Lent is a forty-day period before Easter. It always begins on Ash Wednesday (this year, Wednesday, February 6), and ends on Holy Saturday (this year, March 22). (Because Sundays are a day to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, we skip Sundays when we count the forty days.)
Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock.
By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. Lent has been observed in the church since apostolic times.
Jesus retreated into the wilderness and fasted for forty days to prepare for his ministry. It was for Him a time of contemplation, reflection, and preparation.
By observing Lent, most Christians join Jesus on His retreat. In ancient times, people marked times of fasting, prayer, repentance, and remorse by placing ashes on their foreheads, as in 2 Samuel 13:19, Esther 4:1-3, Job 42:6, and Jeremiah 6:26. This scriptural custom entered the church from Judaism, and it is most appropriate on Ash Wednesday, when we begin a period of sober reflection, self-examination, and spiritual redirection.
Traditionally, the ashes for the Ash Wednesday service come from burning the palm fronds from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration.
Some people only celebrate the happy times in Jesus’ life: Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas. But as true friends, we should also watch and pray with Him on Maundy Thursday, stand by Him at the cross on Good Friday, and retreat with Him into the wilderness during Lent.
In many countries, the last day before Lent (called Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, or Fasching) has become a last fling before the solemnity of Lent. For centuries, it was customary to fast by abstaining from meat during Lent, which is why some people call the festival Carnival, which is Latin for farewell to meat.
*This material directly quoted or indebted to the Rev. Kenneth W. Collings, The Season of Lent, copyright 1995-2004; used by permission; all rights reserved.
At St. James’, we continue the ancient custom of hosting a Fat Tuesday Supper at Ida Lee Recreation Center on Tuesday, February 5 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
This year: a POTLUCK! Bring an entrée, side, or dessert, in addition to bringing something that you are giving up for Lent. This is your last chance to indulge until Easter! We’ll have a brief program to talk about Lent, and why we give up something that has a hold on us. This dinner is for folks of all ages. RSVP to the Church at info@stjamesleesburg.org or (703)777-1124.
Ash Wednesday service times at St. James’ are: 6:30 a.m., 12:00 noon, 6:00 p.m. (Children’s service), and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday mornings February 10 through March 9, 10:10 a.m., Old School Building
Sometimes it seems the only voices in Christianity are the extremes: cocksure conservative fundamentalist pronouncements on one hand, and screeching liberal moralizing on the other hand.
Lost in the debate between these voices is the voice of Jesus, who subverted—and still subverts—the worldview of both liberals and conservatives.
Join us Sunday mornings as we explore how a Biblical worldview challenges virtually every assumption we have about:
Suffering and true happiness (hint: there’s no joy of an Easter resurrection without the suffering of a Good Friday crucifixion);
Heaven and hell (hint: they’re taking place “here and now,” and not just “out there and later”);
Sex, food, and drink (hint: they’re all supposed to be more fun, and yet taken more seriously, than we’ve been led to believe); and
You name it: your chance to fill in the blank, and ask: What does the Bible really say about _______?
Wednesday evenings, February 13 through March 12,7:00—9:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall
An advice columnist put it well: “People are doing too much, running too much, expecting too much (and, in an effort to find some relief, spending too much, eating too much, staying up too late, surfing online too much/or watching too much TV).”
So — what’s driving all this busy-ness? What’s behind all the pressure we’re under? Why have we allowed our lives to become so busy that it’s harder to be in touch with not only God and others, but ourselves?
Join us for this five-part series, in which we’ll explore what happens when we slow down...and...stop for a while.
Wednesday, February 6: Ash Wednesday
6:30 a.m.: Holy Eucharist & Imposition of Ashes
12:00 Noon: Holy Eucharist & Imposition of Ashes
6:00 p.m.: Children’s Liturgy with Imposition of Ashes
7:30 p.m.: Holy Eucharist & Imposition of Ashes
Sunday, February 10: First Sunday in Lent*
Sunday, February 17: Second Sunday in Lent*
Sunday, February 24: Third Sunday in Lent*
Sunday, March 2: Fourth Sunday in Lent*
Sunday, March 9: Fifth Sunday in Lent*
Sunday, March 16: Palm Sunday*
Thursday, March 20: Maundy Thursday
6:00 p.m. The Last Supper/Holy Eucharist with Children’s Homily
7:30 p.m. Liturgy for Maundy Thursday with Foot Washing and Stripping of the Altar
8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. All-Night Prayer Vigil before the Altar of Repose
Friday, March 21: Good Friday
6:30 a.m. Liturgy for Good Friday
12:00 Noon to 3:00 p.m. The Three Holy Hours, with Guided Meditations and Silence
6:00 p.m. Children’s Good Friday Liturgy
7:30 p.m. Liturgy for Good Friday
Sunday, March 23: Easter Sunday
5:00 a.m. The Great Vigil of Easter, with Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist
7:30 a.m. Festive Celebration of Easter Sunday
9:00 a.m. Festive Celebration of Easter Sunday
11:15 a.m. Festive Celebration of Easter Sunday
*Our normal Sunday service schedule is:
7:45 a.m. Holy Eucharist
9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Children’s Chapel
10:10 a.m. Adult Forum, Sunday School
11:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Children’s Chapel, & Prayers for Healing