Lent, Holy Week and Easter Worship

 

Wednesdays, March 17 and  24, 6:00 PM: We’ll gather for a soup and bread supper.  (All are welcome! Food will be provided by Lentthose who sign up.)

Then, at 7:00 PM We’ll worship using Holden Evening Prayer.  The theme of Pastor Ballentine’s presentations will be the transformation the Holy Spirit works in us, marking us as Christians.

How are you transformed by the Holy Spirit, so that you bear these marks of the Christian?  Patience (3/17); and Living the Christ-Like Life (3/24)

April 1, Maundy Thursday  7:00 PM –This service provides a “bookend” to the confession of sins that begins Lent, on Ash Wednesday.  Maundy Thursday worship centers in our forgiveness — through words we hear spoken to us individually at the altar,Holy Week as well as eating and drinking forgiveness in the bread and wine. The service ends with the stripping of the altar in preparation for Good Friday.  This is the first of “The Three Days” worship of Maundy Thursday-Good Friday-The Easter Vigil.

April 2, Good Friday 7:00 PM - Tenebrae, the Service of Shadows.  We read the Passion of our Lord, according to St. John.  During prayers spoken and silent, candles are extinguished.  We end in slence, with a single candle burning.

Saturday, April 3, The Easter Vigil 8:00 PM – (note the starting time) - This most dramatic service begins in darkness.  With hand-held candles, we join in an ancient chant.  In half-darkness we hear stories of God’s salvation history.  We return to our baptisms.  Then, in full light and full-throated singing, we celebrate the first Holy Communion of Easter!

Sunday, April 4, 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM – Festival Easter Worship!

 

Where is God in all this?

 

spiritual directionA pilgrim and his/her spiritual director (or guide!) listen for that, in spiritual direction conversations.  This has been one of Pastor Ballentine’s ministries since completing the Shalem Institute’s Program of Spiritual Guidance.

Give Pastor Ballentine a call to talk about details!

 

Sunday Morning Faith Formation

 

Children: Gather at 9:45 AM in the Undercroft. Don’t forget to bring your Spark Bibles!! (Our Sunday morning Faith Formation sessions will be available on the web site — click on “Children.”)

Youth: Meet in Pastor Ballentine’s office! Be sure to bring your Bibles. (Youth who went to the ELCA National Youth Gathering have cool “Jesus, Justice, Jazz” Lutheran Study Bibles.)

Adults: Meet 10:00 -10:45 AM in the College Room.