Sunday, December 18 Children’s Christmas Program, “A Mouse’s Tale” at 7:00 pm
Saturday, December 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Holy Communion, 7:00 pm
Sunday, December 25 Christmas Day Service with Holy Communion, 9:30 am
Saturday, December 31 New Year’s Eve Service with Holy Communion, 7:00 pm
Wednesday, March 9, is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Lent is a 40-day season of the church year that runs from Ash Wednesday to Holy Week (which begins April 17 this year).
The season of Lent has been a part of the church calendar for many, many centuries. It is a time when we focus on the suffering and death of Jesus and ponder again what it means for our life and salvation. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of our midweek Lenten Services on Wednesday evenings at 7:00. Portions of the Passion story of Jesus will be read during each service. You are encouraged to attend.
Lent helps us to remember, as the Bible says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:32) But God, in his mercy, sent his son, Jesus, to take our sins upon himself and received our punishment by dying on the cross so that we might be forgiven and granted life in heaven forever with him.
December 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Holy Communion, 7:00 pm
December 25 Christmas Day Service with Holy Communion, 10:45 am
The church season of Advent began Sunday, November 28. It is the beginning of a new church year. Its emphasis is always on The One Who is Coming. We hear from the Old Testament Prophets who tell us about The One Who is Coming to be the Messiah. This coming is fulfilled in the birth of Jesus over 2,000 years ago. So, in the Advent Season we anticipate the coming of the celebration of Jesus’ birth. We look forward to Christmas, the coming of the One who will bring us back into God’s family through his suffering, death and resurrection. It is this Jesus who also comes to us in this Advent season in his Word and Sacraments. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. We are also reminded in this Advent season that The One Who is Coming is also the One who is coming back again to be the judge of all the living and the dead. In God’s grace, we can look forward to Christ’s return and pray with the Apostle John, “Come, Lord Jesus.” During the season of Advent we have special midweek worship services on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. It is easy to get so involved in the activities of the commercial Christmas that the message and meaning of this time of year gets lost in the mess. Take time to join with others for these special Advent services and remember, Jesus is The One Who is Coming.