Lent is coming

Lent is a time of preparation for Easter.  For more than 1,000 years Christians have spent the six weeks before Easter in special study, prayer and fasting in order to be prepared for the most holy day of the Church Year – Easter Day.

Ash Wednesday

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday – this year Ash Wednesday is February 13.  On Ash Wednesday we impose ashes – made from blessed palms on the forehead as a reminder that we are all mortal and that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  We will have two services on Ash Wednesday.  One at Noon and one at 7 p.m.    We will also be participating in “Ashes to Go” this year.  If you wish to receive Ashes but don’t have time for a full service – Ashes will be available from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the kitchen door – just drive around the back of the church.

 Giving Something Up

Giving something up for Lent is a traditional type of fast.  People usually pick something that is an extra and give it up for the 40 days of Lent.   Often giving up an extra is accompanied by giving the money that would have been spent on that item to charity.  Sundays are feast days and not part of the season of Lent so many people do not fast on Sunday.  Some common things that people give up are: chocolate, ice cream, red meat, alcohol and eating out.

Daily Prayers

Many people add daily prayers to their schedule during Lent.  Prayers can be added at the beginning of the day, at noon, in the early evening or at the end of the day or any of the above.  There are short prayer services in the Book of Common Prayer. At the web-site no-exceptions.org you can find some prayer services that can be down loaded to an e-reader.  If you want some brief reflections for each day pick up a Forward Day by Day booklet from the back of the church, the rack across from the ladies room or the shelf in the office.

Study

Many people take on some kind of study during Lent.  This Lent we are reading the book Flunking Sainthood by Jena Reiss.  It’s the story of her attempt to try a different spiritual practice every month for a year and how she did with it. The book is available for $10.  Let Pastor Vicki know if you want one. We are gathering to study the book at two different times:  Sunday mornings from 9:15 – 9:45 February 17 – March 17

Wednesday evenings from 6:45 – 7:15 – February 20 – March 20. Evening prayer will be said in the church from 6:30 – 6:45 on  those Wednesdays

Quiet Morning

We will also have a Lent Quiet morning on Saturday February 16 from 9:30 – Noon.   The morning will be made up of several different kinds of prayer and spiritual practices.