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Lent

Learning, worship, prayer guide our Lenten journey

Lent, 40 days of contemplation and preparation, officially begins with Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17. At Immanuel, opportunities for learning, worship and prayer guide our Lenten journey.

Worship during Lent
Ash Wednesday worship with the imposition of ashes will be followed by five consecutive midweek worship services Feb. 24 and March 3, 10, 17 and 24. Services are offered at both 12:15 and 7 p.m.

At 12:15 p.m., a spoken service of prayer will highlight the somber simplicity of the season.
At 7 p.m., the service will use the Vespers liturgy from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship book along with readings and lessons about the Apostles’ Creed, Lord’s Prayer, Ten Commandments and Holy Communion based on teachings from Luther’s Small Catechism.

During Sunday morning worship, you’ll notice how the unadorned sanctuary and the liturgy setting put our focus squarely on the cross.

Learning during Lent
As part of Midweek Lenten gatherings, Dr. Amy Hartsfield of Central Baptist Theological Seminary will lead a five-week study called "God’s Whole, Holy People." Dr. Hartsfield will present a fascinating look at wellness as stewardship. Each weekly session focuses on a specific aspect of wellness:

Feb. 24: Our beginning and purpose. Review the Genesis creation account, and consider the concept of stewardship as a pursuit toward total wellness. (Text: Genesis 1)
March 3: Humankind and spiritual wellness. Examine disciplines that enhance spiritual wellness. (Text: Richard J. Foster’s Celebration of Discipline)
March 10: Humankind and mental wellness. Examine disciplines and practices that enhance mental wellness, such as intellect, emotions, finances and personality indicators. (Text: Henri Nouwen’s Here and Now)
March 17: Humankind and Physical Wellness. Look at the effects of exercise, diet, rest and recreation on long-term wellbeing. (Text: various handouts)
March 24: God’s creatures and world. Examine wellness as a function of serving others and caring for God’s world in ways that are interpersonal, relational and social. (Text: Corinthians 8:1-15 and 9:6-8)

First Communion during Lent
Children who are kindergarten age or older are invited to join Lisa Hansen and Pastor Jennifer for First Communion instruction. Following four lessons about the sacrament, the students will receive Holy Communion for the first time on Maundy Thursday. Contact Pastor Jennifer for details.

Meals during Lent
Gather for a meal and fellowship each Wednesday at 12:45 p.m. (after worship) or 6 p.m. (before worship). Cooks and servers are needed. If you can offer hospitality by preparing or serving a meal, sign up on the hallway bulletin board.

Prayer during Lent
Join the Immanuel Prayer Team for a Lenten prayer retreat, Pathways to Prayer and Meditation, 8:30- 11:30 a.m, Saturday, March 6 in the Spong Common Room. The event will begin with a light continental breakfast followed by three sessions, each with a different emphasis:

Melodee Blobaum will lead a session that introduces three prayer practices: lectio divina, a slow contemplative praying of the scriptures; the Ignatian prayer of contemplation in which you enter into a Biblical story with the characters and experience it with all your senses; and the prayer of examen, a time of prayerful reflection about the events of the day that opens the heart and mind to God’s presence, and allows you to more clearly discern the Holy Spirit’s direction for your life.
Rita Gagleman will explain how sacred paintings have been used for reflection and meditation. You’ll view various Lenten and Easter paintings from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods.
Carolyn Wilson will lead the group in walking a portable labyrinth, an experience that uses the whole self -- mind, body and spirit -- and invites imagination, intuition and creativity into prayer. You’ll have the opportunity to share and discuss your experince in the labyrinth with others.

Watch for a registration form in the bulletin or a sign-up sheet on the prayer bulletin board

(Photo:http://www.flickr.com/photos/heyjules/ / CC BY-ND 2.0)

JOIN US FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP!
8:15 a.m. Brief liturgy with Holy Communion
9:15 a.m. Christian education for all
10:30 a.m. Full liturgy with Holy Communion

Immanuel Lutheran Church
1700 Westport Road
Kansas City, MO 64111
(816) 931-8483 | E-mail