Dive into Lent - something for everyone this season
Dive into Lent. We promise you won’t be the same.
Lent is a season rich with meaning, and to help you dive in spiritually we are offering a multitude of worship services, formation classes, and times to gather with other folks on the journey. Find out more about everything we’re doing below.
Go deep in your faith this season.
You won’t be the same when Easter comes.
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Early Christians observed “a season of penitence and fasting” in preparation for the Paschal feast, or Easter. The season now known as Lent (from an Old English word meaning “spring,” the time of lengthening days) has a long history. Originally, in places where Pascha was celebrated on a Sunday, the Paschal feast followed a fast of up to two days. In the third century this fast was lengthened to six days. Eventually this fast became attached to, or overlapped, another fast of forty days, in imitation of Christ's fasting in the wilderness. The forty-day fast was especially important for converts to the faith who were preparing for baptism, and for those guilty of notorious sins who were being restored to the Christian assembly. In the western church the forty days of Lent extend from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, omitting Sundays. The last three days of Lent are the sacred Triduum of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
Today Lent has reacquired its significance as the final preparation of adult candidates for baptism. Joining with them, all Christians are invited “to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word” (BCP, p. 265).
Many Christians will choose a special spiritual practice to maintain during Lent, either a fast or an added practice of some kind. If you would like to explore how to observe Lent this year, reach out to one of the clergy. They’ll be glad to walk you through it.
Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday
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Celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday, Shrove Tuesday is the final day before the 40-day period of Lent begins. Its name comes from the Germanic-Old English word “shrive,” meaning absolve. Because it comes directly before Lent, a season of fasting and penitence, this was the day that Christians would go to be “shriven” by their confessor. Shrove Tuesday also became a day for pre-fasting indulgence. We celebrate every year with an extravagent potluck in the Parish Hall.
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The first of the forty days of Lent, named for the custom of placing blessed ashes on the foreheads of worshipers at Ash Wednesday services. The ashes are a sign of penitence and a reminder of mortality, and may be imposed with the sign of the cross. Ash Wednesday is observed as a fast in the church year of the Episcopal Church. Imposition of ashes at the Ash Wednesday service is optional, but is deeply meaningful to many and we recommend giving it a try.
Sundays in Lent
9:15 AM - Adult Formation
10 AM - Children’s Sunday School
6 PM - Youth Formation
The Life of Moses: From the Nile to the Promised Land
Come take a deep dive into the life of a Bible character who was described as a 'friend of God.'" Moses is traditionally held as the writer of the first five books of the Bible and forefather of the faith. He survived infanticide by floating in a basket down the Nile and was raised by the Egyptians as a prince, but went on to lead the Israelite people out of slavery into freedom in the promised land. He saw God in a burning bush, thwarted armies and illnesses, and carved the Commandments of God in stone. And this only scratches the surface. Come dive into the Life of Moses, taught by Bill Logan.
Class is held in the Garden Room in the Commons.
Beginning February 18
The Holy Land: Contextualizing the Conflict in Story
Led by Susan Prinz this special formation session on Palm Sunday (March 24th) will cover the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how that history plays into contemporary conflicts and political issues today.
Class will be held in the Garden Room in the Commons building.
Wednesdays in Lent
Formation & Fellowship for ALL ages
every Wednesday in Lent
Contemplative Prayer at 5:15 PM
Supper at 6 PM
Programs at 6:30 PM
Some classes are limited. Please register to help us get a headcount. It does not bind you to attend every session.
| Class | Location | Ages | Teacher | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contemplative Prayer | Chapel | Adults | Susan Prinz | 5:15 PM |
| A Wrinkle in Time | Youth Loft | Children & Youth | Alex Cato | 6:30 PM |
| Pascal Candle Painting | Youth Loft | Youth | Alex Cato | 6:30 PM |
| Paul's Letter to the Philippians | Parish Hall | Adults | Caitlyn | 6:30 PM |
| Have a Beautiful Terrible Lent | St. Albans | Adults | TBD | 6:30 PM |