The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
–Psalm 51:17
Dear Family of APUMC,
Welcome to the season of Lent!
Last night, many gathered in the sanctuary to hear the invitation, to reimagine the call to self-denial, and to receive the imposition of ashes as a sign of our own mortality. In doing so, we are reminded of certain lessons that only come from an awareness of death.
‘That sounds dreadful,’ some might say. ‘Why is this so important?’
It is simple, really. The reality of death reminds us that we are vulnerable, thus calling us to rediscover the beauty of humility. Such awareness also insists that human power and greed are folly, and so directs our efforts toward compassionate generosity. It has a way of directing us back to the necessity of community, compassion, and mutual respect for others.
Such awareness does not come easily or without cost, of course. This is one of the many reasons why this season of Lent may feel like a jolt to our system: it can be an intrusion to our regularly scheduled program of self-delusion.
The good news is that we are not expected to take this journey by ourselves. Our gathering in worship confirms it. As you will hear in the gospel this Sunday, Jesus does not enter into the wilderness without the company of the Holy Spirit. Nor are you or I left to navigate every trial or temptation on our own. Likewise, as the reading from Genesis will remind us, we were created for community. Truth be told, we need each other. I believe there are others who need us, too, at our very best.
In that same spirit, I am honored to share that Sgt. John Young will be joining us as a regular participant in our Sunday morning worship services. I am appreciative of the ongoing discernment of our lay leadership and their steadfast support of this latest development. I believe it is a wonderful sign of our faith in action.
Sgt. Young has faithfully served the city of Mobile for 33 years with the Mobile Police Department and currently serves as Digital Compliance Supervisor. Many in our community know him not only for his distinguished leadership in law enforcement, but also for his courageous public advocacy against gun violence, and his tireless investment in mentoring young people. His voice has been heard in churches, neighborhoods, schools, and community forums, calling us to confront violence at its roots through what he calls the “FEED” method—family, education, employment, and discipline.
Perhaps most compelling is Sgt. Young’s conviction that true transformation begins in the heart. He speaks often of moral courage, personal responsibility, and the power of spiritual renewal to heal communities. His witness reminds us that loving our neighbors requires both compassion and boldness.
We give thanks for his faithful service to our city, and we are excited to imagine how his presence among us will strengthen our shared commitment to love and justice–a vision of greater hospitality and growing public witness for good. I pray that God may use our life together to further empower us to love our neighbors with courage, wisdom, and grace.
Please join me in warmly welcoming Sgt. John Young into our worshiping community this Sunday, our First Sunday in Lent.
Grace to You,
Darren
