Worship and Music > Lent

Day 28 (April 9, 2011)

Calendar for Lent

AprilMay 2012June
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
293012345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
272829303112
3456789

Lenten Meditations 2012

RSS Feed

Downtown Holy Week Services

During Holy Week, churches in the downtown area will hold a mid-day service and lunch. Except on Friday, services begin at noon with lunch following. The suggested donation for lunch is $5.

Monday, April 2: First Baptist - Noon

Tuesday, April 3: First Presbyterian - Noon

Wednesday, April 4: Central Christian - Noon

Thursday, April 5: Maundy Thursday evening services at various churches

Friday, April 6: St. Paul’s Episcopal - 11:30 a.m. lunch, Noon worship service

Day 28 (April 9, 2011)

Psalms 33, 107: 33-43, 108; Jer. 23: 9-15; Rom. 9: 1-18; John 6:60-71

Rom. 9:1-18. Verse 17 -- For the scripture says to Pharaoh, "I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth." This verse is a firm answer to all of us as we wonder from time to time as to what our individual purpose is on God's earth.

We frequently question our self-worth and our value to those around us. We openly question the meaning of life. But, in this verse from Romans, we clearly hear God's plan: I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you.

Wow! What a simple, direct and glorious plan that is! God wants to work through me, little ol' me! Notice it says: showing my power in you. Hmmm? God doesn't want to show His power to me. He wants to share, wants me to participate, wants me to engage in His gifts.

There is no better gift. Take a minute away from self-doubt and ponder God's desire to show His power in you. Engage.

Posted on Sat, April 9, 2011 by Lenten Meditations filed under

In This Section:

2012 Lenten Series

Our Lenten observances this year include daily Morning and Evening Prayer and Stations of the Cross. I encourage you to deepen your Lenten experience by participating in these worship services as you are able. The heart of our Lenten observance is the teaching series on Wednesday evenings. This year's series is entitled "Finishing Well."

This year's series focuses on the questions: What does it mean to finish well? What steps must we take to prepare for our deaths? These are important questions for Christians to ponder -- both young and old.

The first two weeks (February 29 and March 7) will be led by Dr. Cynthia Crysdale, Professor of Christian Ethics and Theology at the School of Theology at The University of the South in Sewanee. Dr. Crysdale will teach us about the theological underpinnings of Finishing Well.

Week three (March 14) will be led by Jim Dooley, Director of Concord Baptist Senior Adult Program and founder and director of Senior Connections. Mr. Dooley will give us an overview of caregiving for our loved ones and a program he is developing entitled "It's about Time."

Week four (March 21) will feature two of our bright young attorneys, Theodore Goodman and Jeremy Cothern, who will lead us through the legal essentials of finishing well.

Fr. Polk and Fr. Colin will finish up in week five (March 28) as we plan our own funeral services.

The series will begin on Wednesday, February 29 and run for five consecutive Wednesday evenings. A soup supper will be served beginning at 5:30 pm. There is a small charge for supper. A brief liturgy begins at 6:15 p.m. in St. Andrew's Chapel followed by the teaching series. We will be finished no later than 7:15 p.m. Child care is available.

While we often put off or resist thinking about our mortality, Lent is an appropriate time to learn, both theologically and practically, how to "Finish Well."