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Lent 2021
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday Service Online on Wednesday, February 17.
LENT For a complete schedule of activities during Lent and Easter, please see page 2.
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sh Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, when we, as individuals and as community, intentionally turn our focus to reflection, repentance and renewal of life. Traditionally, on Ash Wednesday, we gather for the invitation to a Holy Lent, for prayer, for the imposition of ashes and for Holy Eucharist. This year, the service will be pre-recorded, with our live-stream equipment, and it will be available for viewing at any time on Ash Wednesday, including the traditional times of Noon and 7 p.m.
in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith. I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer.”
As we gather for worship on Ash Wednesday, we will focus on the beginning of Lent with the following The imposition of ashes and the celebration of the words and invitation from the Book of Common Holy Eucharist have become central to our obserPrayer, pages 264-265: vance of Ash Wednesday at St. John’s. Fr. Alves will “Dear People of God: The first Christians observed bless the ashes and the elements at Holy Commuwith great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion nion. We will refrain from receiving the imposition and resurrection, and it became the custom of the of ashes just as we have refrained from receiving the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence bread and wine during the pandemic. While use and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in of ashes in the Ash Wednesday service is optional, which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy this practice has become central to our observance Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of Lent for many. This year, we will be able to hear of notorious sins, had been separated from the body the familiar words of the service as we participate in of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and one more of our traditions virtually. May we all be forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the sustained by the Holy Spirit as we observe a Holy Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put Lent and Blessed Easter.
INSIDE this issue
Join the Conversation page 5
Let Us Observe Lent with Depth page 3
Lenten Study page 10
In Memory of Lonnie Pipkin Page 7