March

March 2020

  

March 01          Lent 1 - Divine Service Setting #1

9 am Matthew 4:1-11 Who is this man going to the cross?

                        “I am the Son of God”

March 04  Mid-week Lenten Service #2 – Vespers

7 pm Jesus I will Ponder Now – John 18:15 

                        “Yet, O Lord, not thus alone make me see Thy Passion.”

March 08          Lent 2 – Prayer & Preaching

9 am John 3:1-17 Who is this man going to the cross?

      “I am the Son of Man”

March 11          Mid-week Lenten Service #3 – Vespers

7 pm Jesus I will Ponder Now – John 18:15-27 – 

                       “Peter gave it scarce a thought”

March 15          Lent 3 - Divine Service Setting #2

9 am John 4:5-26 Who is this man going to the cross?

       “I am the water of Life”

March 18          Mid-week Lenten Service #4 – Vespers

7 pm Jesus I will Ponder Now – John 19:5 – 

                      “Jesu, who for me didst die, Livest now forever”

March 22          Lent 4 –Matins

9 am John 9:1-41 Who is this man going to the cross?

                       “I am the Light of the World”

March 25         Mid-week Lenten Service #5 – Vespers

7 pm Jesus I will Ponder Now – John 19:23-27 –

                       “He of everything took heed In His hour of dying.”

March 29         Lent 5 - Divine Service Setting #3

9 am John 11:17-45 Who is this man going to the cross?

                      “I am the Resurrection”

During this month of March we enter the season of Lent, a forty day pilgrimage with Jesus. When Lent begins depends upon the date of Easter. In 325 the church decided that Easter would fall on the first Sunday after the full moon which occurs on or after March 21. 

Two sermon series will be offered this year. We will focus on Jesus’ words as we ask the question, “Who is this man going to the cross?” It is Jesus, the son of God, the son of man, the water of life, the light of the world, the resurrection and the life. 

On Wednesday evening we will gather to meditate on four hymn verses under the theme Jesus I will Ponder Now. Each verse will be sung and serve as the text for our mid-week reflection.

Our students at Wyneken will gather for worship at St. John, Bingen on Wednesday afternoon beginning at 1 pm from March 4- April 1. Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday services at Wyneken will be held in the morning with the imposition of Ashes on Ash Wednesday February 26 and individual absolution on Maundy Thursday, April 12.   Those who are not able to attend our evening mid-week services are cordially invited to worship with our students.  This year we will focus on some of the Apostles’ Creed.

To aid our Lenten journey a devotional based on the hymns of the church will be offered each day from Transfiguration Sunday through Easter Tuesday. Paper copies are available in the gathering area of the church. They can be accessed electronically on our parish web site and FacebookTM page. 

The season of Lent is an important discipline in the life of our congregation and in the lives of the families of our parish. The Alleluias we sing on Sunday are gone. The hymns are reflective, often sung in a minor key. The services have been planned for a purpose. They allow us to contemplate and focus on Christ’s amazing grace and love.  Lent is a time for us to be more introspective.  We meditate upon our need and the Savior’s solution.

The cross was always Jesus’ aim. The cross was not an accident. Jesus was not a victim of circumstances. He knew what was coming and he went on to meet it head-on. To walk into suffering and death in the full knowledge of what will happen is the ultimate test of courage. Jesus’ going was voluntary because he was convinced the cross was the Father’s will for the salvation of the world. Beyond the defeat of death was the assurance of the Resurrection. 

As you observe this season –focusing on Christ’s cross in preparation for the Resurrection – may this be a time of training through repentance and growth in faith.

Images copyright © Ed Riojas Higher Things