THE SEASON OF LENT 2011

Ash Wednesday, March 9
to
Easter Sunday, April 24

• Preparation for Easter
• Lenten Study Series
• Lenten Services
• The Triduum
• Easter Sunday
  

LENT: THE WAY OF THE CROSS TO EASTER

Lent, the 40-day period of prayer, penance, and spiritual preparation for Easter, is a time to reflect on the meaning of being joined to Christ in baptism. It is a time for

• prayer, fasting, and repentance
• study and reflection
• personal discipline
• spiritual growth and reaffirmation of faith
• linking faith to life
• rebirth and renewal
• doing God's will

The dominant spirit of Lent, therefore, should be not to give up something, but to undertake disciplines that help us to become more deeply rooted in our faith, more obedient, and more free to serve our Lord and Christ. During this Lenten season, Lewinsville offers its members and friends opportunities to worship and study, to give of their time and talents, and to share the Christian fellowship in this church community. Let us use these opportunities to help us discover what true discipleship means.

ASH WEDNESDAY:

The first day of Lent is named Ash Wednesday. In nature many things have to wither and decay and turn to ash before new life can spring forth. Early Christians held that before each person can experience the new life of Easter Time, he has to let some of his faults and bad habits die away and thus 'turn to ash'. This first day of Lent reminds us that unless we are willing to die to our old selves, we cannot be raised to new life with Christ. Ashes on the forehead is a sign of our humanity and a reminder of our mortality. The ashes we wear symbolize the dust and broken debris of our lives as well as the reality that each of us will die. During the imposition of ashes, the words "You are dust, and to dust you shall return" are repeated again and again.

Trusting in the "accomplished fact" of Christ's resurrection, however, we listen for the Word of God in the time-honored stories of the Church's Lenten journey. Our Lenten journey is one of metanoia ("turning around"), of changing directions from self-serving toward the self-giving way of the cross. The way of the cross, the way to Easter, is through the death of the "old self." In dying, we live. Therefore, at the beginning of Lent we are reminded that our possessions, our rulers, our projects, our families, and even our lives do not last forever ... and we are to put our trust and confidence in God's redeeming and transforming love in Jesus Christ who died for us and was raised from the dead that we might have and know eternal life.

Some churches hold special services on Ash Wednesday, during which a cross is marked in ash on the forehead of each member of the congregation. The ashes are made from palm leaves which have been saved from the previous year's Palm Sunday service. The ash is a reminder that when we die, our bodies then decay and turn to ash. The cross can be a reminder, however, that the spirit exists forever. Although Jesus died on the cross, His Spirit was able to raise up His body from death.

Once again we will be gathering as the family of Lewinsville Presbyterian to hold a special Family Ash Wednesday Event. We will meet and share a simple family meal together in fellowship hall where, at table, we will work in families to create Lenten calendar/ devotions that each family can use to mark the passage of time as we move toward Holy Week and the Resurrection. Following this family time, we will move to the sanctuary and worship, as we mark the beginning of Lent with the imposition of ashes and communion.

All members of the Lewinsville family will find a place to participate in all the elements of this special evening. This year the youth will be preparing the soup supper as part of their Summer Mission Project. A free-will offering will be available at the Ash Wednesday Supper for members who wish to assist the youth in funding their Summer Mission Project. Last year’s event was very well attended and helped bring all generations together to begin their Lenten journey to the cross.

We again invite all children, youth and adults to once again come together to celebrate the beginning of Lent.

LENTEN SERVICES & ACTIVITIES:

Wednesday, March 9 - Ash Wednesday

• 6:00 – 6:45 p.m. - Soup Supper
  • This simple meal will be prepared by the Summer Mission Project Team and served between 6:00 and 6:45pm. Everyone is then encouraged to attend the Ash Wednesday Worship Service at 7:00 pm. Reservations are not required, but advance sign-ups would be appreciated. Donations will be appreciated to support the Summer Mission Project team heading to Hartsville, SC in June.
• 7:00 p.m. - Service of Worship
• Imposition of Ashes & The Lord’s Supper
• Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Isaiah 48:1-12; Psalm 51:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6; 16-21
• Laundry Day
• Rev. Deborah McKinley
• Child Care Provided

Saturday, March 12

• Presbyterian Women's Spring Retreat at Meadowkirk - More >>

Sunday, March 13 – 1st Sunday in Lent

• 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. - Services of Worship
• Holy Communion
• Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11
• Hiding Places
• Rev. Deborah McKinley
• 9:45 am and 5:30 pm - Lenten Series with Dr. Denise Hopkins: God Images More >>
  • Child Care Provided

Sunday, March 20 – 2nd Sunday in Lent

• 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. - Services of Worship
  • Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5; 13-17; John 3:1-17
• The Lord Said, "Go." And Abram Went
• Rev. Emily Berman D'Andrea

Saturday, March 26

• 9:00-Noon - Good Samaritan Day Sign up here>>

Sunday, March 27 – 3rd Sunday in Lent

• 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. – Services of Worship
• Isaiah 49:8-16a; Psalm 131; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; Matthew 6:24-34
• The Church Year in Word and Song
• Westminster Choir
• 7:00 p.m. Chapel - Taizé Lenten Contemplative Worship

Sunday, April 3 – 4th Sunday in Lent

• 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. - Services of Worship
  • Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
  • What Do You See?
    • Rev. Emily Berman D'Andrea
• 7:00 pm - Taize Contemplative Worship - Chapel

Sunday, April 10 - 5th Sunday in Lent

• 7:00-Noon - Blood Drive
• 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. - Services of Worship
  • Children's Cantata
  • It's Cool in the Furnace
    • Cherub and Genesis Choirs

Sunday, April 17 - Passion/Palm Sunday

• 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. - Services of Worship
• Dramatic Reading of the Passion
• Liturgy of the Palms: Matthew 21:1-11
• Liturgy of the Passion: Matthew 26:14 - 27:66
• 9:45 a.m. - Children's Lent Workshop (ages 4 through Grade 6 and parents) Journey to the Cross - Fellowship Hall

TRIDUUM/April 21-23:

The Triduum or Three Days (from Maundy Thursday through Easter) are the pivotal point in the entire Church Year. On Maundy Thursday, the day of the “new Commandment” to love and serve one another, we hear Jesus speak of his death as his glorification. The day of Jesus’ death we call Good Friday. We listen to the most faithful Servant of the Lord announce that he is abandoned by his God.

Thursday, April 21- Maundy Thursday

• 7:30 p.m. - Service of Worship
• Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
• What's New About This Commandment?
  • Rev. Emily Berman D'Andrea
• Foot Washing (Optional)
• Stripping of the Church

Friday, April 22 - Good Friday

• 7:30 p.m. - Tenabrae Service
  • Why the Cross?
    • Rev. Deborah McKinley

Saturday, April 23 - Great Vigil of Easter

• 7:30 p.m. - Service of Worship
• Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
• Making a Way
  • Rev. Deborah McKinley
• Reaffirmation of Baptismal Covenant
• Post-Easter Vigil Celebration, "Break the Fast of Lent" following the service in St. Andrew's Hall

Sunday, April 24 - Easter Sunday

• 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Services of Worship
  • Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
• Good News/Bad News
  • Rev. Deborah McKinley
• 9:00 - Children's Choirs; 11:00 - Westminster & Chancel Choirs
• 10:15 am - Easter Egg Hunt at Lewinsville Park

Updated April 6, 2011