A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY CHURCH HAS SPECIAL LENT SERIES.

Byline: Holly Andres Staff Writer

CHATSWORTH - The congregation at Chatsworth United Methodist Church will start a 50-day spiritual journey Sunday in which God is the driver and the Rev. Ruy Mizuki their tour guide.

``The adventure, as it is called, is an annual all-church spiritual growth event by Mainstay Church Resources called 'Daring to Dream Again: Overcoming Barriers That Hold You Back,' said the Rev. Mizuki of the nearly 115-year old Chatsworth church.

``The goal of the 50 days is to overcome broken dreams and difficulties. God is present in our lives and has plans for us. We want to move ahead with God and, as the Scripture says, 'All things are possible.'''

The eight-week-long program will span Ash Wednesday, occurring this Wednesday, through the 40-day period of spiritual reflection of Lent to Easter. Easter Sunday will be on April 20.

``The first sermon has to do with Judas,'' said Mizuki. ``He allowed his own goals to get in the way. It's our challenge to have an unselfish life. We ask ourselves, how can we be more Christlike? How can we live our lives and bring glory to God, as well?''

The sermon series involves daily journal-writing and reading through a companion booklet. Writing down thoughts and following the booklet, Mizuki said, will keep participants on ``the same page'' and will help clarify the Scriptures to be presented each Sunday.

``The first topic, 'Let God Heal Your Painful Past,' is a wonderful way to start off the 50-day adventure,'' said Lois Smith, the pianist for CUMC. ``A lot of people are crippled emotionally or spiritually. If we want a positive adventure we need to get rid of our painful past first.''

For Smith, Ash Wednesday and Lent represent a time to review one's spiritual self in preparation for Easter.

``If we haven't been a serious Christian before, this is an excellent time to reawaken our spiritual journey,'' said Smith, who has been a church member since 1964.

The ashes used to make the sign of a cross on the foreheads of the faithful traditionally come from palms that were used at the previous year's Palm Sunday service. Mizuki uses an impromptu way to obtain the ashes.

``We write down our wishes or our weaknesses. We can write down the names of loved ones who have passed away. It's a message to God,'' said Joe Buondelmonte, the church's organist for 12 years. ``We give them to our pastor. He burns the paper and he blesses the ashes. It has more meaning doing it this way. We're sacrificing our wishes and our needs and then we're being blessed by them.'

To ignore one's inner spirituality while going through the routine of attending church has no appeal for Buondelmonte, who said he works at Boeing in Canoga Park.

``Lent contributes to the enrichment of our inner spirit,'' he said. ``However, I feel that every day is a time for both reflection and repentance. I think these concepts really should be a daily thing, just as the joy we feel at Christmastime should be with us every day.''

Along with the 50-day program, CUMC will hold a 6 p.m. Lenten soup dinner every Thursday from March 13 through April 17. The dinner will be followed by a movie about Jesus and a discussion.

The Rev. Ruy Mizuki will introduce the ``Daring to Dream Again: Overcoming Barriers That Hold You Back'' program at the 9:30 a.m. Sunday service in Chatsworth United Methodist Church, 10824 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Chatsworth. The Ash Wednesday service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Call [phone].

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The Rev. Ruy Mizuki, center, will lead a special Lenten program at Chatsworth United Methodist Church, helped by church organist Joe Buondelmonte and pianist Lois Smith.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer