Lent - Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church

Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church

Warner Robins, Georgia

2010 Lenten Schedule

Guide now the people of your Church, that, following our Savior, we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come. Amen.

The season invites us on a journey, a journey that is a return. We return to the grace of baptism - we return to the Church - we return to God, who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Lent is time to reflect on such questions as “Who am I?” and “Who is God?” and “What is the relationship between God and me” and “What is the Church’s task in this relationship?” Our mid-week time will give us examples of people of faith from Scripture. Our Sunday lessons and worship will guide us along the way to Easter. Some people “give-up” something for Lent. Perhaps a helpful discipline would be to “add-on” something: Christian fellowship and the opportunity for spiritual growth with additional study and worship.

Shrove Tuesday February 16 6:30 PM Pancake Supper

Ash Wednesday February 17 7PM Traditional Service with Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion

Mid-week Lenten Services February 24, March 3,10,17,24 Fellowship Hall

5:30 – 6:15 Soup & Sandwich or Casserole Meal (sign-up sheet on bulletin board)

6:15 – 7:30 Study & Worship Combination

Materials: People of Faith Series

The Study Series titles include:

“A Gardner, Two Travelers, and a Cheat” (Adam, Abraham, Sarah, Jacob)

“A Lamenter, A Dreamer, and Two Pretty Good Leaders” (Rachel, Joseph, Moses, Joshua)

“A Great-Grandma to a King, A King-Maker, A King, and A Royal Pain (Ruth, Samuel, David, Elijah)

We won’t be able to cover them all – will pick and choose. Different Study leaders will lead the study time.

Palm Sunday March 28

Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) April 1 Fellowship Hall 7 PM A drama – Living the Last Supper Refreshments following

Good Friday Service April 2 7PM

Easter Sunday April 4 Easter Breakfast Fellowship Hall 8:30 AM

Festival Worship 10 AM

Edit This Text: History of Lent

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History of Lent
Lent is rooted in the practices of the first century Church. Originally Lent lasted only 40 hours, representing the 40 hours Jesus' body lay in the tomb. In the 3rd century the Church in Jerusalem extended the season to 6 days and dubbed it Holy Week. Later the 6 days of Holy Week were extended to 36 days, a tithe of the 365 day calendar. Charlemagne rounded this period off to 40 days in 731 AD. The number "40" had biblical precedent, Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness at the onset of his public ministry. Moses communed with God 40 days atop Mount Sinai in order to receive the 10 Commandments. The Israelites wandered for 40 years in the wilderness. Thus, 40 is a nice round number indicating a long time.
Lent is actually 46 days (not 40) since Sundays are not part of that counting. The beginning of Lent is based on the timing of Easter. Easter occurs on the 1st Sunday following the 1st full moon in Spring. The starting date for Lent traces back 46 days from the Easter Feast. For the 1st millennium of the Christian Church, the 1st day of Lent was called the "Beginning of the Feast." In 1099, the name was changed to Ash Wednesday. Ashes are a tradition symbol of penitence and remorse. As the ashes are imposed in the shape of a cross on the forehead of the worshiper, the priest or pastor says, Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return. This solemn reminder of our mortality spurs us to get right with God, Who alone holds the key to eternal life.

LENT

Anglo-Saxon: “Spring”

As early as the mid-fourth century, Christians have observed a time of preparation before the Easter celebration. The Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts for 40 days. The 40 days of Lent recall the 40 day fast of Jesus in the wilderness after his baptism (Matthew 4.2; Luke4.1-2) and Moses’ 40 day fast on Mount Sinai. It is a time of simplicity and preparation.

Principal themes:

+Penitence

+ Baptismal preparation or renewal

+Prayer, fasting, and service

+ Confession of sin rooted in the promise of God that comes through the cross of Christ