The Lenten season will begin on February 25^th or the last Wednesday in February. As you know that is the penitential period of the church year, a period of 40 days before Easter. During the Lenten period the lessons for worship and study revolve around the meaning of Jesus' suffering and death. Within the context of worship various symbols take on significant meaning. The paraments on the pulpit and lectern are changed to purple signifying penitence, waiting, looking for God's redemption in Christ through the Resurrection. A large crude cross is placed outside at the corner of the Sanctuary for all of Newport News to see. It is draped in purple as a symbol of Lent.

Traditionally flowers do not adorn the Altar area but rather bare branches and green leaves only. Flowers and their meaning are saved until the Easter Day celebration. This year a tall crude wooden cross will be carried into the church and removed at the worship services again reminding everyone that we are headed toward Jerusalem and the crucifixion of Christ.

We are also asked to deny ourselves during this time as in "giving something up for Lent." We will receive offerings for missionaries, and mission trips during this forty-day period. Of course the music of the services and anthems will also reflect the meaning of Lent. Literally every aspect of the worship experience will contribute to the deeper meaning of Jesus Christ who suffered and died so that we might have eternal life.

On Palm Sunday, April 4 the service will reflect both palms and Christ's betrayal and death. On Maundy Thursday we will observe the Holy Communion again in the quiet spaces of the sanctuary. There will be no Seder this year. On Holy Wednesday, the Midweek Fellowship Dinner will be of a Lenten theme as we look at the scripture for this moment in Jesus' suffering and death. As Easter Day dawns in our worship life, we will have journeyed toward that day and that moment through the maze of Lenten disciplines.

God bless,

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Last update: February 1, 2004