THURSDAY EVENINGS 2020 LENT 7:00 – 8:15/8:30 pm

This course explores the core of Christian belief in greater depth through the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds. Its six sessions aim to equip participants with an understanding of these priceless resources for living the Christian life and for knowing God better.

+ Biblical reflection + short video presentation + prayer + discussion + worship + for every level of faith + bring your own Bible or one can be provided

February 27
Week 1: What are the Creeds?
Examines the reasons the Creeds were developed and the role they play in Christian life and faith.

March 5
Week 2: God as Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Considers the profound and wonderful truth that God is Trinity: three persons in relationship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

March 12
Week 3: Fully God and fully human
Looks at the unique nature of Jesus Christ, fully God and fully human, and what this teaches us about God and being human.

March 19
Week 4: Crucified, risen and ascended
Explores the great shadows in our lives – sin, death and hell – and the way Jesus overcomes these through his death and resurrection.

March 26
Week 5: I believe in the Holy Spirit
What does it mean to receive the Holy Spirit? This session looks at the Holy Spirit’s role in the life of the Church.

April 2
Week 6: One, holy, catholic and apostolic church
Explores what it means to belong to the people of God and to declare that the Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic.

only cost is $10.00 for the guidebook
ALL ARE INVITED – just come!

ASH WEDNESDAY: FIRST DAY OF LENT – February 26
10:00 am Blessing and Imposition of Ashes
with Holy Communion
(according to The Book of Common Prayer)
7:00 pm Imposition of Ashes
with Holy Communion
(according to The Book of Alternative Services)

DURING LENT

CELTIC EUCHARIST
◆ on Tuesdays of Lent at 6:00 pm
March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
◆ Tuesday in Holy Week
April 7 at 7:00 pm

“THE CREEDS” – a Pilgrim course on the Creeds and the significance of what we believe
◆ Thursdays at 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm
February 27, March 5, 12, 19, 26, April 2
◆ Biblical reflection, short videos, prayer, discussion, worship
◆ This course aims to equip participants with an understanding of these priceless resources for living the Christian life and for knowing God better.

MINISTERIAL LENTEN WORSHIP AT ST PAUL’S
◆ Wednesday, March 25
at 12:00 noon
◆ John 9:1-11 “yeah, HE did it!” ◆ fellowship meal follows worship

BIBLICAL STATIONS OF THE CROSS
◆ Fridays, March 13 and 27 at 6:00 pm
(lasts for roughly 35 minutes)
◆ on GOOD FRIDAY, April 10 at 10:00 am – a special Stations for children!

Holy Father, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the desert,
give us grace to discipline ourselves
in humble submission to your Spirit,
that we may lead upright and holy lives
to your honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lent prepares us for Easter, to encounter the risen Lord. It’s a time to reflect on our relationship with Christ, to examine our lives under the gaze of a loving yet holy God. In the early Church, it was a time when converts to Christ were taught the faith in preparation for baptism at the Easter Vigil. As it was for them, so it is for us, that Lent is for self-examination and repentance, through prayer, fasting, self-denial, alms-giving (financial gifts) and by reading and meditating on the Scriptures (beyond hearing them at corporate worship).

Lent consists of the forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Day, excluding the Sundays in Lent, which are celebrations of the Resurrection. By observing Lent, Christians “imitate” Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for a time of spiritual formation and testing. As Jesus was taken into the desert by the Spirit, may our Lent, too, be guided by God the Holy Spirit. It is a time set aside and sacred. That is why on the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday we are invited to “keep a holy Lent.”

This Lenten opportunity for self-examination, repentance, and spiritual nurture is formed by a focus on our Lord, and inspired by the Holy Spirit. Our souls will be restored, our commitment deepened, our service broadened, and the Church will be strengthened. And with great joy we will worship the risen Lord at Easter!

How?
1. Reflect on your life, and consider it in light of God’s ways, God’s written word, the Scriptures and above all God’s Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. The joy of repentance is aiming your life according to God’s direction. “Giving up” something for Lent, be it a food or a drink or an activity, can help to remind you of wanting to “keep a holy Lent.”

2. Read and meditate on the word of God in the Bible, and pray. Take one of the Gospels and get to know it really well, by reading it several times during Lent. Participating in the Lenten Programme will be a good help.

3. Midweek services, either the regular Thursday 10:00 a.m. Holy Communion, or the Tuesday 6:00 p.m. Celtic Eucharist, will assist you in prayer and encountering God.

4. Read a good book that deals with spiritual matters. Use the provided Lenten Books and also try authors such as C.S. Lewis, Henri Nouwen, Tom Wright, and Dorothy Sayers and older writers such as Augustine, Julian of Norwich and Athanasius.

5. Especially if it has been a while since you took any time intentionally to learn more about the Christian faith, take the Thursday evening sessions on “THE CREEDS” – a Pilgrim course on the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds and why it’s helpful to understand what we say we believe.

6. Give special extra offerings by making use of the Lenten envelopes/folders.

7. Simplify and de-clutter your life, to give more room for the Holy Spirit to get more of your attention on a daily basis. Try to fast, maybe one day a week, or with some other time frame. Take time ‘to be’.

8. Be sure to take in the whole of HOLY WEEK, that most sacred of times in the whole year, in heartfelt anticipation for the great celebration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.