GIVING IN TO LENT
In several religions, there is an ancient custom of giving a tenth of each year’s income to a holy use. Observing the forty days of Lent is doing the same thing with roughly a tenth of each year’s days. Since the fifth century, Christians have seen these days as a time to give up what’s unnecessary and give in to what’s holy. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (this year on February 14) and ends on Holy Saturday (March 30). In worship, we will consider how the Ten Commandments lead us beyond despair to a life of joy.
Lenten Worship
Ash Wednesday | February 14 | Services at noon and 6:00 PM | The Sanctuary
Our 40-Day Lenten journey begins with our repentance on Ash Wednesday. Being honest about our grief and failing and disappointment and fear keeps us open to the way of love. So we receive the mark of the ashes and remember that we are just made of dust, and one day we will be dust again. We are basically nothing. But somehow we are God's.
LENTEN SERMON SERIES
February 18
”Life and Death Matters” | Exodus 20:13
February 25
”The Hope of Fidelity” | Exodus 20:14
March 3
”The Larceny in Our Hearts” | Exodus 20:15
March 10
”Learning to Love the Truth” | Exodus 20:16
March 17
”Being Happy with What You Have” | Exodus 20:17
Lenten Community
Conversations That Lead to Life: Lenten Small Groups
Plymouth has a growing tradition of deepening our faith by meeting in small groups during Lent. Each group will seek to build community by creating safe space for conversations about what matters most. Alongside this season’s worship theme on the Ten Commandments, small groups will connect our daily lives to the question of “How are we loving God?”
Some groups will meet over a meal. Others will discuss a book, work on a creative project, and discuss what it means to love God in our daily settings. Everyone is invited to find a group, get to know someone new, and engage in conversation that helps us remember how God loves us. Registration begins today, February 1, and continues through the first Sunday of Lent, February 18. Note that because several groups have limited space, there may be a cap on the number of participants in those.
A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE TEN WORDS | SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 9:00 AM | THE PARSONAGE
We have been thinking about the Ten Commandments in worship. Join Brett for breakfast and conversation about seeing the commandments not as negative “thou-shalt-nots,” but as joyful affirmations of a better way of life.
Lenten Story Exchange | Sunday, March 17, 1-4:00 PM | Reception Room
Join our story exchange workshop--an exercise rooted in connection, compassion, and empathy through story telling--that builds on our reflections this Lenten Season. The story exchange offers us the gift of inhabiting another's story, which helps us understand each other and learn from each other with curiosity and imagination. Allison Bishop will be leading this workshop. Story topics and preparation materials will be shared a week in advance. Lunch will be served. Please register on Realm by March 10.
Expressions of Life: Lenten Project
Our focus on the Ten Commandments in worship and Conversations that Lead to Life in small groups, leads us to consider how we are living into the greatest commandment: to love God with all our heart. During Lent, you are invited to respond creatively--with photography, painting, poetry, dance, song, reflections. How are you loving God this season? Share your submissions with Lesley-Ann by March 20, and we will display them in a Holy Week exhibit.
