The Season of Lent
Into the Wilderness
Lent commences amid the wilderness, with the Spirit guiding Jesus into a place of temptation and struggle. Throughout his forty days of fasting, resisting, and wandering, Jesus undergoes a transformative experience, shaping him for ministry. In a parallel fashion, during the Lenten wilderness, we are encouraged to embrace the untamed guidance of the Spirit. While entering the wilderness may not be our choice, through our journey, we hope to rediscover our identity and connection to a higher purpose. The wilderness, though perilous, can become sacred, with no space too harsh or threatening for God's love. This Lent, we extend an invitation to join the journey.
- February 14, Ash Wednesday: February 14, 6:30-7pm in the Sanctuary.
- February 18, 1st Sunday in Lent: Worship at 9:30am. Organ led worship. Chancel & Exaltation! Singers Anthem: “The Kingdom” by André J. Thomas and Wind Ensemble will play.
- February 25, 2nd Sunday in Lent: Worship at 9:30am. Organ led worship. Chancel & Exaltation! Singers Anthem: “More Love to Thee” by Mark Shepperd
- and Jubilation! Ringers will ring.
- March 3, 3rd Sunday in Lent: Worship at 9:30am. Sacrament of Communion. Organ led worship. Chancel & Exaltation! Singers Anthem: “The Kingdom” by André J. Thomas and Wind Ensemble will play.
- March 10, 4th Sunday in Lent: Worship at 9:30am.
- March 17, 5th Sunday in Lent: Worship at 9:30am.
HOLY WEEK BEGINS
- March 24, Palm / Passion Sunday: Worship at 9:30am. Music led by by Praise Team, Joy! Singers (4s-1st graders), & Celebration! Choir (2nd-6th graders)
- March 28, Maundy Thursday: Worship at 7:30pm. Sacrament of Communion. Music by the Praise Team.
- March 29, Good Friday/Tenebrae Service: Worship at 7:30pm. Music by Chancel & Exaltation! Singers and Chamber Orchestra as they present Requiem by Mark Hayes.
- March 31, Easter Sunday Worship / One Great Hour of Sharing: Worship services at 9am and 11am. Sermon by Rev. Karen Wright. Sacrament of Communion. Music at 9am by the Praise Team. Music at 11am by Chancel & Exaltation! Singers, Charter Ringers, & Chancel Brass. (NOTE: The flowering of the cross begins 15 minutes prior to the start of each worship service.)
OGHS - Restoring Hope, Feeding the Hungry, Empowering the Oppressed
One Great Hour of Sharing Offering
February 14-March 31, 2024
Join with Presbyterians worldwide in sharing God’s love with our neighbors-in-need around the world by providing relief from natural disasters, food for the hungry, and support for the poor and oppressed. Thanks to your heartfelt gifts, One Great Hour of Sharing currently supports projects in over 100 countries. To learn more about how your gift to One Great Hour of Sharing makes a difference, visit pcusa.org/oghs
This Lenten season, please give generously to One Great Hour of Sharing.
2024 Lenten Resources
Click image to download PDF.
This Lent, journey through the wilderness with our devotional booklet. Beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending with Easter Sunday, this devotional includes writings paired with a piece of visual artwork and a bit of music, most recorded on YouTube.
For Christians across the world, Lent is a season of reflection and confession that ends in the celebration of Easter. It provides an opportunity to pause, to lament, to pray, and to worship together in community. In this Lenten season, these daily devotions are intended to stimulate thought about God’s word. They are offered with love and with hope, that by reading them, you will be motivated to think more about God, to pray more to God, and to draw closer to those around you.
Contributors: Harold Frye, Cheryl Johnson, David Pack, Nelson Townsend, Andrew Frye, Kevin Johnson, Barbara Douglas, Nancy Kalesz, Stephen Wing, and Sarah Evans
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PDF download. The devotion of the day is sent out by email by the church office each day of Lent. If you are not on the church's email list, email office@gcpc.org to be added to the list.
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The Presbyterian Hunger Program strives to walk with people in moving towards sustainable choices that restore and protect all of God’s children and creation. As people of faith, we seek to “serve and preserve” God’s world. Our hope is that this Lenten calendar will be the beginning of actions intended to create more mindful behaviors throughout the year.
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In a time when trauma, war, and violence cover the earth, our mental and spiritual health are in need of care and guidance. This journey published by Unbound, includes daily recitations and practices along with weekly and Holy Week video meditations. (Printable version available on the link)
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Journey to the Cross, a devotional series that provides inspiration during the Lenten season, returns to d365.org on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 14) and will continue through the Sunday following Easter (April 7). This series features Scripture, prayer and meditative thoughts accompanied by gentle music. Journey to the Cross is part of the year-round ecumenical devotional website and app, d365, which is partially sponsored by the Presbyterian Mission Agency through the Office of Presbyterian Youth and Triennium.
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Lenten devotions based on Revised Common Lectionary texts from creation care perspectives.
Adult Christian Education for Lent
February 18 - March 24, 10:45am
Meeting Jesus at the Table
A Lenten Study by Cynthia M. Campbell, and Christine Coy Fohr
Class meets in Room 3 at 10:45am.
The Gospels are full of stories of Jesus sharing meals with disciples, friends, even tax collectors and Pharisees. Whether multiplying bread to feed a whole crowd, relaxing with his inner circle, or telling curious elites stories about even greater banquets, Jesus imparts wisdom as he shares the wine and grants forgiveness as he distributes the fish. This eight-chapter resource provides biblical insights along with thought-provoking queries regarding our own time, such as whom should we invite to Sunday dinner and who is left out and left behind in our culture today.
Illustrations by artist Kevin Burns complement each chapter and invite further meditation on the Gospel story and its meaning for our lives.
