​​​Dear LCC Community,

I believe it is worth repeating the short devotion I read as a sermon on February 22 to 
help us finish worship in time for annual meeting. It was written by Andrea Denney, 
Executive Director of Operational Ministries, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, in 
response to the story in Matthew ‘s Gospel (4:1–11). Jesus is led into the 
“wilderness” immediately after being baptized in the Jordan River by John the 
Baptist. Matthew says Jesus fasted for 40 days and night, and the devil tempted him 
three times, saying that Jesus can prove he is the son of God by accomplishing any 
one of them if he will only:  
1) “command these stones to become loaves of bread,” to which Jesus 
replies, “one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the 
mouth of God.” 
2)  throw himself off the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem because God “will 
command his angels concerning you… on their hands they will bear you up, so that 
you will not dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus says, “Do not put the Lord your 
God to the test.” 
3) Matthew then describes the final temptation and ends the story: “the devil 
took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and 
their splendor; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and 
worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘Worship the 
Lord your God, and serve only him.’ Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels 
came and waited on him.” 

 

Here is Ms. Denney’s response: “Forty days and nights is biblical speak for a really 
long time. I know that humans can’t survive that long without food, and if Jesus was 
fasting from water too, he wouldn’t have survived more than three days. I believe in 
science enough to know that rocks don’t become bread. I’m afraid of heights so no 
pinnacle of the temple for me. And I can barely manage my own life; why would I 
want all the kingdoms of the world? 

 

“It’s so much easier to read this literally and therefore declare the whole situation as 
not applicable to my life. But Lent is an opportunity to go a little deeper than that 
literal reading. [Please note that it would be much easier to give up potato chips or 

chocolate for Lent than going deeper. I’ve tried to convince God that my love of chips 
would constitute a real challenge. But so far, no luck.] 

 

“So instead, these are the questions that I will be asking during Lent. Maybe some 
resonate with you. 

 

“When do I turn to food/drink/television/social media-scrolling for comfort rather than 
listening to God’s promise of my belovedness and worthiness? 
“I like solving problems, but has solving problems become my idol? Am I seeking 
affirmation and approval through my work? Can I believe that I am enough? 

 

“That’s quite a list and it will likely take me every bit of forty days and nights to work 
through it. Am I absolutely certain that I don’t just want to give up chips or chocolate?” 
Prayer:

“God, draw me closer to your heart. Give me courage to stay with the tough 
questions. Help me to feel your presence in my wilderness. Amen.” 

 

In our annual meeting after worship on February, I felt that our congregation found 
courage as in the French meaning of heart-given strength, bravery, and wisdom: we 
voted to be listed as a co-sponsor in the activity brochures of LUCE, the immigrant
support network of Massachusetts. We sent to the choir the decision whether or not to 
add The New Century Hymnal in our worship, with its multitude of hymns and its 
mission of reducing gender-specific words. And we heard each other express 
enthusiasm for serving the community with events like performances by local 
musicians and choral groups, and like game nights in the winter, and like movies on 
the lawn in the summer. And more potlucks! 

 

But the best demonstration of our big congregational (and choir’s) heart came to me 
the next day when Paige Graham told me she has decided to stay as our music 
director. 
More courage awaits. And joy. May we continue to seek them together. 

​

Peace and blessings,

​

 Lee

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