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Category Archives: Holidays

Lenten Hymn and Devotion, Week 3

Brian Stevenson, Pender UMC Director of Music, presents a series of hymn-based devotions at noon on Wednesdays during Lent.

The Third is When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

1. When I survey the wondrous cross

on which the Prince of Glory died;

my richest gain I count but loss,

and pour contempt on all my pride.

2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

save in the death of Christ, my God;

all the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to his blood.

3. See, from his head, his hands, his feet,

sorrow and love flow mingled down.

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

or thorns compose so rich a crown.

4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,

that were an offering far too small;

love so amazing, so divine,

demands my soul, my life, my all.

The United Methodist Hymnal Number 298

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

Music: Lowell Mason, 1792-1872

Tune: HAMBURG, Meter: LM

and

The United Methodist Hymnal Number 299

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

Music: Anonymous; arr. by Edward Miller

Tune: ROCKINGHAM, Meter: LM

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Posted by MaryO on March 19, 2025 in Holidays, Lent, Music Ministry, Pender UMC, Posts of Interest

Tags: Brian Stevenson, Christ, devotion, Greek, HAMBURG, Hebrew, hymn, Isaac Watts, Latin, Lent, Liz Eunji Sellers, Lowell Mason, major, melody, minor, ROCKINGHAM, stanza, video

Time with God

14 Mar

Take a midweek pause for quiet reflection and prayer during Lent. This in-person, drop-in opportunity provides:

Printed materials with Scripture, commentary, and prayer suggestions
A peaceful space for personal prayer and reflection
The opportunity to partake in the sacrament

Come as you are and spend intentional time with God in the sacred quiet of the sanctuary.

Time with God begins March 19, 2025

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Posted by MaryO on March 14, 2025 in Holidays, Lent, Pender UMC, Posts of Interest

Tags: Lent, Pastor Bruce, Pastor Bruce Johnson, prayer, reflection, sacraments, scripture, Time with God

Lent Quiz: How did the early church observe Lent?

13 Mar

In addition to being a time to remember the mercy and forgiveness of Jesus, the early church used Lent to prepare converts for baptism, and to offer opportunities for those who had been separated from the church to be reconciled.

Today Lent remains an ideal time to remember our baptism and to reconcile relationships with those we may have harmed. All of this signifies to us our sinfulness and the sacrifice of Jesus which makes our forgiveness possible.

Watch a video about baptism in the United Methodist church.

Learn more about ancient traditions that still influence Easter.

Check out all our resources for Lent and Easter.

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Posted by MaryO on March 13, 2025 in Easter, Holidays, Lent, Pender UMC, Posts of Interest

Tags: baptism, Easter, Jesus, Lent

Lenten Hymn and Devotion, Week 2

12 Mar

Brian Stevenson, Pender UMC Director of Music, presents a series of hymn-based devotions at noon on Wednesdays during Lent.

The Second Hymn-based Devotion is Ah, Holy Jesus

Ah, holy Jesus, how hast Thou offended,

That man to judge Thee hath in hate pretended?

By foes derided, by Thine own rejected,

O most afflicted.

Who was the guilty- Who brought this upon Thee?

Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone Thee.
‘

Twas I, Lord, Jesus, I it was denied Thee!

I crucified Thee.

For me, kind Jesus, was Thine incarnation,

Thy mortal sorrow, and Thy life’s oblation;

Thy death of anguish and Thy bitter passion,

For my salvation.

Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;

The slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered;

For our atonement, while he nothing heedeth,

God intercedeth.

Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay Thee,

I do adore Thee, and will ever pray Thee,

Think on Thy pity and Thy love unswerving,

Not my deserving.

The United Methodist Hymnal Number 289

Text: Johann Heermann

Music: Johann Crüger (1640)

Tune: HERZLIEBSTER JESU

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Posted by MaryO on March 12, 2025 in Holidays, Lent, Music Ministry, Pender UMC, Posts of Interest

Tags: Ah Holy Jesus, breathing, Brian Stevenson, calmness, Christ, cross, Crucifixion, devotion, HERZLIEBSTER JESU, hymn, Johann Crüger, Johann Heermann, Lent, minor, organ, Peter, poet, Saint Paul Lutheran, sin, spiritual, suffering, video

Lent Quiz: True or False? Sundays are not counted in the 40 days of Lent

09 Mar

The correct answer is True.

Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter” and the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.

Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, meaning “lengthen” and refers to the lengthening days of spring. The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry.

Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by new converts and then became a time of penance by all Christians. Today, Christians focus on relationship with God, growing as disciples and extending ourselves, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of ourselves for others.

Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter.” This is why you will see the designation “Sunday in Lent” rather than “Sunday of Lent” in the naming of these Sundays. On each Lord’s Day in Lent, while Lenten fasts continue, the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.