Our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Fellowship offers a fun gathering on the eve of Lent! On Tuesday, February 17, at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, we will come together to share a meal, laughter, and conversation as a church family. This tradition invites us to enjoy the goodness of community and God’s provision before entering the more reflective season of Lent. All are welcome to join in this simple celebration of fellowship, gratitude, and togetherness.

This event will also kick off our Lenten season giving campaign toward A Call for Caring.

Our Ash Wednesday service marks the beginning of the Lenten journey. On Wednesday, February 18, at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary, we will gather for worship, prayer, and the imposition of ashes. This service invites us to pause and remember our shared humanity, our dependence on God, and the grace that meets us even in our frailty. Ash Wednesday does not rush us toward answers or celebration; it gently calls us to honesty, humility, and hope as we begin the walk toward the cross and the promise of new life.

The First Sunday in Lent invites us to begin the season with honesty about the pain and brokenness of our world. In worship, we will extinguish a light as a visible act of lament, representing the darkness and injustice that still shape so many lives. This moment is not meant to leave us in despair, but to ground our Lenten journey in truth, prayer, and hope. We are also honored to welcome Barry Jones, Dean of Campbell University Divinity School, as our guest preacher. Together, we will reflect on what it means to follow Christ faithfully in a world longing for justice, healing, and light.

The Second Sunday of Lent continues our journey of truth-telling and hope. In worship, we will extinguish a light representing the pain and darkness caused by our lack of care for creation. This act invites us to lament the ways the earth and its creatures suffer, and to reflect on our responsibility as stewards of God’s good world. Our Scripture for the day, Ezekiel 37:1–14, speaks of God’s power to bring breath and life even to dry bones. We will be led in worship and proclamation by Amanda Allard, Associate Pastor of Children and Youth, as we listen for the Spirit’s call toward renewal, restoration, and faithful care for all that God has made.

The Third Sunday of Lent calls us to name the pain and darkness caused by violence in our world. During worship, we will extinguish a light as an act of lament for lives lost, communities wounded, and fear that too often shapes our common life. Our Scripture for the day, John 3:9–17, speaks to God’s deep love for the world and the light that comes not to condemn, but to heal and save. The sermon will be preached by Mackenzie Smith, Associate Pastor of Music and Adults, as we reflect on what it means to live as people shaped by Christ’s light in the midst of a world still marked by violence.

The Fourth Sunday of Lent invites us to reflect on the pain and darkness created by a lack of resources to meet basic needs in our world. In worship, we will extinguish a light as an act of lament for those who struggle with hunger, housing insecurity, limited access to healthcare, and daily uncertainty. Our Scripture for the day, John 9, tells the story of a man born blind and challenges easy assumptions about suffering, responsibility, and who is truly seen. We will also welcome the return of Rev. Dr. Lawrence Powers, Senior Pastor, to the pulpit as we reflect on God’s call to open our eyes, deepen our compassion, and respond faithfully to the needs of our neighbors.

The Fifth Sunday of Lent calls us to confront the pain and darkness caused by war and oppression in our world. During worship, we will extinguish a light as an act of lament for lives disrupted, and communities displaced. Our Scripture for the day, Exodus 17:1–17, tells the story of a weary people struggling in the wilderness and of God’s presence amid conflict, exhaustion, and uncertainty. As we continue our Lenten journey, this Sunday invites us to reflect on where we place our trust, how we support one another, and how God remains at work even in the midst of struggle.

The Sixth Sunday of Lent, Palm Sunday, brings us to the threshold of Holy Week, where praise and pain stand side by side. In worship, our children will lead us with waving palms and joyful cries of “Hosanna,” reminding us of the hope and expectation that surrounded Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. At the same time, we will extinguish a light in recognition of the pain and darkness caused by illness and disease in our world, naming the fragility so many carry in their bodies and lives. Our Scripture for the sermon, Matthew 21:1–11, tells the story of Jesus’ arrival as a humble king and invites us to consider what it means to welcome Christ amid both celebration and suffering. This Palm Sunday calls us to hold joy and compassion together as we follow Jesus on the road that leads to the cross and, ultimately, to resurrection.

Maundy Thursday invites us into the most intimate and solemn moments of Holy Week. We will gather at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary to share in communion, remembering Jesus’ last supper with his disciples and walking with him from the table to his arrest, death, and burial. As the service unfolds, we will extinguish the candles of hope, peace, love, and joy from Advent, followed by the Christ candle, marking the deepening darkness of the story we remember. The service will conclude with the stripping of the altar, leaving the space bare and quiet as we wait in trust for the hope of resurrection to be revealed on Easter morning.