(Classic and modern artwork illuminates the meaning of the church season and links us to our heritage as Christians. Click on an image on this page for a larger version and more information about the artwork.)

Lent Lord God, by your Word Fill me with a shrine of Repentance and Forgiveness, A spirit of Hope and Trust, A spirit of Gratitude and thankfulness, A spirit of Love and Servanthood, A spirit of Discipleship and Commitment, A spirit of Obedience and Humility Lenten Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. Lenten Worship 11:00 a.m. SAINTS gathering in the Commons. 5:15-6:15 p.m. Dinner continuously served: come when you can. 6:00-7:00 p.m. Adult Education: Book of Faith “Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John” 6:00-6:35 p.m. New Generation Choir 6:00-7:05 p.m. New Creation Choir 6:15-7:00 p.m. Lenten time for families with children up through third grade with their parent(s). 7:15 p.m. Lenten contemplative and reflective Worship Service (based on the Gospel of John)

 

Book of Faith Lenten study [here]

Information about Lenten Wednesdays [here]

Lenten schedule to download or print [here]

Additional Lenten Resources [here]

Holy Week information [here]

Passion Scenes flyer [here]

 

The Season of Lent

As early as the mid-fourth century, Christians have observed a time of preparation before the Easter celebration. The Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts for 40 days. The forty days of Lent recall the 40 day fast of Jesus in the wilderness after his baptism (Matthew 4:2, Luke 4:1-2) and Moses' 40 day fast on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28). It is a time of simplicity and preparation.

Principal Themes

• Penitence
• Baptismal renewal
• Preparation for baptism at the Easter Vigil
• Prayer, fasting, and service
• Confession of sin rooted in the promise of God that comes through the cross of Christ

Color of the Season:

Purple, suggesting somberness and solemnity.

[The following article and links are from Ken Collins, a UCC pastor who has written extensively on religious life and practices. His website on Lent is [here].

Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. 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. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. All churches that have a continuous history extending before AD 1500 observe Lent. The ancient church that wrote, collected, canonized, and propagated the New Testament also observed Lent, believing it to be a commandment from the apostles. (See The Apostolic Constitutions, Book V, Section III.)

You can read about fasting [here], which is a spiritual discipline that does not involve starvation or dehydration. See [here] for one explanation of what we accomplish by observing Lent.

You can read about Lenten fasting during medieval times [here]. The link even includes a very interesting recipe!

The Western Church

Because Sunday is the day of the Resurrection, we skip over Sundays when we calculate the length of Lent. Therefore, in the Western Church, Lent always begins on Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before Easter [more].

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.

 

The Eastern Church

The Eastern Church does not skip over Sundays when calculating the length of the Great Lent. Therefore, the Great Lent always begins on Clean Monday, the seventh Monday before Easter, and ends on the Friday before Palm Sunday—using of course the eastern date for Easter. The Lenten fast is relaxed on the weekends in honor of the Sabbath (Saturday) and the Resurrection (Sunday). The Great Lent is followed by Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday, which are feast days, then the Lenten fast resumes on Monday of Holy Week. Technically, in the Eastern Church, Holy Week is a separate season from the Great Lent.

Special Days

The purpose of the liturgical calendar is to relive the major events in Jesus’ life in real time, which is why Lent is forty days long. If Jesus were born on 25 December, then His conception—thus also His incarnation—would have been nine months earlier, on about 25 March. That is when the angel Gabriel would have announced Jesus’ birth to Mary. Thus 25 March is known in the historic church as The Annunciation.

Roughly speaking, the western Church consists of Protestants, Catholics, and Anglicans. The eastern Church consists of the Eastern Orthodox churches, the Oriental Orthodox churches, and the eastern-rite churches affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.

 

Ash Wednesday & Lent

Ash Wednesday is one of the Days of Special Devotion, being the first day of Lent. The name comes from the practice of imposing ashes on the foreheads of members during the Ash Wednesday liturgy.

Ashes are an ancient symbol of repentance [Jonah 3:6; Job 42:6; Jeremiah 6:26; Matthew 11:21; Luke 10:13], cleansing [Hebrews 9:13], human mortality [Genesis 3:19], mourning [Isaiah 61:3], and disgrace [2 Samuel 13:19]. Early Christians adopted the use of the ashes from Jewish practice as an external mark of penitence. Ashes are prepared by burning palm fronds from the previous year's celebration of Passion Sunday. They are burned, ground with a mortar and worked through a fine wire mesh. The ashes are mixed with a little oil so they will adhere to the forehead.

The mood of the Ash Wednesday liturgy is penitence and reflection on the quality of one's faith and life. The intention is to enlist full participation in the Lenten discipline which, by its focus on the mystery of redemption, strengthens worshipers in the gift of Baptism.

In the early 4th century, the death and resurrection of the Lord were observed together in a unified three-day celebration known as the Triduum, consisting of two days of fasting followed by the Easter Vigil. By the middle 4th century a three-week period in preparation for Easter developed. And by the late 4th century, Lent had been expanded to consist of the 40 days prior to Maundy Thursday. This time was preparation of adult candidates who would be baptized at the Easter Vigil. For those already baptized. Lent was a period of time to review the meaning of the Bible, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and Baptism, in preparation for the renewal of their baptismal vows at the Easter Vigil.

By the end of the 5th century, there was a desire to exclude Sunday from Lent [since Sundays were not fast days], so Lent was extended to the Wednesday before the first Sunday. This Wednesday was known simply as the "Beginning of the Fast." By the late 11th century, it was called Ash Wednesday.

The forty days of Lent recall Jesus' forty-day fast in the wilderness after his Baptism [Matthew 4:2; Luke 4:1-2], as well as Moses' forty-day fast on Mount Sinai [Exodus 34:28].

Throughout most of Christian History, Lent has continued to have the purpose of preparation for baptism of the renewal of our baptismal vows at the Easter Vigil.

--John Paradowski, Minister of Music/Organist

Lessons and Readings for Lent 2010

Book of Faith Lenten study [here]

Ash Wednesday - February 17
Worship: 10:30 a.m. & 7:15 p.m.
(Healing Prayer Service follows each worship service)

• Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 or Isaiah 58:1-12
• Psalm 51:1-17 or Psalm 103:8-14
• 2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10
• Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
  

Prayer of the Day
Almighty and ever-living God, you hate nothing you have made, and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and honest hearts, so that, truly repenting of our sins, we may receive from you, the God of all mercy, full pardon and forgiveness through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
or
Gracious God, out of your love and mercy you breathed into dust the breath of life, creating us to serve you and our neighbors. Call forth our prayers and acts of kindness, and strengthen us to face our mortality with confidence in the mercy of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Sunday in Lent - February 21
Sunday Worship: 7:30 & 8:30 a.m. - Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m.

• Deuteronomy 26:1-11
• Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
• Romans 10:8b-13
• Luke 4:1-13

Prayer of the Day
O Lord God, you led your people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide us now, so that, following your Son, we may walk safely through the wilderness of this world toward the life you alone can give, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Second Sunday in Lent - February 28
Sunday Worship: 7:30 & 11:00 a.m. - Holy Communion: 8:30 a.m.

• Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
• Psalm 27
• Philippians 3:17--4:1
• Luke 13:31-35

Prayer of the Day
God of the covenant, in the mystery of the cross you promise everlasting life to the world, Gather all peoples into your arms and shelter us with your mercy, that we may rejoice in the life we share in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Third Sunday in Lent - March 7
Holy Communion: 7:30, 8:30 & 11:00 a.m.

• Isaiah 55:1-9
• Psalm 63:1-8
• 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
• Luke 13:1-9

Prayer of the Day
Eternal God, your kingdom has broken into our troubled world through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son. Help us to hear your word and obey it, and bring your saving love to fruition in our lives, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Fourth Sunday in Lent - March 14
Sunday Worship: 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. - Holy Communion: 7:30 a.m.

• Joshua 5:9-12
• Psalm 32
• 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
• Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
  

Prayer of the Day
God of compassion, you welcome the wayward, and you embrace us all with your mercy. By our baptism clothe us with garments of your grace, and feed us at the table of your love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Fifth Sunday in Lent - March 21
Sunday Worship: 7:30 & 8:30 a.m. - Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m.

• Isaiah 43:16-21
• Psalm 126
• Philippians 3:4b-14
• John 12:1-8

Prayer of the Day
Creator God, you prepare a new way in the wilderness, and your grace waters our desert. Open our hearts to be transformed by the new thing you are doing, that our lives may proclaim the extravagance of your love given to all through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Book of Faith Lenten study [here]

Information about Lenten Wednesdays [here]

Lenten schedule to download or print [here]

Additional Lenten Resources [here]

Holy Week information [here]

Passion Scenes flyer [here]

 

© 2010 St. Matthew's Ev. Lutheran Church 1615 Wauwatosa Ave., Wauwatosa, WI 53213 Phone: (414) 774-0441     Fax: (414) 774-0989 Email: office@stmattslutheran.org	Designed by St. Matthew's Communications Committee based on a design by Andreas Viklund JavaScript slideshow by BarelyFitz Designs DHTML scripts by Dynamic Drive