At Pender’s 9:00 am Traditional and 11:15 am Common Ground Contemporary Services, Pastor Will White, continues the Lenten series “Rend Your Hearts: Claiming the Promise”.
The Message will be “This is the Sign” based on Genesis 9:8-17, 1 Peter 3:18-22 and Mark 1:9-15.
Lent began on Ash Wednesday; we admit that. But this first Sunday is when many people become aware of the season. If there are rituals to be adopted, they will often begin today. So, we are on the brink again, or still, or even for the first time, of the journey. That’s why we begin with promise; we begin with covenant.
Today we will also celebrate Scout Sunday and have a Blessing of the Bibles for First Grades
Watch the 9:00 Traditional Service
Attend the 11:15 Common Ground Contemporary Worship
I want to encourage you to participate in our “Ash Wednesday” livestream this Wednesday, February 17, at 7pm.
As always, we will be on YouTube, Facebook, and the church’s website and we’ll be returning to a presentation style that is more familiar to you. You might be asking, “Why do we need Lent this year?” With the pandemic, we’ve been through the “Lentiest Lent that has ever Lented”. As for self-reflection, “Just what do you think we were doing during the months we were on lock-down?”
But, maybe this year, more than ever, we need to focus on Jesus. We need to focus on the cross and the hope it brings. In the Lenten box delivered to your home, get your charcoal out and be ready at 7pm on Wednesday! I’ll provide instructions as to how to apply “the sign of the cross” during the livestream.
Grace and Peace,
Will
p.s. Children love symbols, so please include them. There will be a special “Time with Children” for them.
“Yet Even Now”
Worship Service, Time with Children, Sermon, Use of Ashes
(In your Lenten bag, there is some charcoal, please have it on hand when the service begins. Please enjoy the soup supper before or after worship as a reminder to live simply during Lent.)
Adults, please listen for the answers to the following…
What is the significance of the ashes?
What kind of ashes do we use “normally”?
What does it mean to repent?
Why is that important?
Think about what YOU can do to participate in Lenten discipline this year.
Help children experience Ash Wednesday…
First, include them! Kid’s love symbols. They get it!
Tell the children that they know the “brands” of their sneakers, backpacks, coats, etc. Ask them to tell you about their favorite brands…
Then say, “What does it mean to make the cross your ‘brand’ for life”?
Tell them, “From tonight until Easter Sunday (April 4th), we want to be the best followers of Jesus we can be.”
Ask them, “What should we do?”
Then ask, “What should we not do?”
Tell them that the sign of the ashes means, “You belong to Jesus.” Encourage them to wear the sign of the cross (charcoal) on their foreheads for the rest of the night.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. It derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of mourning and repentance to God.
Our Ash Wednesday service will begin at 7:00 pm with Soup and a Discussion online.
And Chuck Knows Church says…
Ever seen a little smudge mark on someone’s forehead as they walk out of church? That’s a sign of the cross and it means it’s Ash Wednesday during Lent. Chuck tells you about this important worship service:
Dear Members and Friends of Pender United Methodist Church,
On Wednesday, January 27 at 7pm, I’ll be hosting Dr. Joe Hart who will give a presentation on “Pandemic Fatigue” for the first of several “Pender Talks”. You can participate simply by clicking on the link (if you need a passcode, it’s 31357. As time allows, Dr. Hart will answer questions you may have.
Dr. Hart is a graduate of The College of William and Mary and the Marshall University School of Medicine. He has been an MD for four years. In June, he will complete his residency in Psychiatry at Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY. He considers Virginia to be his home and is a lifelong Christian.
Come hear about how to improve your own resilience as well as ways to help others! I hope to “see you there”.
Grace and Peace, Rev. Will White, Lead Pastor of Pender UMC p.s. Feel free to forward this email to others who may be interested.
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