Lent 2018 Activities

Lent was originally observed for six weeks excluding Sundays (36 days), but this was eventually extended to 40 days in order to parallel Christ's temptation in the wilderness. In the Western Churches, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (six and a half weeks before Easter).

In the early history of the church, strict fasting was observed throughout this period. One meal was allowed per day, in the evening, and meat, fish, eggs, and butter were forbidden. Strict observance of fasting was discontinued among Roman Catholics during World War II, and today is rarely observed throughout the Lenten Season.

The three days leading up to Ash Wednesday were known as “Shrovetide,” a time of confession, penance, and absolution. Because households would try to use up various fats, etc., heading into this time of fasting and abstinence, Shrove Tuesday thus became known as Fat or Fasnacht Tuesday.

So, in observance of Shrove Tuesday, we will are invited to Trinity Episcopal Church for a Pancake Supper, followed by the burning of palms from last year. The meal is served at 5:00 on February 13. They must have a count of how many are coming from St. Mark’s. If you want to attend, contact Bernadette or sign up in the narthex.

On February 14, we continue our Lenten obligations with our traditional Ash Wednesday services with Holy Communion: at noon in the Chapel and in the Nave at 7:00 p.m.

On each of the following Wednesdays of Lent, we will have Mid-day Prayers in the Chapel at 11:30 a.m. All are invited to join us for a lunch of hearty soup after the service.

Wednesday evenings our time together begins at 6:15 p.m. for supper, followed at 7:00 by an evening service. This year, we are sharing our time with St. Luke as follows:

February 21 is at St. Luke
February 28 is here at St. Mark’s
March 7 we are again at St. Luke
March 14 here at St. Mark’s
March 21 at St. Luke.

Morning Prayer continues each week-day at 9:00 AM in the chapel.

On Palm Sunday, March 25, we will process with palms and celebrate Holy Communion at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. In preparation for that, we are in Fellowship Hall on Saturday morning, 3/24, to make palm crosses—please join us.

The Seder Dinner is on Wednesday, March 28. Assistance is welcome and appreciated on that Tuesday and early on Wednesday to set the room and help with meal preparations.

Services on Maundy Thursday are at 11:30 a.m. in the Chapel and 7:00 p.m. in the Nave.

The three hour service on Good Friday is at Pine Street UM this year. It still begins at noon and ends at 3:00 p.m. Tenebrae is at 7:00 p.m. in our Nave.

The Easter Vigil on Saturday, March 31, begins in the Chapel at 8:00 p.m. and moves into the Nave for the first celebration of Easter.