The Bridge in Plain Text
Issue To Be Used Any Time After
March 1, 2007
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The Bridge
A monthly publication of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA
Connecting the congregational, synodical, and churchwide expressions of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Lowdown on Lent
From “What is Lent?”
www.elca.org/communication/whatislent.html
Lent is a 40-day liturgical
season that begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes at the Great Vigil of
Easter. Sundays are not included in the 40-day count because every Sunday is
a joyful celebration of Jesus' resurrection. Though not biblical, Lent has
long been a tradition in the Christian Church, and it is thought that the
tradition of the 40 days recalls the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness,
fasting and being tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11). Lent is considered a
time of penance and discipline.
Because of Lent's penitential nature,
worship tends to be more solemn, and purple is the liturgical color of the
season. Some congregations remove flowers from the worship space, and for
many, songs of praise like the Gloria in Excelsis ("Glory in the highest")
and expressions of joy like the exclamation "Alleluia" ("Praise the Lord")
are removed from the liturgy until Easter. Many congregations hold special
mid-week worship services and promote other devotional activities to help
their members concentrate on the Lenten disciplines of fasting, almsgiving
(charity) and prayer.
Ash Wednesday is the first day
of Lent. On this day, Christians focus on their complete sinfulness and the
necessity of Christ's suffering and death to insure their salvation. Ashes
are referred to many times in the Old Testament as 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). Many churches use ashes during Ash Wednesday
worship in a ritual called the Imposition of Ashes. In this custom, ashes
are mixed with a small amount of oil and applied to the forehead of each
worshipper.
The Sunday of the Passion or
Palm Sunday begins the last week of Lent, known as Holy Week. During this
holiest time of the church year, the worship services relive the final week
of our Lord's human life. Holy Week includes Maundy Thursday, when
Christians observe Christ's "Last Supper" -- the institution of the
Sacrament of Holy Communion -- and the mandate to serve one another in love.
Good Friday commemorates the imprisonment, trial and death by crucifixion of
Jesus.
Lent culminates on Saturday
evening of Holy Week in the Great Vigil of Easter, when Christians gather in
darkness, light new fire, and celebrate the fulfillment of the Old Testament
prophecies in the resurrection of Christ.
Featured Resources
Monthly Bible Verse
This Bible verse was selected by Harold Usgaard, bishop of the
Southeastern Minnesota Synod, for everyone in the synod to study.
“God demonstrates his own love
for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans
5:8
About Our Synod
The Southeastern Minnesota Synod is a faith community of 130,000 baptized
people in 184 congregations as well as related institutions of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Its geographic area includes
15 counties in the southeastern corner of Minnesota.
The Bridge is a monthly
publication of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA. For more information,
contact the synod office:
Southeastern Minnesota Synod,
ELCA
1001 14th St. NW, Suite 300
Rochester, MN 55901-2551
(507) 280-9457
www.semnsynod.org
This issue is designed to be
used any time after March 1, 2007.
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