take the time, make the time, to attend, and not let the season of Lent go the way of the Grout.
God be with you, Jeff
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