Special Activities for Lent at DPC
Dear Friends,
Lent is a very special time of year on the Church calendar. It happens in the 6 weeks leading up to Easter, and is meant to be a time for us to prepare ourselves to commemorate the death of Jesus and to celebrate his rising. Traditionally, Christians have prepared themselves for these special days by praying, by giving of their material goods and by fasting. The idea is to eliminate things that will prevent us from hearing God's voice, and also to spend time listening to the divine voice speaking to us. To help us in Lent, we have some special events and services planned, and we are using some of our regularly-scheduled events to help us focus on Lenten themes. Here's a calendar with all of the various special things we have going on for Lent at DPC. Mark your calendars for anything in which you'd like to participate!
* WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22
Ash Wednesday. This special day kicks off the season of Lent. It is a day for repentance and remembering our own morality. On this day, DPC will have a soup supper at 5:30 PM. Everyone is invited (but not required!) to bring a soup or bread to share with the group. The soup supper will be followed by a service, which will include the imposition of ashes. The service begins at 6:30PM. You're welcome to attend either or both of these events.
* SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26
First Sunday of Lent. We will start Lent out with special educational events for children and adults. Our Sunday School class will receive special fish-shaped banks, which they are encouraged to fill up all throughout the season of Lent. They will return their banks on Easter Sunday, as a part of our One Great Hour of Sharing offering, which supports Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program and the Self-Development of People Program. Giving is an important part of Lent, for Christians of all ages! Our Sunday School class will also bake bread, as they discuss communion. They will serve their bread for communion on March 5.
Our adults will have the opportunity for Lenten education in the conference room at 11 AM. We will explore the question "Does God hear us when we cry out?" through the lens of Exodus chapter 3.
* SUNDAY, MARCH 5
Second Sunday of Lent. On this day, our Sunday School class will participate in our worship service, sharing their hand-made bread for communion.
Additionally, DPC's Pop-Up Choir will share a song to help us reflect on God's goodness.
This is also loose change Sunday, which gives us chance to practice the Lenten practice of giving! On this day, all cash that goes into our offering plate that's not in an envelope will go toward missions at DPC. Make sure to be generous!
* SUNDAY, MARCH 12
Third Sunday of Lent. Because prayer is an important part of Lent, DPC's Sunday school class will lead our church in praying the Lord's Prayer during the service on this day. They'll also show us how to sign the Lord's Prayer in ASL.
DPC's Adult education Bible Study will meet on this day at 11AM. We will discuss the topic of grief, using Lamentations, chapter 3.
* SUNDAY, MARCH 19
Fourth Sunday of Lent. On this day, DPC & KMUPC's joint handbell choir will be sharing their musical gifts at KMUPC.
* SUNDAY, MARCH 26
Fifth Sunday of Lent. Our final Lenten Adult Education Bible Study will be at 11AM on this day! We will explore the problem of suffering, through the lens of 2 Kings 25.
Due to public schools' spring breaks, our Sunday School class will also take a spring break on this day, but, as always, children are welcome to join us in worship!
* SUNDAY, APRIL 2
Palm Sunday. We will have a very special service. We will remember Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem with a Palm parade, and proceed to explore other stories about Jesus' betrayal, trial and death throughout the rest of the service.
DPC's Sunday School class will participate in our palm parade, and then leave the service to dye Easter eggs and prepare some other special treats to share with the congregation during fellowship hour.
As a part of our Lenten giving, we will collect a special offering for the One Great Hour of Sharing Campaign, mentioned above. If you can't make it on Palm Sunday, we'll also be taking up this special offering on Easter Sunday!
* THURSDAY, APRIL 6
Maundy Thursday. This is the day when Christians around the world remember Jesus' last supper with his friends, focusing on his final wish, that they love one another as he has loved them. There will be a brief evening service, beginning at 5:30PM on this day.
* FRIDAY, APRIL 7
Good Friday. This a somber day for remembering Jesus' death by execution. This year, DPC and KMUPC will combine forces for an evening Seven Last Words Service. We are currently recruiting people to share a brief reflection on one of Jesus' seven last words. If you think you might like to give it a try, talk to Pastor Nikki. More details about the time and location of this service are forthcoming.
* SUNDAY, APRIL 9
Easter Sunday. Lent ends on this day! Of course, this will be a special day in many ways. One thing of note is that our Sunday School class will be invited to return their fish banks, filled with the money they've collected throughout Lent, as a part of the One Great Hour of Sharing Campaign, mentioned above. We will also be taking an offering from the congregation at large for One Great Hour of Sharing.
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