Join us during the season of Lent!

Daily Reflections

“I pray that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the Saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Not to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians Chapter 3

“To love is good; love being difficult. For one human being to love another, that is perhaps the most difficult of all our tasks, the ultimate, the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation. For this reason, beginners cannot yet know love, they have to learn it. Learning time is always a long, secluded time and so is loving for a long while, ahead and far into life.”
Rainer Maria Rilke

“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
The desert shall rejoice and blossom;
Like the crocus, it shall blossom abundantly ,
And rejoice with joy and singing,
For water she’ll break forth into wilderness,
And streams in the desert;
The burning sand she’ll become a pond,
And the thirsty ground springs of water.”
Isaiah Chapter 35

“We must remember the original meaning of Lent as the church’s holy spring in which the catechumens were prepared for their baptism and public penitents were made ready by penance for the restoration to the Sacramental life in a communion with the rest of the Church. Lent is then a season of punishment as much as one of healing.”
Thomas Merton

“Now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ.”
Galatians Chapter 3

“How beautiful are those and how blessed they be
Who in deep tribulation daily follow me
I have a robe divinely fair for such children to wear
And a crown, shiny bright they shall wear with delight
When done with the fading things of time.”
Shaker hymn

“My footsteps hold fast to your well-worn path;
and my feet do not slip.
I call upon you O God for you will answer me;
Incline your ear to me and hear my words.
Show me your marvelous, loving kindness, Saviour, of those who take refuge at your right hand from those who rise against them.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of your wings.”
Psalm 17:5-6

“I sing as I arise today
I call on my Creator’s might:
The wheel of God to be my guide
The eye of God to be my sight
The word of God to be my speech
The hand of God to be my stay
The shield of God to be my strength
The path of God to be my way.”
Patrick of Ireland, 5th century

“In the day of my trouble, I seek the Lord;
In the night, my hand is stretched out without wearying;
My soul refuses to be comforted.
I think of God and I moan;
I meditate and my spirit faints.
I consider the days of old,
and I remember the years of long ago.
I commune with my heart in the night,
I meditate and search my spirit.”
Psalm 77:1-6

“Whatever may be the mode and measure of self-denial that God asks of us, and this is a matter that cannot really be decided without prayer and spiritual direction. All Christian fasting is characterized by wholeness and by balance. Christ admits of no division.”
Thomas Merton

Day 16

“Oh God, you are my God I seek you,
My soul thirsts for you;
My flesh faints for you as in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.
So I have looked up upon you in the sanctuary, be holding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on your name.”
Psalm 63:1-4

“And down to earth Hebrew, to meditate is to chew one’s cud. The familiar cattle of Hebrew existence proved a useful image for the develop believer, ‘whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who ponder God‘s law day and night,’ Psalm 1. The browsing cow nibbles constantly at the lush pasture, and when it has filled its stomach lies down, regurgitating what it has gathered and chews “meditatively” on its cud until the cud is fully assimilated.”
William G. Storey

Day 15

“All, look to you to give them their food and do season;
When you give to them, they gather it up;
When you open your hand, they are filled with good things.”
Psalm 104:28

“The pretzel is a very ancient bakery item which traditionally was eaten only during Lent. It appeared each year on Ash Wednesday and disappeared on Good Friday. It goes back at least to the fifth century. There is a Roman manuscript in the Vatican library dating from that period which shows a Lenten pretzel. As to the shape; it is made in the form of two arms crossed in prayer. Little arms in German “Bretzel”, then became “pretzel”. These early Christians ate no dairy products in lent so the pretzel was made only of flower salt and water. It was as simple as it could be.”
Evelyn Birge Vitz

Day 14

“A cheerful heart has a continual feast.
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than a great treasure and trouble with it.
Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is than a fat ox and hatred with it.”
Proverbs 15:15-17

“There’s a wideness in God‘s mercy like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in God‘s justice, which is more than liberty.
There is welcome for the center and more graces for the good.
There is mercy with the savior, there is healing in his blood.
For the love of God is broader than the measure of the mind;
And the heart of the eternal is most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more faithful, we should trust God’s every word.
And our life would be Thanksgiving for the goodness of the Lord.”
Frederick William Faber, 19th century

Day 13

“Jesus told his disciples, if any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross, and follow me, for those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, will find it.”
Matthew 16:24-26

“Lord God, you offer to us this acceptable time to recover a sense of what life means and to be reconciled to you and to our neighbor.. Grant that we may walk together, day by day, in the footsteps of Christ toward the Pascal feast of joy.”
Italian sacramentary

 Day 12

“A sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. Some fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some fell into good soil and when it grew, it produced 100 fold. As Jesus said this, he called out: “Anyone with ears to hear listen.”
Luke 8:5-8

“The gospels that prepare for Lent indicate the springtime labor that must be do
ne in the vineyard of the soul. The soul must be harrowed by penance and contrition in order that the divine seed of the holy season of Lent may bring forth and abundant harvest.”Rudolf Peil

Day 11

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”
Numbers chapter 6:24-26

“Stay with me then, and I shall begin to shine as you shine: so to shine as to be a lie to others. The light of Jesus will be all from you. None of it will be mine. No merit to me. It will be you who shines through me upon others. O let me praise you in the way which you love best by shining on all those around me. Give light to them as well as to me; let them with me, through me. Teach me to follow for in praise, in truth, in your will. Make me preach you without preaching— not by words, but by example, and by the catching force, the sympathetic influence of what I do —by my visible resemblance to your Saints and the evident fullness of the love which my heart bears to you.”
John Henry Newman, 19th century

Day 10

“Pour water on the thirsty land ,
And streams on the dry ground ;
I will pour my spirit upon your descendants ,
And my blessing on your offspring.
They shall spring up like a green Tamarisk,
Like Willows by flowing streams.
Do not fear or be afraid;
Have I not told you from old and declared it?
You are my witnesses
Is there any God beside me?
There is no other rock;
I know not one.”
Psalm 44:3-8
“I will bow and be simple,
I will bow and be free,
I will bow and be humble,
Yea, bow like the willow tree.
I will bow. This is the token.
I will I will wear the easy yoke,
I will bow and will be broken,
Yea, I’ll fall upon the rock.”
Shaker Hymn

Day 9

“Pour water on the thirsty land ,
And streams on the dry ground ;
I will pour my spirit upon your descendants ,
And my blessing on your offspring.
They shall spring up like a green Tamarisk,
Like Willows by flowing streams.
Do not fear or be afraid;
Have I not told you from old and declared it?
You are my witnesses
Is there any God beside me?
There is no other rock;
I know not one.”
Psalm 44:3-8
“I will bow and be simple,
I will bow and be free,
I will bow and be humble,
Yea, bow like the willow tree.
I will bow. This is the token.
I will I will wear the easy yoke,
I will bow and will be broken,
Yea, I’ll fall upon the rock.”
Shaker Hymn

Day 8

“Oh God, do not keep silence;
Do not hold your peace or be still O God
Even now your enemies are in tumult;
Those who hate you have raised their heads
They lay crafty plans against your people
They consult together against those you protect.
They say “come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
And let the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
Psalm 83:1-4

“In the very midst of life
Death has us surrounded
When shall we a help her find.
Hear his coming sounded?
For you, for you, our Lord, we’re waiting
We sorrow that we left your path,
Doing what deserves your wrath.
Holy most righteous God.
In the midst of bitter death
Sharp the hell drawn harrow
Who will break its teeth and save
Faith’s most inner marrow?
Lord, you alone our Savior
But we were grieved by our misdeed
Pity drew you to our need
Holy most righteous God.”
-Martin Luther, 16th century

Day 7
“Pray then, in this way:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come you will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors, and do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:9-13
“When we pray, we are not praying for ourselves alone. We do not say “my Father, who art in heaven” or “give me this day my daily bread”. We do not ask for our own trespasses alone to be forgiven, and when we pray that we may be delivered from evil, we are not praying only for ourselves either. Our prayers are for the general good, for the common good. When we pray we do not pray for our own single selves, we pray for all God’s people because they and we are one.”
Cyprian of Carthage, 3rd century

Day 6

“Pray then, in this way:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come you will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors, and do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:9-13
“When we pray, we are not praying for ourselves alone. We do not say “my Father, who art in heaven” or “give me this day my daily bread”. We do not ask for our own trespasses alone to be forgiven, and when we pray that we may be delivered from evil, we are not praying only for ourselves either. Our prayers are for the general good, for the common good. When we pray we do not pray for our own single selves, we pray for all God’s people because they and we are one.”
Cyprian of Carthage, 3rd century
Day 5
“Rise up oh Lord our God, lift up your hand and do not forget the oppressed. Why do the wicked renounce God and say in their hearts “you will not call us to account”
But you do see, indeed you know our trouble and grief, that you may take it into your hands. The helpless commit themselves to you. You are the helper of the orphan. Oh Lord, will you hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed so that those from earth may strike terror no more.”
Psalm 10:12-18
“United in truth, show the Lord’s own gentleness in your dealings with one another and look down on no one. If you can do good, do not put it off because almsgiving frees you from death.
May you always bear witness to the love of God in this world, so that the afflicted and the needy will find in you a generous friend and welcome you into the joy of heaven.”
Polycarp of Smyrna, 2nd century

Day 4

“Thus says the Lord: in a time of favor, I have answered you, on a day of salvation, I have helped you. I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people.”
Isaiah 49:8
“It’s by faith of joy to come
we walk through desert dark as night
till we arrive at heaven our home
faith is our guide and faith our light
So Abraham by divine command,
left his own house to walk with God,
his faith be held a promised land
and fired his zeal along the road.”
Early American Hymn
Day 3
“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal like the hypocrites for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting truly. I tell you they have received their reward. But when you fast put oil on your head and wash your face so that your fasting may be seen not by others, but by your Father, who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 6:16-18
“Lord Jesus think on me, and purge away my sin. From earth born passions set me free and make me pure within.
Lord Jesus think on me, by anxious thoughts oppressed. Let me your loving servant be and taste your promised rest.
Lord, think on me, nor let me go astray. Through darkness and perplexity point out the heavenly way.”
Synesius of Cyrene, 4th century
Day 2

“Yet, even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart— with fasting, with weeping and with mourning. Rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord your God, for God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding instead fast love”
Joel 2:12-13

“Oh paradise, garden of delight and beauty, dwelling place made perfect by God, unending gladness, and eternal joy, the hope of the prophets, and the home of the Saints: by the music of your wrestling leaves, beseech the creator of all to open to me the gates which my sins have closed that I may take of the tree of life which was given in the beginning.”
Byzantine vespers

Day 1
“Once you were darkness but now in the Lord, you are light. live as children of light for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. be careful then how you live not as unwise people, but is wise making the most of the time.”
Ephesians 5:8-14
 
“Merciful God, you called us forth from the dust of the Earth. You claimed us for Christ in the waters of baptism. Look upon us as we enter these 40 days, bearing the mark of ashes and bless our journey through the desert of Lent to the font of rebirth. May our fasting be hunger for justice; our alms a making of peace; our prayer, the chant of humble and grateful hearts. All that we do and pray is in the name of Jesus. In his cross, you proclaim your love forever, and ever.”
Catholic household blessing and prayer

Weekly Vespers

Released each Wednesday evening at 7pm

Lenten Vespers – March 12th

Lenten Vespers – March 19th

Lenten Vespers – March 26th

Lenten Vespers – April 2nd

Lenten Vespers – April 9th

Worship

Lenten Sunday services: March 2nd through April 6th at 10:00am Livestream links and worship bulletins are located on our worship page.

Holy Week Services:
Palm Sunday: April 13th at 10:00am

Good Friday: April 18th at 7:00pm

Education

Sunday School

Children can participate in Sunday School all weeks of Lent. Following the Children’s Message, children will receive a lesson from their teachers focused on a Bible story and theme for the week. Crafts and activities will emphasize the theme of the week.

There will also be a prayer chain activity that children will participate in over the Lenten season, with an activity to do at home during the week. Children and families will also be provided with a Lenten activity calendar that they can engage in together throughout the season.

Adult Study

Adult Study will be offered on Sundays during Lent at 9am in the church office. Join the group for enlightening discussion and insights.