A Weekly Word
February 23, 2022
This Sunday, February 27, is the Transfiguration of our Lord.
This week’s sermon will be: Exodus
This week’s readings are:
Message:
Lent – A Time of Special Devotion
What are you giving up for Lent?
- Intended as a season of self-denial to focus on Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection.
- Sometimes seen as a season of self-righteousness and self-justification.
Early Church
- Mostly Jewish
- Synagogue Worship
o
Culture of observing Holy Days
o
Reading the Word
- Christians Continued
- Added letters from the apostles
- Read and recounted events from Jesus life – Gospels.
o Apostles taught the Church what Jesus taught them.
An Idea: We want to remember Jesus’ sacrifice in a special
way.
- The crucifixion took place at the time of Passover.
- Passover – Takes place in the Spring near the time of the equinox.
- Easter – the first Sunday after the first full moon, after the Spring Equinox.
- Readings and worship themes related to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.
- Time of preparation
o
Forty Days – first reading of Lent is Jesus’
fasting for forty days.
o
Forty does not divide evenly in a seven-day week.
o
Sunday is the day Jesus rose – so Sundays are
little Easters – don’t count them.
o
Back that up from Easter to get Ash Wednesday.
§
“You are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
§ “Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!”
Fasting – to focus on prayer.
- Good for Lent – probably good for your whole life.
Focus on Jesus
- Extra worship services.
- Devotional exercises
o
Word
o
Prayer
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