LENT: Taking Up Faith Practices
from ELCA’s Living Lutheran blog (2/19/2015)
Ash Wednesday (March 6, 2019) marks the beginning of Lent, a season when God calls us to reflect on the meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection. The imposition of ashes – when you receive ashes in the sign of the cross on your forehead – sets the tone for Lent. Each moment you encounter your reflection, your ashes are a striking reminder that “you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19b). But the cross, a symbol of Jesus’ crucifixion, offers hope.
Similarly, in baptism, you received the sign of the cross on your forehead. Many of us begin our Christian life with baptism, called “to live among God’s faithful people, to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.” In the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – our parent church), we describe these instructions as faith practices to guide our daily living. But what do faith practices mean? And how do we practice them?
This Lent, as you begin your journey toward the baptismal waters of Easter, we at ELCA invite you to take up faith practices as a spiritual discipline.
Lenten resources…
- Don’t Forget to Pray – Kid-friendly devotional that you can download for free.
- Set Free By Truth – Lent devotions offered by four church leaders.
- Faith Practices in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Living Our Baptismal Covenant – a downloadable resource on faith practices of our church
- Luther Seminary offers their annual devotional, “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say.” You can also look back to use the readings from last year’s devotional entitled “Through the Night of Doubt and Sorrow“
- Several Synods of the ELCA have come to gather to offer a daily Facebook devotional page entitled Lenten Photo a Day
- Lords Prayer Words: Traditional & Contemporary Prayers.
Lenten Worship Opportunities
In addition to Sunday morning worship at 9:30 a.m., we will gather for special Lenten and Holy Week worship opportunities. All are welcome at Christ Lutheran Church. You do not need to be a church member or a Lutheran to receive the sacraments here – follow God’s call to you.
Ash Wednesday – March 6
- Worship at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6
- Includes Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes
Wednesday Lenten Soup Suppers
6 p.m. – Soup Supper is shared; group learns about and discusses the Lord’s Prayer and how it impacts our own prayer life and faith
7 p.m. – Prayer Service
- Wed., March 13
- Wed., March 20
- Wed., March 27
- Wed., April 3
- Wed., April 10
- No Soup Supper during Holy Week
Holy Week Worship:
- Palm Sunday, April 14 at 9:30 a.m.
- Maundy Thursday, April 18 at 7 p.m.
- Good Friday, April 19 at 7 p.m.
- Easter Sunday, April 21 at 9:30 a.m. followed by brunch for all!
