This year during the Wednesdays of Lent (except for Holy Week), everyone is invited to a short Compline Service or Night Prayer at 7 pm which will be hosted by Christ Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg, VA. You can join us in person or online. This ancient service lasts only about 25 minutes and is being offered to help us take a new look at Lent - revisiting what Lent can mean for us and how its disciplines can be used by God to help us on our way. Tonight for week 4, our focus is prayer. 

Lectionary Text for the Wednesday of the Forth Week of Lent: Luke 9:10-17

Preaching: Pastor Lou Florio

Music: Rebecca Case

You can learn more about Christ Lutheran where Pastor Lou serves as Associate Pastor at:

https://www.christ-lutheran-church.org/

Or, follow us for updates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CLCFred

Christ Lutheran Church, 1300 Augustine Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Copyright © 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies.

Annual License #SAS006522.

#401132-M- One License

#lent #compline

As Easter comes once again, we remember Jesus is not among the dead. We can see signs of his love springing up all around us, even in the worst of times. Rejoice and be glad, for Jesus has risen for you...is risen for you. Death cannot stop his love for us, and it never will. (Previously published in Christ Lutheran's April 2022 Newsletter, Fredericksburg, VA. Find the written version at 2pennyblog.wordpress.com.) #easter #christian #spirituality #faith

This year during the Wednesdays of Lent (except for Holy Week), everyone is invited to a short Compline Service or Night Prayer at 7 pm which will be hosted by Christ Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg, VA. You can join us in person or online. This ancient service lasts only about 25 minutes and is being offered to help us take a new look at Lent - revisiting what Lent can mean for us and how its disciplines can be used by God to help us on our way. Tonight for week 3, our focus is "Fasting: it might not be what you think it is."

Lectionary Text for the Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent: Luke 13:18-21 

Preaching: Pastor Lou Florio

Music: Rebecca Case

You can learn more about Christ Lutheran where Pastor Lou serves as Associate Pastor at:

https://www.christ-lutheran-church.org/

Or, follow us for updates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CLCFred

Christ Lutheran Church, 1300 Augustine Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Copyright © 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies.

Annual License #SAS006522.

#401132-M- One License

#lent #compline

This year during the Wednesdays of Lent (except for Holy Week), everyone is invited to a short Compline Service or Night Prayer at 7 pm which will be hosted by Christ Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg, VA. You can join us in person or online. This ancient service lasts only about 25 minutes and is being offered to help us take a new look at Lent - revisiting what Lent can mean for us and how its disciplines can be used by God to help us on our way. Tonight for week 2, our focus is "Turning Toward God."

Lectionary Text for the Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent: Luke 13:22-31

Preaching: Pastor Lou Florio

Music: Rebecca Case

You can learn more about Christ Lutheran where Pastor Lou serves as Associate Pastor at:

https://www.christ-lutheran-church.org/

Or, follow us for updates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CLCFred

Christ Lutheran Church, 1300 Augustine Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Copyright © 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies.

Annual License #SAS006522.

#401132-M- One License

#lent #compline

This year during the Wednesdays of Lent (except for Holy Week), everyone is invited to a short Compline Service or Night Prayer at 7 pm which will be hosted by Christ Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg, VA. You can join us in person or online. This ancient service lasts only about 25 minutes and is being offered to help us take a new look at Lent - revisiting what Lent can mean for us and how its disciplines can be used by God to help us on our way. Tonight for week 1, our focus is "Welcome to the Struggle."

Lectionary Text for the Wednesday of the First Week of Lent: Luke 21:34-38

Preaching: Pastor Lou Florio

Music: Rebecca Case

#lent #compline

You can learn more about Christ Lutheran where Pastor Lou serves as Associate Pastor at:

https://www.christ-lutheran-church.org/

Or, follow us for updates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CLCFred

Christ Lutheran Church, 1300 Augustine Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Copyright © 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies.

Annual License #SAS006522.

#401132-M- One License

Pastor Lou shares a short pastoral reflection as we prepare to start another Lent. (Previously published in Christ Lutheran's March 2022 Newsletter, Fredericksburg, VA. Find the written version at 2pennyblog.wordpress.com.) #lent #christian #spirituality

Pastor Lou shares a special reflection on Psalm 130 for those in the law enforcement community and those who love and support them. Due to the special needs of law enforcement and the many challenges always faced, he also announces a new place to find exclusively law enfocement related content. Please visit us at midnightsleo.com. A companion podcast by the same name is also coming with reflections, discussions and interviews to hopefully help law enforcement officers and their families live a more abundant life. 

For those who prefer to continue to follow all of Pastor Lou's reflections on all topics, much of what is shared on Midnights LEO podcast will also be released here. Look for the LE designation in the title when visiting Two Penny Blog. 

Pastor Lou has been a police chaplain since 2008, and he previously served in patrol for six years with the City of Alexandria (VA) Police Department. 

#lawenforcement #police #firstresponders #chaplain

This bonus episode addresses anxiety, stress, loss, grief, trauma, post traumatic stress and other related issues - particularly in the context of the pandemic. It does include resources and suggestions for coping. It was a conversation between friends and colleagues who both happen to be Christian ministers, but what was covered may potentially help anyone struggling with or caring for someone seeking to address these issues. Caregivers such as nurses, teachers, first responders, faith leaders and others might especially benefit. 

Father Ethan Lowery is an Episcopal priest serving as a College Campus Minister and Young Adult Missioner in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Pastor Lou Florio is a Lutheran Pastor who also has served as a hospital, hospice, and law enforcment chaplain and missioner to at-risk youth. He has six years expereince as a police officer. He is currently Associate Pastor at Christ Lutheran in Fredericksburg

This discussion can also be found at Non Working Title, Fr. Ethan's podcast, "an on-going conversation with friends about rest, sabbath, and resisting the overbearing cultural pressure to work/produce/be available all the time." Look for Season 0, Episode 3, and while there, check out his other episodes about sabbath, rest and health. 

The following sermon was offered at Christ Lutheran Church on February 13, 2022, the 6th Sunday after Epiphany. Due to the positive feedback and discussion, that followed, I am sharing it here. You can also watch it on Christ Lutheran (Fredericksburg, VA) YouTube Channel or Facebook page. Primary text for the sermon was Luke 6:17-26, the Beatitudes. 

Drawing from a Facebook Live class in April 2020 as the pandemic began, this edition of the Two Penny Blog takes a look at a valuable Lutheran worship resource in the context of home worship. Not Lutheran? It is a great chance to learn more about Christian worship across all liturgical traditions and perhaps enrich your own spiritual practices.