The annual Christian season of Lent begins today, so lets start with a festive song! Everybody now: "Have a holly jolly Lent season..." no, umm, "jingle Lent, Jingle Lent," no, that's not right either, um, "Rudolph the ash-nosed reindeer." Nope, Lent just isn't that kind of season. What kind of season is it?
As an ‘ancient/future church,’ Lake Forest seeks to follow the Spirit into new ways to worship today, while humbly learning from how the Spirit led Christians of past generations. Lent is one of the most ancient and universal practices of the Christian world. It involves 40 days of preparation for the pinnacle of our faith, which is Easter Sunday. Lent is a time to intentionally travel the road with Jesus toward his death, so that we become more personally ‘dead to sin and alive to Christ’ in our daily living.
Lent also calls us to discipline. Even though the season may entail “giving up” some things, worship of the risen Christ supersedes all else. I have my favorite God-story of last year to tell you, about the power of the Spirit released into a couples' life as they worshipped Christ in the disciplined structures we know as 'Lent.' We'll tell you that story in one of our worship services - our sermon series is on the Lord's Prayer.
Lake Forest invites you to engage with us in this Lenten journey through the following observances:
Wednesday, February 13: Ash Wednesday Services at LFC-Huntersville
Intimate services on the hour from 4pm through 7pm (the last service starts at 7pm).
Ash Wednesday begins the journey of Lent. Its theme is repentance and renewal. Ashes are placed on the forehead as a sign of repentance remembering that “from dust you came and to dust you shall return.” We are partnering with Davidson’s The Church of the Good Shepherd, and will be co-led by their pastor Kyle Wallace for these services, which also include the taking of communion.
Learn the Lord’s Prayer
We are setting a goal of having every adult, student and child know the Lord’s Prayer by the end of our Lenten message series, PRAYER. In this sermon series, we will become the disciples who asked Jesus, "Lord, teach us to pray." We'll study and pray through Jesus' answer, what we know as the Lord's Prayer.
Prayer
Learn a different form of prayer in each week’s worship service and try it on by following Pastor Mike’s daily encouragement and example on his blog and the Lake Forest Facebook page.
Deny yourself a specific regular pleasure or vice for the 40 days leading to Easter (beginning Feb. 13) such as sweets, alcohol, tobacco, watching tv, reading the newspaper, Facebooking, or ____ .
Replace that time with Bible reading and prayer, or use the money you save to give to charity.
Holy Week Prayer Experience
Our prayer team will construct a self-guided prayer journey in the Prayer Garden at LFC-Huntersville.
Good Friday Service
Friday, March 29, 6pm at LFC-Huntersville
Join us for a contemplative service reflecting musically and prayerfully on the prayers of Jesus during Holy Week.
Easter Fast: Sundown March 29 – Sunrise March 31
We encourage everyone who is able to join us in a whole (water only) or partial (juices only, or vegetables only) fast from 6pm on Good Friday until breakfast on Easter morning. Use the period of fasting for quietness and meditation as much as possible. Or perhaps to fervently seek God's heart regarding an issue or quesiton in your life.
Easter Sunday Services on March 31
Join us for Resurrection Sunday at 8, 9:30 or 11am in Huntersville; or 9:30 & 11am in Davidson…and bring your family, friends, and neighbors. From fasting to feasting - in worship! Then celebrate Easter lunch with others as a feast in honor of the resurrected Christ, even toasting his eventual return to make all things new.
