Lent: A Welcome
The Gospel proclamation for the First Sunday of Lent (Mark 1: 12-15) tells of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for his ministry of announcing the good news of the Reign of God. As we begin our Lenten observance this year, we would do well to fix our eyes on Jesus, to enter with him into the spirit of those 40 days in preparation for the celebration of the Easter mysteries.
So many of us live amid so much clutter, so much noise. We travel through life at breakneck speed. Lent is, therefore, a good time time to empty ourselves, not only of the seemingly never-ending stuff, sound and speed in our lives, but also of our pettiness, our prejudice, our anxiety, our fear.
Lent, the journey to Easter, which is repeated each year, is always a new gift from God. As a theologian of the Orthodox Church once wrote, Lent is not merely about deprivations; rather it is about "softening our hearts so that they can be open to the realities of the Spirit and experiencing a secret hunger and thirst for communion with God."
We extend a warm welcome to you and invite you to join with us as we journey through Lent to the celebration of our redemption in a blessed Easter.
So many of us live amid so much clutter, so much noise. We travel through life at breakneck speed. Lent is, therefore, a good time time to empty ourselves, not only of the seemingly never-ending stuff, sound and speed in our lives, but also of our pettiness, our prejudice, our anxiety, our fear.
Lent, the journey to Easter, which is repeated each year, is always a new gift from God. As a theologian of the Orthodox Church once wrote, Lent is not merely about deprivations; rather it is about "softening our hearts so that they can be open to the realities of the Spirit and experiencing a secret hunger and thirst for communion with God."
We extend a warm welcome to you and invite you to join with us as we journey through Lent to the celebration of our redemption in a blessed Easter.
WorshipWorship at First Church takes many forms. There are opportunities to worship throughout the week in a variety of settings. Our principal Sunday service is at 11.00, where the music and order of worship follow the traditional form of the Book of Common Prayer (1662). Our schedule of services follows:
Ash WednesdayWednesday, February 22
12.00 p.m. Holy Communion with the Imposition of Ashes The First Sunday in LentSunday, February 26
11.00 a.m. Morning Prayer |
Bible Study:
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