Lent is a time for personal reflection and introspection, but also anticipation as we know that we will eventually be celebrating Jesus’ Resurrection! There is always a little bit of the Easter message as we celebrate together each week in worship. St. Augustine said “We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our hymn of praise!” We try to live our lives as Jesus would have us.
Mountain View worship during Lent this year will feature music and art and themes of hope and love, of not just waiting for the Resurrection, but doing — now — in the world. I hope you will participate in all the services Mountain View will offer this year.
Do you remember for Advent and Christmas last year we focused on the people of the Nativity? For Lent and Easter, we will continue that theme with a focus on a person or group of people who gathered at the cross. Perhaps we will see ourselves in a few of these folks, and learn from their stories.
Beginning with Ash Wednesday on February 22 at 7:00 pm, we will “bury” our alleluias for a time by participating in a quiet, perhaps slightly introspective, service with choir or organ. It’s really something to receive ashes on your forehead while being reminded that we are dust. We will also have communion that night.
Palm Sunday (April 2) has become a very special service at Mountain View. Beginning with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, we will wave palms and have celebratory music — and then we will be reminded that Palm Sunday is also Passion Sunday, and we will move to more austere but beautiful parts of that important service.
During Holy Week we will celebrate Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, when we remember the first communion and Jesus’ passion and death with Stations of the Cross. Two very powerful services with music that will add to your Easter experience! Services are on Maundy Thursday April 6 at 2:00 and 7:00 pm, and Friday April 7 from 12:00 – 3:00 pm for Self-Directed Stations of the Cross.
Celebrate Easter (April 9) at 9:30 and 11:00 on Sunday morning! Both services will be essentially the same. At 9:30 we will have music with a brass quintet, the choir, and piano and organ — at 11:00 am we will also have handbells and the kids will sing! Bring your best alleluias!
Would you care to be a part of the music for Lent and Easter? You are welcome to join the Sanctuary Choir (rehearsals on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm on March 8, 29 and April 5, as well as each Sunday morning) or the Handbell Choir.