Worship Notes: Lent 2021: Spiritual Gifts and Sacrifical Service
The season of Lent always begins with Ash Wednesday, which this year falls on February 17th. Lent is the 40-day period of preparation before Good Friday and Easter. Typically, the focus is on Jesus’ journey to the cross and his sacrifice for the world. Lent invites us to make our hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ passion and celebrating His resurrection.
Often, Lent includes more introspection, reflection, renewal, and deeper times of repentance, even silence and a slightly more somber tone in worship. The colour of the Lenten season is purple: symbolizing repentance. We will light the Christ candle intentionally each Sunday (which we lit on Christmas, as we celebrated the birth of Jesus, the light of the world). We remember this light as we head towards Good Friday when we will be extinguishing it. Many Christians take the opportunity during Lent to give something up for six weeks, to remember that Jesus gave up his very life for us, putting ourselves in a place of sacrifice. Taking part in a spiritual discipline in this season is also helpful: either an extended silent meditation each day or once per week; maybe fasting for a day; maybe “fasting” from our electronic devices for one day per week (yikes, not sure I could do that!); perhaps more time in prayer. These are all ways to increase our connection with Jesus, and our awareness of our need for him.
This year Lent is going to include a sermon series on “Spiritual Gifts” and a chance to be a part of a small group for six weeks. Maybe instead of “giving up something for Lent” we can be encouraged to “add” something to our life that will prepare us to be better followers of Jesus. We encourage you to join a small group, adding this discipleship practice as a way to connect with Jesus and others for the next 6 weeks. As we think about following Jesus to the cross, this series will encourage us on that same path of “sacrificial service” discovering and using our gifts for the sake of others, and on the same mission as Jesus.
Way to prepare for Lenten worship:
Shrove Tuesday – did you know that the day before Lent begins, on the Tuesday evening, it is a tradition to have pancakes for dinner? The tradition dates back to 600 AD when Christians were expected to fast from all animal products during Lent so the pancakes were to use up all the eggs, milk, and butter in the house the night before Ash Wednesday. “Shrove” also indicates the fact that the early church was expected to go to confession before Lent began and have their sins “shriven” (absolved).
Ash Wednesday video – Pastor Erick and I will make a short video to demonstrate the very basics of what an Ash Wednesday service would include. Perhaps you could use this in your homes for devotions sometime prior to the first Sunday of Lent. (the video will be sent from the office email next Wednesday, Feb. 17th)
I offer you this Lent/Easter Playlist on YouTube and on Spotify for your listening pleasure. I encourage you to listen often, especially if these songs are new to you, as you prepare for worship in this next season.
I pray that God will guide us on our Lenten journey together as a congregation, as we learn and grow in our knowledge of our spiritual gifts, and as we put these into practice as we follow Jesus sacrificially.
In Christ,
Ruth Ann