What is Lent?
Lent is the six-week period leading up to Easter. Lent is seen as a time of solemn observance and preparation for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter. From its start on Ash Wednesday until its conclusion on Easter Sunday, Lent has been a traditional time for fasting or giving something up or abstinence. Just as we carefully prepare for events in our personal lives, as a wedding, or birthday, Lent invites us to make our minds and hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ life, death and body resurrection. (edited from https://40acts.org.uk/ – a great Lent website!)
Ash Wednesday
A reflective service where we will sing, pray, hear a short teaching and receive the traditional mark of ashes on our foreheads. Ash Wednesday is Feb. 26 at 6:30pm.
Midweek Meals & Worship Services
Starting with Ash Wednesday, a meal will be provided at the church on Wednesdays, Feb. 26-Apr.1, serving 5:15-6:15pm, just prior to the 6:30pm services. These midweek services are roughly 30 minutes in length.
Sundays
We continue regular worship services on Sunday mornings at 8:30am and 11am, with Sunday classes at 9:45am in between services.
Palm Sunday
We worship at regular times of 8:30am and 11am. Children ages 3 to 5th grade will be singing at the 11am service. A special pancake breakfast is served throughout the morning.
Maundy Thursday
In place of a Wednesday gathering, the week before Easter our midweek service is on Thursday night, April 9. A meal is served 5:15-6:15pm with a worship service at 6:30pm. On Maundy Thursday, we celebrate the Last Supper with communion.
Easter Sunday
Three worship services at 8:30am, 9:45am & 11am. Each service will have a mix of traditional Easter and modern song, but the first two will feature classic hymns with organ and choir while the 11am is contemporary praise. There are no Sunday classes.
More About Lent (edited from https://40acts.org.uk/ – a great Lent website!)
When does Lent start?
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is always held 46 days (40 fasting days and 6 Sundays) before Easter Sunday.
What do Christians do during Lent?
Christians observe Lent in many ways. More orthodox and traditional denominations will fast from meat, fish, eggs and fats until Easter Sunday. Others will choose to give up just one item for Lent, more commonly a ‘luxury’ such as chocolate, meat or alcohol. It is also becoming increasingly common for people to give up other things in order to refocus their faith during this time; such as watching TV, going to the gym, even social media. Instead of giving something up, some will add on a deeper devotional practice. Many Christians use Lent to study their Bibles and pray more intensively.
Why is Ash Wednesday called Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday begins Lent. The day gets its name from the traditional blessing of the ashes taken after the burning of Palm branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebrations. The ashes are used to draw a cross on the head of people to mark the beginning of their Lent fast. The drawing of a cross is often done while repeating the words “Repent and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15) or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19).
What is Holy Week?
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week – the last week of Lent leading up to Easter. On Palm Sunday Christians everywhere remember Jesus’ triumphant arrival in Jerusalem. Church services will often include a procession of palm branches, symbolic of the ones laid at Jesus’ feet as he rode into the city.
As Holy Week draws to a close and Easter approaches, we have Maundy Thursday, commemorating the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples in which he predicts his betrayal by the following denial by Peter; and Good Friday, the day on which Christians around the world remember Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. With Good Friday over, Christians look forward to Easter Sunday, the day on which Jesus rose from his tomb.