Exploring Forgiveness this Lent

What does it mean to forgive as we have been forgiven? Where do we start? How is it possible?

Nearly seven years ago, our church embarked on an effort to develop a new mission and vision for our congregation. The mission statement that came from this yearslong process declares that in response to God’s love and grace “we will welcome as we have been welcomed, forgive as we have been forgiven and serve as we have been served”. Following the adoption of this statement, the ministries and focus of our congregation has been shaped by these three emphases: welcome, forgiveness and service.

Our emphasis on welcome has been demonstrated through the adoption of our church Welcome Statement – explicitly emphasizing an invitation to groups that have been marginalized or excluded in the past. Our emphasis on service has been embodied through a growth in outreach efforts to our neighbors – meeting people where they are at. But what about that third pillar of our mission?  What does it mean to emphasize forgiveness as a congregation? This Lenten season, we are invited to explore that question together.

We don’t have to look around our world or our own life for very long to recognize a deep need for forgiveness. Pastor Tim Keller assesses that “The human need for forgiveness appears to be indelible. It won’t go away by denouncing it or trying to deconstruct it. The need…is both a profound need to grant forgiveness and to receive forgiveness.” And yet, even though we recognize the need, that is only part of the process.

Through weekly worship, small group discussions and more, the six weeks of Lent will be a time for this community to learn more about forgiveness: what it is, why we need to give and receive it, and what makes it possible. Let us discover again, or for the first time, what it means to forgive as we have been forgiven.