|
Dear
Friends,
First of all, I would like to thank you for the support and
prayers you have given me while Mike recovers from surgery at
home and I take on additional responsibilities. EBPC is a
blessedly active congregation. I want you to know that your
Session is dedicated to keeping our great ministry momentum
going.
Which brings me to my “Second of all.” Although it may be true
that you’ve just packed up your Christmas decorations, we are
already into a new season of the church. The season of Lent
begins February 16.
Lent
is a time for reflection, study, and preparation for the gift of
Christ’s Resurrection. It is the 40 days (not including
Sundays) before Easter Sunday. The significance of 40 is
related to the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the desert,
the 40 days of rain when Noah built his Ark, Jesus’ 40 days of
temptation in the wilderness. All of those Biblical examples
are times of preparation and cleansing for the good that
followed. Here are EBPC’s plans during the Season of Lent:
MEDITATION GUIDES: To help guide you through Lent, we’re going
to be giving you inserts in every Sunday’s bulletin. The inserts
will be your daily guide to Scriptures and prayers for the
coming week. Please take this insert home from church for your
daily Lenten meditation.
FIVE
MINUTES OF QUIET: We are dedicating the first five minutes
before both the 8:30 and 11:00 worship services during the
season of Lent to silent prayer and meditation. Music will be
played to encourage meditation. Please respect the sanctity of
these five minutes by refraining from fellowship. You may want
to arrive early to worship so that you can participate in this
time of prayer.
TAIZE ASH WEDNESDAY WORSHIP SERVICE: We truly have a jewel in
our music director, Sandy. Sandy is arranging a special Taize-style
worship experience for you. You can read more about this
service, which will be on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m., in Sandy’s cover
article.
MAUNDY THURSDAY WORSHIP SERVICE: The Adult Choir will be
presenting a special Maundy Thursday program that will take us
through the disciples’ journeys. This program will be in the
context of worship and Communion. This worship service will be
April 1 at 7 p.m.
Some
pastors may encourage you to give something up for Lent.
Instead, I’m asking you take something on. I’m asking that you
take on the practice of nurturing your soul. Walking through
this season as fully as you are able will make Easter that much
more special.
See
you at church,
Catherine
|