February

February 21 begins the season of Lent. Lent is part of the church year that lasts forty days. It is likely that the length of time was chosen to commemorate three other fasts: Moses on Mt. Sinai, Elijah on his journey to the mountain of God; and of course our Lord and savior Jesus Christ who fasted before His public ministry began; and afterward He was tempted in the wilderness. The forty day period of Lent does not include the Sundays. They are in the Lenten Season but not part of it.  That’s why the Sundays are called Sundays in Lent. For example: this year March 11 is called the 3rd Sunday in Lent.

Why does the Church go through this 40 day period? The Church does this in order to allow people time to focus on the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus and to permit us also not to forget the reason for His suffering: our sinfulness. It is a time of deep reflection and a time for the serious repentance of our sins. We symbolize that repentance especially on the beginning day of Lent, Ash Wednesday (which this year is February 21. On that day we offer the faithful an imposition of ashes. Here are ashes (should you desire them) taken from palms (to recall the Lord’s Triumphal entry into Jerusalem); that are placed upon the foreheads of the repentant in the sign of the cross. Ashes remind us of our sin (they are dirty) and of the fact that our life on earth is only temporary (from dust you were created and to dust you shall return) Genesis 3:19. 

As we prepare for the Lenten journey; all are also invited to join us for Midweek Lenten Worship. The Wednesdays for this worship are: Feb 28, March 7, March 14, March 21, March 28. All may join us for light suppers at 6:00 pm., and a series of worship services entitled: Christ on Trial. It is our hope that these experiences will assist you to prepare for the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord.

Then the final week, called Holy Week, begins on April 1 (Palm Sunday),

 Maundy Thursday (April 5) 7pm. and Good Friday (April 6) 7 pm. All of these worship experiences promise to be helpful in your Lenten reflections. The Lenten season concluding; we celebrate His Resurrection from the dead on April 8 at 10:30 am.

May the Lenten season be especially renewing for you.

In Christ,

Pastor Nuss

 

         

revdnuss@msn.com