Wednesday, March 2 is the formal start to the season of Lent. The word "lent", taken from Old English meaning "springtime", is a spiritual spring cleaning of sorts. It is a time when the church together raises the windows and invites a fresh breeze of God's Spirit to blow through our lives, so as to show us all the ways we seek our soul satisfaction apart from the sufficiency and supremacy of Jesus. Seen in this way, Lent is a journey of repentance and rediscovery...of rediscovering what it means to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus as we prepare our hearts and lives to receive in new and fresh ways the life that Jesus offers us in his resurrection.
I invite you to gather with us to begin our Lenten journey together with an Ash Wednesday Prayer Service from 12:00-12:30 p.m. in our sanctuary. It is called Ash Wednesday because throughout the history of God's people, anointing with ashes has been a public sign of humility and repentance before God and one another (Jonah 3:6, Daniel 9:3, Matt 11:21). At this service, we will pray together, and afterward, those who desire will have the opportunity to have ashes placed upon their foreheads as a reminder of our own mortality and the effects of sin that remain in us. We gather on this Ash Wednesday to honestly face and acknowledge our brokenness and need, but to do so in the knowledge and hope of the overwhelming and pardoning love of Jesus' cross and resurrection.
May God by his Spirit work in us a new and vibrant trust in his overabundant mercy as he brings us through confession and repentance and into the joy of his overwhelming love.
Yours for the sake of Jesus, the King,
Pastor Brandon Eggar
Special Services for the Season of Lent:
- Ash Wednesday, March 2, 12:00-12:30 p.m.
- Sunday Evening Prayer Services: March 6-April 3, 5:00-5:30 p.m.
- Palm Sunday: April 10, 6:00-6:45 p.m.
- Holy Week: April 11-13. Evening services will take place at 6:00 p.m. A light supper will be provided at the conclusion of each service.
- Maundy Thursday: April 14, 6:00-7:00 p.m. Dinner not provided.
- Good Friday: April 15, 6:00-7:00 p.m. Dinner not provided.
Easter Events:
- Easter Sunrise Celebration & Breakfast: April 17, 6:00 a.m.
- Resurrection Service: April 17, 10:00 a.m. (No CE)