Season of Lent

Easter is just around the corner and I hope you are ready to enter the period of preparation, the so-called season of Lent, and start getting ready to celebrate the most important event of the Christian community in the world. In the ancient Church, Easter was so important that the leaders of the Christian faith started their preparation on Christmas day.

In light of this, I hope you will wisely use your Lenten time to prepare and rejoice in the resurrection experience of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to Bishop John Shelby Spong, is an empowering call to live, to love, and to be.

I also hope that by now you clearly see yourself part of this ongoing liberating experience in the same way that Jesus’ disciples discovered for themselves a while ago, and that through your practice of God’s love and compassion you can help to heal and restore what is still broken or separated from God in our society.

Our theme for Lent “Grow in love as you journey with Christ” would serve to guide us in this process. Our church has planned the following activities and celebrations for Lent and Easter.

Ash Wednesday – March 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Light supper and meditation every Wednesday during Lent from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. organized by:

• The Worship Committee – March 12
• The United Methodist Men – March 19
• The United Methodist Women – March 26
• The Committee on Finance and Board of Trustees – April 2
• The Hispanic Congregation – April 9

Palm Sunday – April 13 at 10 a.m. We will gather in the Gym for the distribution of palms
Holy Thursday with the Sacrament of Holy Communion – April 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Good Friday Ecumenical Service at Uniondale UMC – April 18 from 12 noon to 3:00 p.m.
Sunrise Service with Holy Communion – April 20 at 7:00 a.m.
Easter Sunday with Holy Communion – April 20 at 10:00 a.m.