Ash Wednesday Bulletin

2.27.2022

WELCOME TO ST. LUKE'S CONNECTION CENTERS OUTSIDE THE SANCTUARY & ROBERTSON CHAPEL Stop by to get your questions answered, sign up for groups, serving opportunities, and events, and learn about ways to connect here.

RESTLESS CHILD AREA GATHERING AREA (LEFT OF SANCTUARY) & CENTRAL PASSAGE Enjoy our live services in these spaces if your child needs a break during worship.

NURSING MOTHER’S AREA E126 (EAST PASSAGE) Enjoy our live services in these spaces if you’d like to nurse in private and/or if your child needs a break during worship.

EASTER AT ST. LUKE'S HOLY (MAUNDY) THURSDAY THURSDAY, APRIL 14 | IN-PERSON & ONLINE AT 7PM GOOD FRIDAY FRIDAY, APRIL 15 | IN-PERSON & ONLINE AT 12PM, 7PM EASTER SUNDAY | APRIL 17 SUNRISE (CHAPEL) | 7AM TRADITIONAL (SANCTUARY & ONLINE) | 9:30AM, 11AM CONTEMPORARY (CHAPEL & ONLINE) | 9:30AM, 11AM Breakfast will be available in Great Hall after every service. Register for services and breakfast at stlukesumc.com/easter.

WHAT IS ASH WEDNESDAY? The season of Lent began as a 40-hour observance commemorating the period of time Jesus' body lay in the tomb which ended on Easter morning.

Over time, this observance was increased to the week prior to Easter starting on Palm Sunday recalling all of the events of Jesus' passion, which comes from the Latin word for suffering. This is what became known as Holy Week. Eventually the six days grew into 36 days representing a tithe (10%) of the year meant to be a time devoted to spiritual practices of prayer, fasting, meditation, and giving. The sacrifices associated with the practices help Christians focus on the suffering Christ endured for us.

By the 8th century, four more days were added to make Lent a season of 40 days keeping with the biblical significance of events like the 40 days Moses was on Mt. Sinai, the 40 days Elijah fasted, and the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness. Therefore, Lent begins on a Wednesday, and since the Sundays in Lent are not counted in the 40 days, we refer to them as the Sundays in Lent. The Sundays can be a time of breaking from spiritual practices and focusing on celebration in worship.

Ash Wednesday got its name from the ritual of marking people's heads with ashes made from the burned palm fronds of the previous Palm Sunday. The ashes are a symbol from the Old Testament representing our desire to repent and turn to God. The ashes also represent our mortality as we hear the words, "From ashes you came and to ashes you shall return."

This ritual reminds us that while we are physical beings, we are also more than that; we are essentially spiritual beings. We begin Lent recognizing these two realities with a desire to give attention to our souls and draw closer to Christ who gave his life for the redemption of all humankind.

Lent takes its name from an old Anglo-Saxon word, lencten, which sounds a lot like lengthen, pointing to the lengthening of the days as spring approaches. Because fasting or giving-up excess features of daily life has often been practiced in Lent, people in centuries gone by would get rid of fatty items from their pantries. Hence, the day before Ash Wednesday became known as "Fat Tuesday," when people would clean out items they wouldn't indulge in again until Easter. Such self-denial practices today can take on other forms as we, again, give attention to Christ who denied himself and took up a cross, the symbol of God's forgiveness of our sin.

Written by Rev. Rob Fuquay

LENT & EASTER EVENTS 5•3•1 LEARN MORE AT STLUKESUMC.COM/LENT St. Luke's is encouraging everyone during this Lenten season to participate in the 5-3-1 Challenge.

• Pray for 5 people • Invite 3 people to church • Bring 1 person to Easter Why is this important? Because we want to make sure everyone knows that we are a safe place where they can belong and grow in their faith no matter who they are, what they look like, or who they love. Imagine what could happen if we prayed for 10,000 people, invited 6,000 individuals, and brought another 2,000 to one of our worship experiences, groups, or events? Lives would be transformed! Stop by our Connection Center to pick up a prayer magnet or visit stlukesumc.com/lent for a free download you can post on your fridge. You can also sign one of the prayer wall banners or visit stlukesumc.com/lent to add your prayer requests.

LENTEN GROUPS BEGIN MARCH 6 We want over 800 of you to say yes to being a part of a Lenten group! We know that being in community allows you to grow as a disciple of Jesus, engage deeper in the life of the church, and grow in relationships in a whole new way! Find a group based on life stage, specific day or time, and more at stlukesumc.com/group-finder.

INDIANAPOLIS PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA’S GOSPEL CHOIR SATURDAY, MARCH 19 • 3PM • SANCTUARY The Philharmonic Orchestra’s 22nd annual concert featuring the Symphonic Praise Choir celebrates the enduring legacy of traditional and contemporary gospel music. Purchase tickets in advance at philharmonicindy.org or at the door. This is a great invitational event!

EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA SATURDAY, APRIL 9 • 9AM-12PM Are you ready for this year's Easter Eggstravaganza? We are! And we are so excited you and your family will be joining us! Come for bounce houses, a train to the Easter Bunny photo booth, story-telling, crafts, games, an egg hunt for the little ones (0-4 years), a raffle, and lots of fun, prizes, and treats!

Sign up at stlukesumc.com/kids.

ORDER OF SERVICE Opening Song | On Christ the Solid Rock Welcome & Prayer of Invocation | Re v. Rob Fuquay Hymn | Lord, Who Throughout These 40 Days Call to Repentance & Prayer of Confession | Rev. Nicole Caldwell-Gross Leader: On this day, we begin our journey to Easter. Before we can take the first step, we must examine our lives and acknowledge how we have not been faithful to our God. Let us pray together saying, All: Merciful God, we confess that we have acted in spite and hurt others by our words and deeds. We have neglected to do good when it was in our power to do so. We have lived for ourselves and not for others, judged where we should forgive, and belittle where we should have built up. O Lord, we have not done justice or walked humbly with you. Cleanse us, O Lord, and make it whole.

Leader: We pause now, oh God, in silent confession before you.

Time of silence.

Leader: God refuses to stand far off, but comes close to us - to hear our prayers, to touch our hearts with forgiveness, and to walk with us during this holy season and beyond. Thanks be to God. We are all forgiven. Amen.

Dust We Are And Shall Return Prayer of Consecration and Pastoral Prayer | Rev. Mindie Moore Scripture | Luke 7:1-10 Message | Rev. Rob Fuquay Imposition of Ashes | Songs: Beautiful Things, I Need Thee Every Hour, Here I Am to Worship Lenten Charge | Rev. Rob Fuquay Postlude

Subscribe to Pastor Rob’s weekly email and/or our monthly newsletter at stlukesumc.com/subscribe.

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