Many Christians practice what is called in the LBW Ash Wednesday liturgy “the discipline of Lent” – “repentance, fasting, prayer, and works of love” – during the 40 day season which begins on February 14, 2018 (Valentine’s Day!!). These practices are helpful and highly recommended, as we come to grips with the dark side of our humanity and prepare for the joy of Easter. The downside of giving up old practices or taking on new practices during Lent is that once Easter arrives we may walk away with the impression that Christian discipline is for one season only.

While you may want to “ramp up” your service and devotion during Lent, there’s no reason to limit spiritual discipline to a single season. Why not make “spiritual” New Year’s resolutions? Mid-winter is a great time to try new things and develop new habits.

I’ve often recommended daily devotions in my sermons and newsletter articles, and here I go again. The 20th century martyr and Lutheran pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that every day should begin and end with the Word of God – prayer and the reading of Scripture. I suggest that you consider using what Bonhoeffer himself used, The Moravian Daily Texts. This little book, now also available electronically, is published annually and includes devotions for each day of the year. There is a theme – a “watchword” – assigned for every week. This comes from one of the biblical passages in the weekly lectionary, that is, one of our Sunday lessons. Then, for each day of the year, there are three readings – one from the Old Testament, one from the Psalms, and one from the New Testament, as well as two hymn verses and a short prayer. Following the Daily Texts will take you through all 150 Psalms in one year and the rest of the Bible in two years.

I usually augment the daily devotion with an invocation, the Lord’s Prayer, several petitions of my own, and Luther’s morning prayer (or evening prayer – both are readily available in Luther’s Small Catechsim). The Kindle version is available from Amazon (I just downloaded my 2018 edition while writing this), print versions in variety of editions are available from the Moravian Church http://www.moravian.org/, and they even offer a Daily Texts email, which is sent out each day at 5:00 am and is apparently free of charge!

Of course, Christian practice is corporate; in Baptism we become members of the Church which is the Body of Christ. While private prayer is important, it is best done in concert with our corporate, public prayer. We gather together each week to pray as a congregation, at the same time as we hear God’s Word proclaimed, receive Christ’s body and blood, and are once more united in a common faith and purpose. New Year is a great time to turn over a new leaf and strive for weekly church attendance.

Also, because Christianity is corporate, we are called to commit ourselves to serving the neighbor. St. Timothy offers numerous ways to love our neighbors as ourselves. Heart and Hands Mission is always looking for clothing to distribute to needy people. They’re also on the lookout for volunteers to sort clothing and to make deliveries to a number of local urban distribution points. Heart ‘n’ Hands volunteers gather each Monday morning at church to sort clothing, and they also schedule days of service on Monday holidays, the next of which is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 15.

Besides H&H, we’re also involved with North Jersey Interfaith Cares, a ministry to Syrian refugees in Passaic County. NJIC has scheduled a variety of social events for introducing members of our faith communities to these new neighbors. They have collected holiday gifts, household items, and other items to ease the transition to life in America. NJIC also offers English as a Second Language classes at the Wayne YMCA. Talk to Cliff Konnerth if you would like to join in these worthy efforts.

The Wayne Interfaith Network has been a vital part of religious life in the township since the 1960s. WIN sponsors the community food bank and offers other kinds of assistance to Wayne residents throughout the year, including sneaker and school supply drives at the beginning of each school year. St. Timothy regularly collects non-perishable food for the WIN pantry, hosts the annual packing of Thanksgiving baskets, and receives financial gifts for this interfaith ministry. Our congregation has also been well represented on the WIN board of directors over the years. If you’d like to volunteer with WIN, talk to Carol Cook or Leona Eckert.

There are many other “religious resolutions” we might make at the start of the New Year; these are only a few suggestions. Please remember the many blessings that God has bestowed upon you and prayerfully consider the ways in which you can respond in faithful devotion and service. Have a happy, healthy, and richly blessed New Year!

In Jesus’ name,

Pastor Robert M. Mountenay