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What We Believe
- What is a Christian?
- The term Christian means "belonging to Christ." Christians are people who love Jesus Christ and follow him.
- What is Lent?
- Lent is a period of 40 days before Easter Sunday. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends the day before Easter. Sundays during this time are not included in the 40 days, since Sunday is always a day to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. Lent is a time of penance and discipline has is recalls the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness, fasting and being tempted by Satan.
Worship usually is more solemn during Lent. We do not have flowers in the church, and expressions of joy like the "Alleluia" are not used until Easter. We offer mid-week worship services.
The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday. Ashes are signs of sorrow, mourning, humility, and repentance, and on Ash Wednesday they are used to remind people of their mortality -- that "you are dust, and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19). We use ashes during Ash Wednesday worship in a ritual called the Imposition of Ashes. Ashes are mixed with a small amount of oil and applied to the forehead of each person.
Passion or Palm Sunday begins the last week of Lent - Holy Week. This is the holiest time of the church year. Holy Week includes Maundy Thursday, when we observe Christ's "Last Supper" - the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion -- and the commandment to serve one another in love. Good Friday commemorates the imprisonment, trial and death by crucifixion of Jesus. For more information visit the ELCA website.
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- What is Holy Week?
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- Holy Week is the Christian week from Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday, the week before Easter Sunday. It recalls the last week in the life of Jesus Christ, before His crucifixion and burial.
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