Ash Wednesday | Feb 22, 2023

February 22, 2023

Ash Wednesday

WELCOME TO ST. LUKE'S

CONNECTION CENTERS

OUTSIDE YOUR WORSHIP SPACE

Stop by to get your questions answered, sign up for groups, serving opportunities, and events, and learn about ways to connect here.

RESTLESS CHILD AREA

GATHERING AREA (LEFT OF SANCTUARY) & CENTRAL PASSAGE

Enjoy our live services in these spaces if your child needs a break during worship.

NURSING PARENT AREA

E126 (EAST PASSAGE)

Enjoy our live services in these spaces if you’d like to nurse in private and/or if your child needs a break during worship.

CONNECT

EASTER AT ST. LUKE'S

PALM SUNDAY | SUNDAY, APRIL 2

NORTH INDY | IN-PERSON & ONLINE AT 9:30AM, 11AM

MIDTOWN| IN-PERSON AT 11AM

HOLY (MAUNDY) THURSDAY | THURSDAY, APRIL 6

NORTH INDY | IN-PERSON & ONLINE AT 7PM

MIDTOWN | IN-PERSON AT 7PM

GOOD FRIDAY | FRIDAY, APRIL 7

NORTH INDY | IN-PERSON & ONLINE AT 12PM, 7PM

EASTER SUNDAY | APRIL 9

NORTH INDY | SUNRISE (CHAPEL) | 7AM

NORTH INDY | TRADITIONAL (SANCTUARY & ONLINE) | 9:30AM, 11:15AM

NORTH INDY | CONTEMPORARY (CHAPEL & ONLINE) | 9:30AM, 11:15AM

MIDTOWN | 9:30AM, 11:15AM

Breakfast will be available at North Indy in Great Hall after every service. Register for services and breakfast at stlukesumc.com/easter.

CULTIVATE & CONTRIBUTE

WHAT IS ASH WEDNESDAY?

Written by Rev. Rob Fuquay

The season of Lent began as a 40-hour observance commemorating the period of time Jesus' body lay in the tomb which ended on Easter morning. Over time, this observance was increased to the week prior to Easter starting on Palm Sunday recalling all of the events of Jesus' passion, which comes from the Latin word for suffering. This is what became known as Holy Week. Eventually the six days grew into 36 days representing a tithe (10%) of the year meant to be a time devoted to spiritual practices of prayer, fasting, meditation, and giving. The sacrifices associated with the practices help Christians focus on the suffering Christ endured for us.

By the 8th century, four more days were added to make Lent a season of 40 days keeping with the biblical significance of events like the 40 days Moses was on Mt. Sinai, the 40 days Elijah fasted, and the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness. Therefore, Lent begins on a Wednesday, and since the Sundays in Lent are not counted in the 40 days, we refer to them as the Sundays in Lent. The Sundays can be a time of breaking from spiritual practices and focusing on celebration in worship.

Ash Wednesday got its name from the ritual of marking people's heads with ashes made from the burned palm fronds of the previous Palm Sunday. The ashes are a symbol from the Old Testament representing our desire to repent and turn to God. The ashes also represent our mortality as we hear the words, "From ashes you came and to ashes you shall return." This ritual reminds us that while we are physical beings, we are also more than that; we are essentially spiritual beings. We begin Lent recognizing these two realities with a desire to give attention to our souls and draw closer to Christ who gave his life for the redemption of all humankind.

Lent takes its name from an old Anglo-Saxon word, lencten, which sounds a lot like lengthen, pointing to the lengthening of the days as spring approaches. Because fasting or giving-up excess features of daily life has often been practiced in Lent, people in centuries gone by would get rid of fatty items from their pantries. Hence, the day before Ash Wednesday became known as "Fat Tuesday," when people would clean out items they wouldn't indulge in again until Easter. Such self-denial practices today can take on other forms as we, again, give attention to Christ who denied himself and took up a cross, the symbol of God's forgiveness of our sin.

LENTEN GROUPS

BEGIN FEBRUARY 26

We want over 800 of you to say yes to being a part of a Lenten small group! We know that being in community allows you to cultivate your faith, engage deeper in the life of the church, and grow in relationships in a whole new way! Find a group based on life stage, specific day or time, and more at stlukesumc.com/groups.

EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA

SATURDAY, APRIL 1 • 9AM-12PM | NORTH INDY & MIDTOWN CAMPUSES

Are you ready for this year's Easter Eggstravaganza? We are! And we are so excited you and your family will be joining us at either our North Indy or Midtown Campus! So many activities will be offered and you can expect things like bounce houses, a train to the Easter Bunny photo booth, story-telling, crafts, games, an egghunt for the little ones (0-4 years), a raffle, and lots of fun, prizes, and treats! Sign up at stlukesumc.com/kids.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

MARCH 28 - APRIL 8 • NORTH INDY & MIDTOWN CAMPUSES

We invite you to do as pilgrims for centuries have done when unable to visit Jerusalem to walk the final footsteps of Jesus. This interactive experience is available at both campuses during church hours and regular business hours. There will also an online experience available. For more information visit stlukesumc.com/lent

CHANGE THE WORLD

FAMILY PROMISE - KEY TO

FAIR HOUSING

DISPLAY IN GATHERING AREA DURING MONTH OF FEBRUARY

Family Promise connects unhoused families with children by securing stable housing in apartment units that serve as temporary shelter. If the guest family wants to stay in the apartment and take over the lease, that's ideal. If they choose to find a new place, the now vacant apartment and its furnishings become a shelter for the next family that calls. St. Luke’s goal is to raise $22,000, the cost of one year of Apartment Shelter support, provide household items for one complete Apartment Shelter, and provide meals to two families throughout March. Grab a key from the display and purchase the item(s) listed to help fill an apartment or sign-up to help stlukesumc.com/serve-locally.

FREEDOM SCHOOL VOLUNTEER CALL-OUT MEETINGS

FEBRUARY 26 AT 12:15PM OR MARCH 1 AT 6:30PM • NORTH INDY

Freedom Schools are a national program sponsored by the Children's Defense Fund that disrupts the summer "learning slide" in vulnerable populations by keeping scholars engaged and stimulated. St. Luke's is planning our second Freedom School this summer and we invite you to attend one of our call-out meetings to learn about significant changes to this summer's program and find the best fit for your gifts and interests. Sign up at stlukesumc.com/freedomschool.

ORDER OF WORSHIP

Welcome & Prayer of Invocation | Rev. Rob Fuquay

Opening Song | Lord Who Throughout These 40 Days

Call to Repentance & Prayer of Confession | Rev. Eric Burton-Krieger

Leader: On this day, we begin our journey to Easter. Before we can take the first step, we must examine our lives and acknowledge how we have not been faithful to our God. Let us pray together, saying,

All: Merciful God, we confess that we have acted in spite and hurt others by our words and deeds. We have neglected to do good when it was in our power to do so. We have lived for ourselves and not for others, judged where we should forgive, and belittle where we should have built up. O Lord, we have not done justice or walked humbly with you. Cleanse us, O Lord, and make it whole.

Leader:We pause now, oh God, in silent confession before you. Time of silence.

Leader: We pause now, oh God, in silent confession before you. Time of silence.

Leader: God refuses to stand far off, but comes close to us - to hear our prayers, to touch our hearts with forgiveness, and to walk with us during this holy season and beyond. Thanks be to God. We are all forgiven. Amen.

Song of Reflection

Dust We Are And Shall Return

Prayer of Consecration | Rev. Eric Burton-Krieger

Pastoral Prayer | Rev. Mindie Moore / Rev. Dr. Jevon Caldwell-Gross