Saturday Worship - 7:00 pm
Sunday Worship - 9:00 am
Sunday School & Bible Class - 10:15 am
If you or someone you know is having surgery, had a death in the family, or is experiencing some other tragedy, we have people willing to bring meals to others.
Please contact Pam Baillie at 387-2463 to have meals delivered for one week.
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.” Mark 1:15
Lent is the penitential season of preparation for Easter. It is a forty day period of preparation for Easter. It begins with Ash Wednesday, and it is a time in which we focus on our need for spiritual housecleaning. It is a time in which we focus on our need for repentance, that is to confess our sins and trust in the forgiveness which Jesus has won for us.
Historically, Lent was a period which was marked by catechesis (that is instruction in the basic teachings of God’s Word) as preparation for baptism. It is during Lent that we too are refocused on our Baptism. We are reminded of our need for daily contrition (sorrow over sin) and repentance. It is through such contrition and repentance that we are reminded that it was in Baptism that we were buried with Christ and raised with Him. It is through this daily contrition and repentance that we once again return to our Baptism.
The Lenten Season is marked by several traditions that focus our attention on what is going on at this time of the church year. We will be using Divine Service II during the Lenten Season and through the Sundays of Easter. The reason for this is because the Hymn of Praise “This is the Feast” is a specifically Easter hymn. It is omitted during the Lenten Season and then heard again on Easter Sunday. It marks for us the transition from the reserved time of Lent to the open joy and celebration of Easter. The Alleluias (praise to the Lord) are also omitted during the Lenten Season. The last time that we hear the Alleluia is on Transfiguration Sunday until we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection on Easter.
Of course, one of the things that the church has been done historically is to gather together for special midweek services. Lent is to be a time of special devotion to the hearing of God’s Word. So, we gather together on Wednesday evenings to be deepened in our understanding of God’s Word and to focus in a special way on Christ’s suffering and death on our behalf. This year during our midweek services we will be focusing on the seven last words of Jesus. We listen to and treasure the last things that people say to us in this world. How much more should we treasure the last words that Jesus spoke to us as He was dying on the cross so that our sins might be paid for? The series will begin with Ash Wednesday and continue through Good Friday.
Ash Wednesday: The Pardoning Word (Luke 23:34)
Midweek 2: The Promising Word (Luke 23:43)
Midweek 3: The Compassionate Word (John 19:26-27)
Midweek 4: The Suffering Word (John 19:28)
Midweek 5: The Faithful Word (Matthew 27:46)
Midweek 6: The Dying Word (Luke 23:46)
Maundy Thursday: The Remembering Word (Breaks from the words Jesus spoke from the cross)
Good Friday: The fulfilled Word (John 19:30)
Each of these words of Christ proclaims and delivers something about Him and delivers His saving death to us that we might trust Him for the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. I hope that you will make these special services a part of your Easter preparations.
In His service,
Pastor Olson
