Page 6 - Lenten Devotional 2023

Wednesday, February 22 (cont)

Ash Wednesday

sexual orientation. I had been told several times I was going to hell so why bother going
to church. However, in my heart I never felt that way. He invited me to come and speak
to him. I really feel he saved my life at that point and most everyone there made me feel

welcome too. I became a member of First Lutheran Church.
~Verdell Bohling (11 yrs with First Lutheran)

My first week alone with the girls at First was when Carin was very pregnant with Tate.
So, I brought the girls to church. We had not had a church home for a while and being
raised Catholic I was taught that I was to worship regularly. I thought I would be judged

and not welcomed, but I was embraced by our church. I can never repay that.
~Jim Sandman (15 yrs with First Lutheran)

Prayer
Divine Spirit meet us in our grief and sorrow with the love and compassion of a healing

presence. Make yourself known to us in our pain and reveal for us a path out of
darkness. A path that leads to hope. A path that leads us to you. Amen.

Reflection Questions/Activity
There are times in our lives where loss and heartache might be overwhelming. The love

and support others can provide makes the unbearable bearable.
How have others supported you through a difficult time in your life?
Do you need the support of others now? Who can you turn to? Who is someone you

can trust?

On a piece of paper draw a circle in the middle of the page.Around that circle write
names of people you can reach out to for support. Under their name indicate how they
may support you or why they are important to you. At the top of the page write, “Circle
of Support.”