Journey toward the Miracle of Easter

From the United Church of Christ…
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent—a season of self-examination, prayer, fasting and works of love. In many churches, ashes are placed on the forehead as a reminder of mortality.

The word “Lent” is from the Middle English verb meaning “to lengthen.” In the Northern Hemisphere, the season corresponds with the lengthening of days during late winter and early spring.

During Lent, Christians prepare themselves spiritually for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. The season spans 40 days: the number 40 symbolizes spiritual journeys home, corresponding to the 40 days Jesus fasted in the desert in preparation for his ministry and the 40 years Israel journeyed through the wilderness towards the promised land. The traditional color of Lent is purple. During Holy Week, red is sometimes worn to symbolize the blood shed by Jesus for the salvation of humanity. In some traditions, following Maundy Thursday’s service, the sanctuary is stripped of color and ornament as a gesture which may suggest keeping vigil with Christ on the cross and in the tomb.

For more information about the journey toward the Miracle of Easter, and for information about how to make your own journey, visit the United Church of Christ’s Lent website.

Begin the Lenten journey at Ivy Chapel

The Lenten Season begins with Ash Wednesday on February 17th. The Lenten devotional booklet “Where In The World Is God?”, written for the 21st Century sinner, will be available on a table in the Narthex. With the Prayer Vigil we begin our 40-day ‘walk’ of spiritual examination to Easter.

Time line of events:
•The day starts with an all-day Prayer Vigil in the sanctuary from 6am to 5:30pm.
(Half-hour timeslots–7:30am through 9:30am, 11:30am through 1:30pm and 2:30pm through 5:30pm)

•At 6pm we will break bread together in Fellowship Hall. Our meal will be a simple supper prior to worship.
(You can still bring a soup even if you didn’t get to put your name on the bright green Sign-up sheet)

•Beginning at 7:30pm, Ivy Chapel will conclude the day with a worship service in the sanctuary.