Today — Ash Wednesday March 5th, 2014 — commences the 40 days of the holy Lenten season which provides the opportunity to properly prepare for the High Feast of the Resurrection. Those who will rise are those same ones who constantly receive Jesus…those who receive Jesus will rise. We dedicate ourselves during these 40 days to keep Jesus before us. In the Sermon on the Mount our Lord taught three examples of pure piety to be done in secret: 1) prayer; 2) fasting; 3) giving to the poor. You are free in the Gospel to employ any and all of these for the sake of keeping Christ before your eyes of faith.

Our Ash Wednesday Service is tonight at 7:00 pm at the Good Shepherd Chapel on the campus of Concordia University Irvine. The service will include the imposition of Ashes to remind you that you are but dust and to dust you will return. This helps us to remain the humility that only the Holy Spirit can create and in this, we shall be lifted up. Come to receive the Word powerfully proclaimed; come to sing; come to pray; come to worship in the Name of the Lord. Invite a friend to this very special service.

Once again 7:00 pm tonight at the Good Shepherd Chapel…it is the beautiful chapel on campus at Concordia University (1530 Concordia, Irvine). The chapel is along the main road and has a great view overlooking south county. There is a cross which extends above the chapel and a water fountain at the walkway that leads up to the chapel.

In Your Service and To Christ’s Glory,

Pastor Espinosa