What are you going to do special this Lent?
Lent is coming early this year—beginning on
February 17th with Ash Wednesday. On that Wednesday, February 17th, there will
be an Ash Wednesday Service at 7:00 pm. The Reverend Janice Tiedeck will
preach, followed by the imposition of ashes by both pastors.
The Christian Church’s celebration of Lent originated some time prior to 325 AD. Ash Wednesday as the official beginning of Lent, can be traced to at least the 8th century when Bishop
Athanasius urged the people to fast in repentance. The tradition of placing ashes
on the forehead of worshippers in the shape of a cross developed from the Old Testament tradition of repenting in “sackcloth
and ashes.” The ashes for the Ash Wednesday service will be created by
burning the palm leaves that were used in last year’s Palm Sunday service.
In the early
days of the Christian Church people fasted, and then they gave the money that they saved from purchasing food to feed the
hungry in their community. The emphasis of Lent therefore is not just to do without
something like chocolate or cigarettes. Rather, the emphasis of Lent is to do something special in preparation for Easter. It is as someone said, “Lent consists in doing something, not in merely
doing without something.” Some of you therefore will
want to join our youth in a 30-hour fast from February 26-27. You will
be contacted in the near future to sponsor our youth in their participation in this fast.
Monies received will go to the World Vision Hunger Project.
You further can
be involved in a special six-week Bible study each Thursday at noon. Lunch will be served from 12:00-12:30, with the Bible study from 12:30-1:30.
Luncheon reservations will need to be made by noon on Wednesday. Those who do not make luncheon reservations are still able to come for the Bible study from 12:30-1:30.
The theme of the six-week Bible study will be “Who is this Jesus?” Each week we will be studying portions of the scriptures from Mark 8:22-16:8. Biblical helps are available in the church library. At the
same time, we will be focusing on the Bible itself, and seeking to learn from it.
In preparation for each week’s study, participants will need to read and seek to understand what Mark is trying
to tell us about who is Jesus. The first passage will be Mark 8:22-9:1. We look forward to you joining us for this special Lenten Bible study.
The purpose of each of these Lenten activities is to assist you in drawing closer to Christ, and in you gaining a greater
sense of his love. I therefore hope that you will seek to be involved in each
of these activities.
