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THE SEASON OF LENT 2008
Ash
Wednesday, February 6
to
Easter Sunday, March 23
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.
February 6 - Ash Wednesday
- 6:00 p. m. - Soup Supper & Distribution of Devotionals for the Family
- 7:00
p. m. - Service of Worship
- Imposition of Ashes & The Lord’s Supper
- The Journey
- Rev. Emily Berman D'Andrea
- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
- Child care provided
Sunday, February 10
- 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. - Service of Worship
- What Tempts You?
- Rev. Emily D’Andrea
- Matthew 4:1-11
Sunday, February 17
- 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. - Services of Worship
- Rev. Donna Knight
- John 3: 1-17
Saturday, February 23
- 11:30 a.m. - Presbyterian Women’s Lenten Luncheon
Sunday, February 24 - Lenten Series Opening
- 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. - Services of Worship
- Rev. Donna Knight
- John 4:5-42
- 9:30 a.m. Adult Education Lecture
- 6:00 p.m. Light Supper/Fellowship
- 6:30-8:00 p.m. - Lenten Speaker: Anthony Tambasco, Professor of Theology, Georgetown University
- Cchild care provided
Monday & Tuesday February 25-26
- 7:30 p. m.-9:00 p. m. - Lenten Lecture Series continues
- Anthony Tambasco, Professor of Theology, Georgetown University
Sunday, March 2
- 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. - Services of Worship
- Holy Communion (Intinction @11:00)
- “Blind From Birth”
- Rev. Emily D’Andrea
- John 9:1-41
- 7:00 p.m. Chapel - Taize Lenten Contemplative Worship
Sunday, March 9
- 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. - Services of Worship
- Rev. Donna Knight
- John 11:1-45
Sunday, March 16 - Passion/Palm Sunday
- 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. - Services of Worship
- Psalm and Passion Readings
- Psalm and Passion Readings
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, March 20 - Maundy Thursday
- 7:30 p.m. - Service of Worship
- Foot Washing (Optional)
- Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
- Stripping of the Church
- John 13:1-17, 31b-35
Friday, March 21- Good Friday
- 7:30 p.m. - Tenabrae Service, Stations of the Cross
- Lead by the Youth of Lewinsville
Saturday, March 22- Great Vigil of Easter
- 7:30 p.m. - Service of Worship
- Renewal of Baptismal Vows
- Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
- Salvation History
Sunday, March 23 - Easter Sunday
- 9:00
a.m. Worship and Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
- Rev. Donna Knight
- John 20:1-18; Matthew 28:1-10; Luke 24:13-49
- Children's Choirs
- 10:15 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt - Lewinsville Park
- Parents who wish to participate should bring at least 1 dozen plastic filled eggs to the volunteer room and place them in the marked boxes. This egg collection is taking from March 16th to March 23rd (before 9:00 service)
- 11:00 a.m. Worship and Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
- Rev Donna Knight
- John 20:1-18; Matthew 28:1-10; Luke 24:13-49
- Westminster & Chancel Choirs