The Lenten season is the fourth season in the church year (after Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany). It begins with Ash Wednesday and is the oldest season of the church year. The original period of Lent seems to have been 40 hours. It was spent in fasting and contemplation on the sufferings of Christ. Later it became 30 days, then 36, and finally, in the reign of Charlemagne (about 800 A.D.), 40 days. Lent originally had one purpose — to prepare candidates for Baptism. For hundreds of years, the Baptism itself took place late Saturday evening or early Sunday morning before the dawn of Resurrection Day, during an all-night vigil.
While certain things may have changed, observing Lent as a time of contemplation, repentance and faith has not. Plan now to join us each week, beginning February 17, 2021 for our journey to the cross and empty tomb.
Our Mid-Week Worship Schedule
Wednesday at 7:00 PM
Beginning with Ash Wednesday and weekly throughout Lent
Historically, the church has focused on catechesis during Lent. We will as well. We will focus on the Six Chief Parts of Christian Doctrine as drawn from Dr. Luther’s Small Catechism beginning Wednesday, February 24, 2021. You are encouraged to reflect devotionally on the catechism as well, perhaps according to the following schedule:
Monday—The Ten Commandments
Tuesday—The Apostles’ Creed
Wednesday—The Lord’s Prayer
Thursday—The Sacrament of Holy Baptism
Friday—Confession
Saturday—The Sacrament of the Altar
Sunday—Daily Prayers, Table of Duties, or Christian Questions with Their Answers
The Small Catechism is found on page 321 in The Lutheran Service Book. May your Lenten journey be blessed and may the season be a reminder to you to “daily” answer our Lord’s call to return to Him in repentance and faith.
Blessings,
Pastor Bryan E. Drebes
Rev. Bryan Drebes is Pastor at Pacific Hills Lutheran Church in Omaha NebraskaPastor Drebes attended Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, beginning in 1997. He spent the summer of 1999 teaching English to Chinese middle school teachers in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. He served a four-month vicarage at St. John Lutheran Church, Plymouth, Wisconsin, followed by eight months at Bethany Lutheran Church, Overland Park, Kansas. Pastor Drebes was ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry at Zion Lutheran Church, Palmyra, Missouri on August 19, 2001, and installed as Associate Pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church, Overland Park, Kansas on September 9, 2001. He served Bethany for 14 years. Pastor Drebes accepted a Divine