& Easter 2025
Tuesday, March 4, 6P
Trinity Episcopal Parish Hall
16 Stephens Lane, Lumberton
Come, be with us and Trinity Episcopal as we jointly celebrate a last big hurrah and chance for feasting before 40 days of Lent–a season of prayer, penance and fasting in preparation for the Easter season.
After Pope St. Gregory, around A.D. 600, prohibited Christians from eating all forms of meat and animal products during Lent, Christians made pancakes to use up their supply of eggs, milk, and butter in preparation for Lent.
When the tradition known as Shrove* Tuesday in England spread to French-speaking regions, people in France followed the trend calling it Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). Instead of pancakes, the French made waffles, crepes and a dessert many know as king cake to utilize their dairy products.
*Shrove comes from the word ‘shrive’, meaning to give absolution after hearing confession. Shrove Tuesday is the day when people go to confession to prepare themselves for Lent, which begins on the following day, Ash Wednesday.
Lent is the 40 days (not including Sundays) from Ash Wednesday to the Saturday before Easter. Lent is often described as a time of preparation and an opportunity to go deeper with God. This means that it’s a time for personal reflection that prepares people’s hearts and minds for Good Friday and Easter.
What Are the Key Days During Lent?
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. You may have noticed people with a smudged, black cross on their foreheads. Those are ashes from the Ash Wednesday service. The ashes symbolize our grief for the things we’ve done wrong and the resulting division of imperfect people from a perfect God.
Maundy Thursday is the day before Good Friday. It commemorates the night before Jesus died, when He shared the Passover meal with His closest friends and followers.
Good Friday is the day Christians remember Jesus’ death. The “Good” reflects how Jesus’ death was a sacrifice on our behalf so we can receive God’s forgiveness for our wrongs, or sins.
Easter Sunday is the joyful celebration of Jesus rising from the dead to give us the opportunity of eternal life. While people still die, Jesus made the way for people to have a relationship with God in this life and to spend eternity with Him in heaven.
What Happens During Lent and Why?
The three main things people focus on during Lent are:
prayer,
fasting (abstaining from something to reduce distractions and focus more on God),
giving or charity.
Prayer during Lent focuses on our need for God’s forgiveness.
It’s also about repenting (turning away from our sins) and receiving God’s mercy and love.Fasting, or giving something up, is a very common practice during Lent.
The idea is that giving up something that’s a regular part of life – like eating dessert or scrolling through Facebook – can be a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice.
That time can also be replaced with more time connecting with God.Giving money or doing something good for others is a way to respond to God’s grace, generosity and love.
For example, some people spend time volunteering or donate money they would normally use to buy something, like their morning coffee.
It’s important to note that doing these things can never make us earn or deserve Jesus’ sacrifice or a relationship with God. People are flawed and will never be good enough for a perfect God. Only Jesus has the power to rescue us from ourselves.
Jesus sacrificed Himself on Good Friday to bear the punishment for all our wrongdoings and offer us forgiveness.
He was raised from the dead on Easter Sunday to give us an opportunity to have a relationship with God for eternity.
Spending time during Lent praying, fasting and giving can make Jesus’ sacrifice on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter even more meaningful.
Not By Bread Alone
Matthew 4:1–11
Worship with us on Wednesday, March 5, 7P in a divine service that marks the beginning of Lent. We will use the Holden Evening Prayer Liturgy.
We will do imposition of ashes, an ancient Biblical traditional act of piety that reminds us of our sins and need for repentance. Corporate and individual confessional and absolution will also be offered.
Wednesdays
March 12 — April 9
6P to 8P
We will join Trinity Episcopal, Lumberton in their Parish Hall for a weekly meal and the meditation: "Bread of Life".
For full information click either image or HERE
Thursdays, March 13 — April 10
7P to 8P via Zoom
The NC Synod of the ECLA's Bishop Tim Smith will offer a Bible study on the book of Revelation during Lent online via Zoom.
Don’t miss this opportunity to study Revelation with other Lutherans from across the synod.
Click HERE to register today!
20 Ideas for
Holy Week
Often Christians feel like they should "do something" more during Holy Week beyond attending services.
Ben Meyer, in his blog "Baptized into Christ", offers some ideas that you might consider during Holy Week.
See his list:
20 Ideas for Holy Week.
Bread for the Road
John 12:12–16 & Luke 19:28–40
Join us Palm Sunday, April 13,10:30A as we being Holy Week by celebrating Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem with our own procession of palms to begin our worship.
Bread for Remembrance
Luke 22:14–30
Christ showed His servanthood by washing His disciples' feet and then He gave us His Meal as a means of God's grace and to inspire us to reflect on his life and message.
On Maundy Thursday, April 17, 7PM we demonstrate our servanthood to each other by the washing of feet or hands. Then, join as one in Christ, we celebrate Christ's meal.
The service ends with the stripping of the altar as we move closer to the cross and the tomb.
Bread for Uncertainty
Luke 23:26–56
Christ the “Bread of Life” was broken on Good Friday. That bread would go on to feed the world.
Join us Good Friday, April 18, 7PM for The Stations of the Cross. We end in silence as we journey with Christ to the tomb.
Bread for Feasting
John 21:1-17
The tomb is empty. Salvation won by Christ's resurrection. Join us Easter Sunday, April 20, 10:30AM as we celebrate our new life eternal in Christ in a festive service including the celebration of Holy Communion.
Members are encouraged to bring flowers to adorn our "Flower Cross".
9-10A, Sunday, April 20
Fellowship Hall
Before our Easter worship service, please join us in the Fellowship Hall for fellowship and a light breakfast of scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage, fruit, OJ, and that "Lut'rn" staple: coffee. There'll be tea and milk as well.
At 9:30A there's an Easter Egg Hunt for the children.