The church calendar moves fast. It seems that we barely get the baby Jesus wrapped in tissue and placed securely in the Christmas box, when before you know it, Ash Wednesday is here. It is already time for us to contemplate whether or not to give up chocolate for Lent. Our heads are spinning as we wonder how the child in the manger is already grown and facing the cross? What happened? How did we get here so soon?
Just as the church’s season of Advent helped us prepare our hearts and souls to welcome the birth of Christ, so our season of Lent helps us prepare for the new life of Easter. Lent begins 40 days before Easter on Ash Wednesday, this year on February 10. The period of 40 days is drawn from Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness, wrestling with Satan. Our gospels remember this as a time of preparation, testing, and soul searching for Jesus. Just what was God calling him to do with his life? After those 40 days, Jesus had the clarity and strength to carry out his ministry.
Early Christians, longing for such clarity and strength in their own lives, were inspired by Jesus’ wilderness sojourn. They began to engage in their own journey of study and spiritual devotion. They wanted to be able to experience with Christ a death to all that kept them from living, and arising with Christ to new life filled with greater meaning, joy, and peace. Thus, we have the season of Lent.
Lent at St. Mark begins with an Ash Wednesday service on February 10.
Over the next four weeks Pastor Susan and I will be leading a series of Wednesday night worship services to provide space for contemplation, reflection, and prayer. Of course, each Sunday worship during Lent will be filled with powerful music and preaching, as we journey with Jesus and consider once again what it means to be a follower of Christ.
The holiest week of the year will begin on Palm Sunday, March 20, with our Jerusalem Festival and a special reading of the Passion Liturgy in worship. Then we will offer one of the most meaningful and beautiful services of the entire church year: the Living Last Supper on Maundy Thursday.
Then on Easter morning, the good news of Christ’s rising fills the early morning with joy. All are in-vited to greet the Easter morning by gathering for worship as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection with in-struments and joyous song. We will sing and celebrate the new life that is ours in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace, Pastor Jim
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