First United Methodist Church

February 21, 2007

 

 

Lent 2007

“Journey to the Cross:

The Final Three Days of Christ”

 

This year, our theme for Lent is “The Journey to the Cross: The Final Three Days of Christ”. We

are going to begin at the Garden of Gethsemane on Sunday, Feb. 25, and focus each Sunday

during Lent on one of the six critical moments from those last hours of the Historical Jesus. We

are going to utilize film clips, testimonials, music and sermons as we follow Jesus to the Cross.

Lent/Easter is the single most powerful and important time spiritually in the life of our

Church. Please make a special effort to attend each week of Lent.

 

February  25   (Lent I)  Gethsemane

Jesus begins His journey preparing Himself through prayer. We will speak about prayer, about how to pray, and why our prayer life is so important in strengthening us to face great difficulties.

 

March 4 ( Lent II) Peter’s Denial

Just as Peter denied Jesus and turned away, we too deny Jesus in our daily lives. We turn away, we deny our faith, we hide our faith from others, and in doing so we condemn Christ. How have we failed Christ in our lives?

 

March 11  (Lent II) Simon of Cyrene

A passer-by is asked to pick up and carry the Cross for Jesus. We too are called to take up the Cross of Christ and carry His burdens for Him. What is the Cross that Christ has asked YOU to carry for Him? As a part of that service you will have an opportunity to bring a cross which has special meaning for you and place it on the alter (see below).

  

March 18 (Lent IV)  Jesus is Crucified and says: “Father Forgive them for they know

not what they do.”   How do we find Christ’s ability to forgive, even those who were murdering

 Him,  in our own life? How would such forgiveness change our lives?

 

March 25  (Lent V ) Jesus speaks from the Cross to the thieves: “Today you will be with

me in paradise.”  Jesus welcomes these prisoners into heaven, even after the life of theft that

they have led. Christ’s love and acceptance is so all-encompassing, so all-inclusive; so

unqualified; that it includes all of us: saint and sinner alike.

 

April 1 (Palm Sunday) Crown of Thorns Jesus wears a unique Crown, because He is a unique

King. What kind of a King is that wears a Crown of Thorns, whose viceroys are thieves, whose

throne is a Cross? What kind of king is that?

 

 

Bring a Special Cross: March 11th

Do you have a cross, which has special meaning in your life? What does it mean to you?

Bring it on March 11th!!

Our Lenten Theme of “Journey to the Cross” will have several special moments. One of them will be during worship on Sunday, March 11th. We are asking EVERYONE in the church to bring a Cross, which has special meaning to you to worship on that day. As a part of the service, we will have a time in which everyone will come forward and place their cross on the alter; as a sign of our commitment to carry the Cross of Christ for Him. These Crosses will then be prominently displayed throughout the remainder of Lent and Easter Morning. (They may be picked up by their owners on the day after Easter.)

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