Announcements for March, 2021
The Season of Lent
Our liturgical preparation for Easter takes place through three distinct periods or steps. The first was Pre-lent. The second is Lent which is the time between Ash Wednesday and Judica. The final step is Passiontide and Holy Week.
Ash Wednesday takes its name from the ceremony of ashes. We begin our journey by mourning for our sins and setting our faces toward Jerusalem. The Sundays are all given Latin names. Those names come from the first word or phrase of the Introit (“entrance” Psalm) assigned for the day.
The first Sunday is called Invocabit, which means “he will call.” It comes from Psalm 91: “He will call upon me and I will answer him. The Gospel is Our Lord’s temptation in the dessert and the Psalmist gives voice to Our Lord’s prayer as He faces Satan in order to deliver us from evil.
The second Sunday is called Reminiscere, which means “remember.” It comes from Psalm 25: “Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your loving-kindnesses.” The Gospel is the account of the Canaanite woman’s terrible battle with Our Lord for her demon-possessed daughter. The woman holds Our Lord to His Word. She insists that He remember His promises and be the Messiah.
The third Sunday is called Oculi, which means “My eyes.” It also comes from Psalm 25: “Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.” The Gospel recounts the healing of a deaf and mute man. His eyes were rightly on the Lord.
The fourth Sunday is called Laetare, which means “rejoice.” It comes from Isaiah 66: “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her; all you who love her.” The Gospel is the feeding of the five thousand who had ample cause for rejoicing. The fifth Sunday, Judica, is the beginning of Passiontide.
In Lent, we continue to abstain from the “Alleluias” and Greater Gloria. The color is violet to signify mourning for a monarch. We now give up most chanting, singing only the ordinaries and hymns. We also add the Collect for Ash Wednesday to every Service. As is the case with all fasting in Christendom, we give things up to subdue our flesh and to enhance our joy in them when they return. For the time comes, indeed, when we shall fast no more.
This season is meant to order our hearts and minds upon not only on the terrible cost of Our Lord’s gracious sacrifice on our behalf but also on His willingness to be our Savior and to reconcile us to His Father. So also, the entire season, as even our entire faith and persons, is observed in the sure and certain knowledge of the Resurrection.
-Lenten Serving Schedule:
March 3 - Thrivent Members
March 10 - Altar Guild Members
March 17 - Wednesday Morning Bible Class
March 24 - The Elders
-Midweek Lenten Services will be held at 12:00 (noon) and 7 pm.
-Holy Week Services:
Holy (Maundy) Thursday Divine Service, 7:00 PM
Good Friday (Chief Service), 7:00 PM
Easter Sunrise DIvine Service, 6:30 AM
Breakfast, (following Sunrise Service in the church basement)
Easter Day Divine Service, 9:00 AM
-Easter Breakfast will be served between the two Easter morning services by the “Quilting for Christ” group. A freewill donation will be taken to help purchase necessary materials for sewing and finishing quilts. Last year, 58 quilts were sewed and sent to Lutheran World Relief. Please join us Sunday, April 4th following the Sunrise Service.
-God’s Wonder Lab is the theme for this year’s VBS. Please plan to attend, invite friends, and volunteer. The date has been set for August 2-6, 2021 (the first full week of August). We will learn all about the marvelous things Jesus has done for us.
-Bible Study: Adult Bible class is held each Sunday following fellowship time. Midweek Bible study is held Wednesday mornings at 9:00 with the Lifelight study of Ezra/Nehemiah to begin March 10th. Devotions start at 8:45 AM.
Altar Guild serving the month of March is Pat Akers
March Elders: Darrell Beaver and Jeff Hansohn
Elders’ Meeting, Monday, March 8th at 7:00 PM
March Plate Offering is designated for Vinton Lutheran Home. Offerings given at Lenten Services are designated for Missions.
Quilting For Christ continues to meet each Thursday morning at 9:00. Volunteers are needed to help make quilts for those in need overseas.
Pastor Van Hemert will be available for Private Absolution in the sanctuary each Saturday in Lent from 11:00am-12:00pm and by appointment. The rite is laid out on page 292 in our hymnal. All ages are encouraged to attend. Pastor will be happy to address any questions you may have about this historic practice of Private Confession and Absolution.
