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Lent 2010 at Grace Church |
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Lent begins on Wednesday, February 17, 2010. Considered by
many to be the most meaningful season of the church year, Lent
invites Christians to renew the practice of their faith.
Fasting, prayer and almsgiving are three traditional ways of
putting faith into practice and these are often mentioned in
connection with Lent. These three practices or disciplines are
undertaken during Lent and at other times for the good of body,
soul and neighbor.
Noted below are special parish offerings for the 2010 Lenten
season. Each one seeks simply to aid parishioners in the keeping
of the holy season and in the renewal of faith in preparation
for Easter.
Ash Wednesday Services
Ash Wednesday services will be held in the church (nave) on
February 17 at 12:10 PM and 7:00 PM. Both will include the
Imposition of Ashes. The 7:00 PM service will include music by the
Parish Choir. The Nursery will be available for the 7:00 PM
service only.
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Morning Prayer
The office of Morning Prayer is held in the Conference Room of
the Grace Center beginning at 8:30 AM every morning, Monday
through Friday until Wednesday, March 31.
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Wednesday Ecumenical Services
Each Wednesday in Lent, we gather with members of other
churches in our community for worship and a light lunch. The
services begin at 12 Noon. Grace members may simply go to the
appropriate church (see schedule for location and preacher) or
come to the Grace Center parking lot by 11:40 AM to carpool with
other Grace members. Note: No 12:10 services in the Chapel on
these Wednesdays.
February 24 at
St. Michael's Catholic Church
Dr. David McDonald, First Presbyterian |
March 3 at First United Methodist Church
The Rev. Elizabeth Burnette, First Baptist |
March 10 at
St. Paul
United Methodist
Church
The Rev. Fabio
Sotelo, St. Michael's Catholic
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March 17 at
First Presbyterian Church
The Rev. Calvin Haney, St. Paul United Methodist |
March 24 at
Grace Episcopal Church
The Rev. Terry Walton, First United Methodist |
March 31 at
First Baptist Church
The Rev. Doug Dailey, Grace Episcopal |
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Laying on of Hands and Prayer for
Healing
Each Sunday in Lent, Laying on of Hands and Prayer for Healing
is offered during the
10:45 AM service. After receiving Communion, simply go to the Prayer
Team stationed in the side aisle on your side of the church to ask for healing prayer
for yourself or someone else. The Prayer Team will then lay on
hands and offer a short appropriate prayer. This ministry will
take the place of the Unction Service normally held in the
Chapel following the 10:45 service.
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Adult Education Offerings
From its quiet somber beginning on Ash Wednesday to the glorious
feast that is Easter Day, the journey of Lent provides a wide
variety of experiences. Mirroring this, our adult education
offerings for the season will consist of a varied program.
The Sunday Forum The Sunday
Forum during Lent is a discussion of An Altar in the
World by Barbara Brown Taylor. Come hear Grace members highlight two chapters
per week. The presenters will be: 2/21 Dave and Faye Westfall,
2/28 Jeff and Polly Jones, 3/7 Michael and Candy McCann, 3/14
Bob and Sheila Johnson, 3/ 21 Jay and Linden Gaspar,3/28 Sue
Moore and Barbara Danner.
Reading this book can deeply enrich your Lent and your life. As
one critic wrote, "This book is not a page-turner. It's a
page-lingerer. I wore out a highlighter marking passages I want
to read again." With clarity, honesty, depth, and humor, Barbara
Brown Taylor examines some of the practices one can follow to
experience reverence, to build an altar in the world: the
practices of waking up to God, paying attention, wearing skin,
walking on the earth, getting lost, encountering others, living
with purpose, saying no, carrying water, feeling pain, being
present to God, and pronouncing blessings.
Our GWAG series for Lent
this year is dedicated to discussing the various outreach
efforts supported by our parish. Come learn more about
Carpenter's Kids, Habitat for Humanity, the Food Pantry and much
more on Wednesdays at
6:30 PM in the Parish Hall, preceded by the GWAG meal at 5:45
PM (How to make a reservation).
All welcome!
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Nails for Pockets and Purses
For some time, Grace Church members have been invited to carry a
nail during the forty days of Lent. This custom obviously
reminds us of God's great love for us, proclaimed powerfully and
perfectly by our Lord's sacrifice on the cross. The nails also
remind us of the things that keep us from living and loving
fully, things that we need to be free of and leave behind. Nails
are available at the church for carrying in purse or pocket.
Pick one up in the narthex on Ash Wednesday or on the
information table, and carry it throughout Lent as a daily
reminder of the season and the focus and work of the season. The
nails may be returned on Good Friday. The liturgies of that day
will include a time to leave your nail at the foot of the cross.
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Mite Boxes
Also available at the church (in the office and on the
information table) as a tool for Lent are Mite Boxes.
Individuals and households are invited to take and use a box.
Mite Boxes invite us to make available during Lent some of our
treasure for the relief of our needy neighbors. This is done by
placing money in the box on a regular basis throughout the
season. The boxes may be returned on Easter Day. Baskets for
receiving the boxes will be available. All money received in the
Mite Boxes will be forwarded to Episcopal Relief and Development
and will support projects assisting the needy in this and other
countries.
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Lenten Devotional Booklet
The 2010 Lenten devotional booklet is available at the church
office and on the information table. Developed by Sister Claire
Joy of the Community of the Holy Spirit in New York City, and
produced by Episcopal Relief and Development, the devotional’s
theme is “Healing ourselves and a hurting world.” These daily
meditations will encourage, challenge and inspire us to reflect
on our lives and on what steps we might take to help those who
live in need.
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