Lenten Wednesdays: A tree planted

News | March 6, 2019

The St. Paul community of faith gathers for worship services and meal fellowship on five Lenten Wednesdays, March 13 — April 10.

Worship | 12 noon-12:30 p.m.

Chapel gatherings will include music, silence, a pastoral reflection, and Holy Communion. These more contemplative services will center on the same themes as Wednesday evenings.

Suppers | 5:30-6:55 p.m.

Enjoy a meal in community. Catered by Hy-Vee, there will be a different menu each week to feed stomachs and a sense of togetherness. A freewill donation of $8/person or $25/family is welcome to cover the cost. Volunteers bring cookies to share.

Red Apron Crew: This crew offers the warmth of hospitality and service. Put on an apron and help fill drinks, clear tables, and offer conversation to those who come.

Green Apron Crew: Scrape some plates, make some friends. The Environmental Team will scrape and wash dishes to reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill. Scraps will be composted, too. To help, contact Steve and Jane Strittmater at strittmaterjane70@gmail.com, 563-370-7166.

The Final Week of Jesus’ Life | 5:30 – 6:15 p.m.

Enjoy a five-week conversation with Pastor Peter Marty around key events that shaped Jesus’ final week, viewed through the eyes of a brilliant Jewish professor of New Testament. Participants will discuss different risks Jesus assumed as he got closer to death.

Advance reading assignments are 20 or less pages/week (easy reading). The resource, Entering the Passion, by Amy-Jill Levine, may be purchased in the Book Corner for $12. Reading assignments will be posted on the online calendar and in Connections. In Lower Commons. No need to sign up, just come.

Choir rehearsals | 6 p.m.

All choirs will rehearse during Lent.

■ Children’s choirs: 6-6:45 p.m., March 20-April 17
■ Youth Choir: 6-6:45 p.m., March 13-April 17
■ Chorale: 6-6:55 p.m., March 13-April 10, and 6-7:30 p.m., April 17.

Confirmation | 6:30-6:55 p.m.

Seventh-graders will participate in a mentoring relationship with a member of the congregation. This will consist of 30 minutes of conversation about life and faith. Eighth- graders will engage in a large group experi- ence centered around a single topic each week. Confirmation will not meet on Ash Wednesday, March 6.

Worship | 7-7:35 p.m.

A service in the Sanctuary features the beautiful Holden Evening Prayer liturgy, led by the Youth Choir.

A Tree Planted is the unifying theme. The message will be centered on a different concept each week: forests stick together, budding generosity, the witness of rings, strong but tender, and growing pains. Using the rooted nature of trees, pastors will guide our minds and hearts to think about deeper meaning this Lenten season. Children encouraged to worship; childcare also available.

Special offerings: World Hunger

By providing immediate relief to those who are hungry, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) World Hunger organization meets basic needs and recognizes the universal human right to food. But ending hunger is about more than food. By connecting people with education, health care, and sources of income, long-term, sustainable change can be accomplished.

The ELCA is active in 60 countries through World Hunger.

All Lenten offerings in purple envelopes, cash, or designated in the memo line of your check as World Hunger, will be given to fight hunger. St. Paul aims again to exceed $20,000.

Devotional book: Lasting Hope

Lasting Hope: Devotions for Lent 2019 explores the Psalms texts for this year’s lectionary. Each reading is accompanied by a photo, quote, reflection, and a prayer. The book of Psalms gives us a real- istic look at the journey of faith for individuals and a community. From crying for help to singing songs of praise and thanksgiving, the psalms show faith with all its ups and downs, twists and turns. More importantly, the book of Psalms points us to God. The book is available for $3 in the Book Corner.

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