Our Church Year

The word “lent" denotes a period of time, 40 days not counting Sundays, that Christians use to reflect upon their sins and turn back to God in repentance. 

Today, Lent is observed during the 40-day period between Ash Wednesday (February 22, 2023) and Easter Sunday (April 9, 2023). It is a time to set aside our wants and needs to come humbly and meek before God, recognizing our need for a Savior above all. Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, reminds us that we are from dust and return to dust. (Genesis 3:17-19). Ash Wednesday serves as a reminder that we will die and face the consequences of sin. The meaning and purpose of Lent are to reflect on our sinful nature and praise God for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to serve, live, and die for our sins. Lent ends on the glorious day of Easter when we celebrate Jesus' resurrection. We are no longer cursed to the grave but our sins are forgiven. 

Lent continues into the Holy Week which has the events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Maundy Thursday commemorates the day Jesus celebrated Passover with his disciples, washed their feet, and retreated to the Garden of Gethsemane for prayer. It is during the Passover Meal that Jesus institutes the act of Communion and remembering His sacrifice. 

Good Friday is the day Jesus was crucified. It is called "good" because of the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins. Without this "good" day, we would not have the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life in heaven. 

Purple is a penitential color, in contrast to a festive one. It is appropriately used during Lent and, still in many parishes, during the season of Advent. The forty days of Lent, including the six Sundays that fall during this season, use this deep, rich color which has come to represent somberness and solemnity, penitence, and prayer.

Violet or purple was a very cherished and expensive color in the world Jesus lived. The dye used to make the color was painstakingly acquired by massaging the neck of a Mediterranean shell fish that secreted a special fluid. It was therefore afforded only by the rich and worn most exclusively by the royalty.

Jesus, the king of the Jews, wore a purple robe only once. As the soldiers mocked and tormented him, the Scriptures record they placed on him a “purple garment” in order to ridicule him and belittle the claim that he was a monarch.

Therefore, purple is used during this penitential season of Lent as a vivid reminder of the contempt and scorn he endured, and the subsequent sacrifice he made for our eternal salvation. Ecclesiastical purple should remind all Christians of their daily need to humbly give attention to leading a life of repentance.

The Season of the Church Year

Our Church Year includes different seasons, starting in Advent and going through Christmas, Epiphany, The Transfiguration of Our Lord (Special Sunday), Lent, Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost, Reformation Sunday (Special Sunday), All Saints' Day (Special Sunday) and after all the Sundays of Pentecost are done, we are back into Advent.

Weekly Worship Times - 

  • Sunday 8:00 & 10:45 AM - Sanctuary Services
  • Sunday Mornings - Zoom available - 10:45 AM ( https://tinyurl.com/58pzvs3x )
  • Monday Evenings - 6:00 PM
  • All services in parking lot on FM 88.7
  • Services available on website - posted here after Zoom recording is finished

Bible Study Times

  • Sunday - 9:30 AM - Adult Bible Study in Fellowship Hall
  • Sunday - 9:30 AM - Children's Sunday School
  • Tuesday - 10:00 AM - Women's Bible Study in Fellowship Hall (Break from June to early August)
  • 4th Saturday of Month - 8:30 AM - Men's Prayer Breakfast in Fellowship Hall

Currently, masks are optional.

  • Tuesday - 10:00 AM - Women's Bible Study in Fellowship Hall (Break from June to early August)
  • 4th Saturday of Month - 8:30 AM - Men's Prayer Breakfast in Fellowship Hall

Week Day Daily Morning Devotions

 

Pulpit Fill for February

As our congregation continues to experience a vacancy situation, we have three retired ministers and one full-time pastor who have agreed to help us on Sunday mornings with our worship services. For February, these men include:

February 5 - Rev. Gary Nagy

February 12- Rev. James Garnett

February 19 - Rev. Doug DeWitt

February 22 - Rev. Richard Gaub (Ash Wednesday)

February 26 - Rev. Richard Gaub

 

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