Worship Themes for February

In the middle of this month we will observe the Sunday of the Transfiguration, which is followed by Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of the Lenten Season. Lent, as you know, is a season of preparation – somewhat akin to Advent as a season to prepare us for the birth of Christ. Lent, however, prepares us for the death and resurrection of Christ. You can prepare yourself for worship by reading the passages for worship, and praying about God’s Word to you, and to us.

February 7^th – Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Communion

Music from the EPIC Contemporary Service

                    So Good to Me            Blessed Be Your Name

                    You Are Holy                Knowing You

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 – "Christ in a Time Capsule"

Down through the years, the message which Paul delivers to the people of Corinth has grown and strengthened, but it’s the same message, over 2,000 years old. In spite of its age, we are still given new life by this message, and hope for tomorrow, and encouragement to rise above each day’s troubles and discouragements. Communion is our continuing celebration of the agelessness of Paul’s Good News.

February 14^th – Transfiguration Sunday

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 – "Living in Earthquake Country"

Music from the EPIC Contemporary Service

Forever                    Freedom

Glorious One            On Christ the Solid Rock

Two certainties in life, said Benjamin Franklin, are death and taxes. I would add a third: change! Some change takes place slowly, like growth or aging, and it is more easily accommodated. But some change happens suddenly, like an earthquake, and with no warning – and all at once our lives are changed. Both individuals and churches experience these changes which are opportunities for God to do new things.

 

February 17^th – Ash Wednesday – 7pm Healing Service with the disposition of ashes.

Join us for a service of healing and a time of worship to prepare ourselves for Lent. The sanctuary will be open at 6:45 for those wishing to take advantage of a time of personal meditation.

February 21^st – First Sunday of Lent

Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 – "In the Shadow of the Almighty"

Music from the EPIC Contemporary Service

Let It Rise                           Everlasting God

Here I Am to Worship        Open the Eyes of My Heart

It’s easy to get lost. So some of us have resorted to GPS gadgets in our vehicles. But the woman in the box isn’t always right! So we need to have some basic navigational skills of our own. On this first Sunday of Lent, how do we find our spiritual home? Psalm 91 is full of navigational helps. Our spiritual home is in God – who goes with us wherever we go. Look at the amazing descriptors in this psalm – and relax!

February 28^th – Second Sunday of Lent

Philippians 3:17-4:1 – "Lent: Heaven on Earth"

Music from the EPIC Contemporary Service

Let Everything That Has Breath                    Not to Us

You Are Holy (Prince of Peace)                    Greater Things (God of This City)

We get all wrapped up in "giving things up" for Lent. It’s mostly a Roman Catholic thing, and it has its spiritual foundations. But Lent is less about what goes into our bodies and more about what we take into our spirits.

March

In the season of Lent, we identify with our Lord in his journey to Jerusalem and to the Cross. We enter into his experience through prayer, fasting, reading and meditating on Scripture, and generally seeking to empathize with Jesus. It has been your pastor’s experience that the more successfully one does this, the greater and deeper one’s joy at Easter and the good news of the Resurrection. These themes will guide our worship this Month.

March 7^th – Third Sunday of Lent – Communion

Isaiah 55:1-9 - "Theophilia"

We live lives of almost constant distraction and busyness. It is rare indeed to find people who work at intentionally centering themselves in God for any significant length of time. But that is what the prophet is calling God’s people to do – and we can do it if we will do it. The reward is life itself – a life that can easily pass us by if we’re only caught up in activities.

March 14^th – Fourth Sunday of Lent

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 – Getting Caught with Your Pants Down"

God’s love can be a weighty thing. Sometimes even a burdensome thing. It is particularly weighty when we abuse it, or try to run away from it. But the "burden is light" when we return seeking a fresh start.

March 21^st – Fifth Sunday of Lent

Philippians 3:4b-14 – "Trash Talk"

Is there anything preventing you from standing tall and confidently in God’s presence? For Paul, his fantastic credentials might have become a stumbling block. Now he trashes them all, and embraces the greater righteousness of being a friend of God through Jesus Christ. Lent is an opportunity to trash the past and move into God’s future.

March 28^th – Passion/Palm Sunday

Luke 19:28-40 – "All Shook Up"

Jerusalem was "rockin’ and rollin’" when Jesus came riding into town on Palm Sunday. And the shock waves will continue as he weeps over the city, cleanses the Temple, denounces the Scribes and predicts the destruction of Jerusalem. The chaos increases as he is betrayed, arrested, sentenced to death, and killed on a Cross. The shakiness we feel today will only intensify as we move through Holy Week.

Thursday, April 1^st – Maundy Thursday Soup Supper and Communion