Prepare Now for the Joy of Easter

The season of preparation for Easter, known as Lent, begins tomorrow. Lent is the forty days plus the six Sundays before Easter. For centuries, it has been observed as a special time of self examination and penitence. Lent is a time for concentration on fundamental values and priorities, and is not a time for self punishment.

If you have found yourself away from church and wondered about it another try, Lent is the perfect time. For centuries, Lent has offered a chance to try the fellowship of the church one more time. In fact, Lent developed as a way to receive people back into church. If you are questioning your own faith and wondering what you believe, this could be the perfect time to come back to church.

To learn more about this season, we offer the following links:

Keeping a Holy Lent
A web page with more information and a complete schedule of King of Peace's own Lenten schedule for 2010.

Keeping a Holy Lent Booklet
This has information on Lent as a printable booklet, which does not contain information on King of Peace's schedule and so is ready to be used by any other church with our blessing. Our logo is on the front, but you can paste your church's information over the logo and print up brochures for your congregation.

Prepare for Easter's Joy
A religion column for our local newspaper that tells about Lent for an readership assumed to largely not be familiar with the practices of the season.

Shrove Tuesday
Today is Shrove Tuesday. The day is named for the "shriving" or confessing that was traditional on this day before beginning Lent. This day is also known as Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday," because it was a time for eating the things from which one would abstain during Lent. Pancake suppers are traditional as they were a way of using up some of the ingredients not needed during Lent. King of Peace will have a pancake supper tonight beginning at 6:00 p.m. The food is donated and so the meal is free. We will also have bingo for prizes following the meal.

Ash Wednesday
The first day of Lent is marked with a special liturgy. The theme for the day, though not for all of Lent, is that we stand as sinners condemned to die, but for God’s grace. This is symbolized by the imposition of ashes on the forehead, with the words, "You are dust and to dust you shall return." In the Old Testament, ashes were a sign of penitence (feeling regretful at offenses) and mourning. We will host the Ash Wednesday service (on February 17, 2010) at 2 p.m. in the chapel of the hospital and a second joint service with St. Mark's, Woodbine will be held at King of Peace at 7 p.m.

A Note on Fasting
Ash Wednesday is one of two days of special observance (the other being Good Friday) for which fasting is particularly recommended. While this usually refers going without food for the entire day, this practice is not practical for all persons, including, but not limited to, diabetics. Use your own discretion in determining how you can best observe this day, but do consider some form of fasting as you observe Ash Wednesday.