Vineyard Notes from Pastor Jimmy--Invitation to Join a Season of Fasting and Weekday Daily Devotionals --Feb. 23, 2021

February 23, 2021

Dear Vineyard Family and Friends,

We are in a season where much of the church celebrates Lent as a season to prepare for Easter Sunday.  We are going to start our version of embarking on a season to prepare our hearts this coming Monday, March 1st, and we will go through Good Friday, April 2nd.

We are living in times where many of us have not been able to participate in very many communal activities.  I believe that even though we are not all meeting together, we can join one another by having the same focus and determination to seek God collectively in this season.

Through this year’s Bible reading plan we’ve been reading the book of Leviticus since last week.  I know it is not the most enjoyable book to go through but just today we were reading about the different festivals and celebrations that God ordained.  Why did He establish certain feasts and times of remembering?  Well, God knows that as He is calling out a people as His own, Israel, and now His Church need times to disconnect from the routine of life and connect with Immanuel, the God who is with us.  Think about how much we need to disconnect from all the distractions, disappointments, disillusionments, and the overarching dis-ease felt in these times.  It's not too late to join the Bible yearly reading plan: vvinfo.org/bibleplan or you can access it through our church App under the Bible and Bible plan tabs.

Together as a church community, we will have a corporate fast and take time to reflect on the redemption offered by the death and resurrection of Jesus.   Join us as we do three things together:

1. Participate in the daily weekday devotional, The Redemption of Easter, on Facebook (vvinfo.org/FB) and YouTube (vvinfo.org/YouTube) at 9 AM (If you miss the “live time,” you can view it throughout the day).

2. Plan on fasting for five weeks (3/1-4/2).  Abstain from eating certain foods, fast food certain days/times, or take time off social media.  Use the time and focus you would regularly use to enjoy these activities to instead feast on Jesus while you fast.  Download abrochure that explains how to fast and why fast at: vvinfo.org/fast

3. Make plans to join us on Good Friday, April 2nd, at 7 PM, to recognize our redemption by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  

Looking forward, as a church body, to experiencing the redeeming power of God in this season,

Jimmy Reyes
Lead Pastor