Note: 2008 Lenten Schedule

Lent at St. Mark's

Lent at St. Mark’s 2008

Ash Wednesday, February 6, 2008
There will be Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes:  7:00 p.m.

The Sundays of Lent:  Eucharist at 10:00 a.m.

Weekday Prayer:  (except Ash Wednesday)

            Evening Prayer 5:00

            Eucharist 5:30

            Soup Supper and Lenten Study  6:30

The Spirituality of Lent

 Lent is a time of preparation for the great mystery at the center of our faith, the paschal mystery, the Easter mystery.  Lent is a time of looking into our hearts and outward into our lives, both as individuals and as a community.  We bless what is good and we hold up for strengthening and healing what is weak. 

A friend of mine gave me two “words of wisdom” concerning Lent.  One came from a fifth-grader:  when asked the meaning of Lent, she said:  Lent is when we give up things.  When asked why, she responded: We give up things to show that we can do without everything, except God.  The other wise saying came from a pastor who remarked that we make Lenten resolutions, but Lent is so long that we can barely keep them; once we fail, we realize that, in the end, we must depend upon the mercy of God.

Lent is a time for grace.  Lent is a time for trust in God more than in ourselves.  Lent is a time for gentleness, for undeserved love.  Lent is a time for mercy toward our neighbors, our Church, our earth, our own bodies and hearts and minds.  In Lent we meet the gentle, patient Jesus, who sends us forth in peace, free from sin, reminding us to be merciful as God is merciful.

Holy Week at St. Mark’s 2008

•  Sun, March 16:  Palm/Passion Sunday

                Procession with Palms to begin Holy Week:  10:00 a.m.

            Note: Palm Sunday Ecumenical Procession for Peace:  details TBA

Organized by the Des Moines Area Ecumenical Committee for Peace

• Wed, March 19:  Tenebrae, 7:00 p.m.

Tenebrae is a solemn sung service with ancient roots. The word “tenebrae” means “shadows” in Latin. It is adapted from the service of Matins for Holy Week, and anticipates the passion of Christ through the chanting of psalms, the reading of scripture and the extinguishing of candles.

The Sacred Triduum, the Three Sacred Days

The Triduum (Latin for “The Three Days”) is time set aside as sacred. 

The Triduum celebrates the Paschal Mystery, the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the center of our faith as Christians.

The Christian Community gathers during these three days for the following Solemn Liturgies:

 Maundy Thurs, March 20:  Eucharist and Washing of Feet, 7:00 p.m.

Good Friday, March 21: Solemn Celebration of the Passion: 7:00 p.m.

Easter Sunday, March 23:  Easter Eucharist 10:00 a.m.   (at St. Mark’s)

   Refreshments and fellowship to follow