Stephen Ministers are lay congregation members trained to provide one-to-one care to those experiencing a difficult time in life.
You and your whole family are invited to experience Lent this year at Victory Lutheran Church!
Come and join us for this time of connection with God, self-examination, and devotion.
From Ash Wednesday, Midweek Lenten Services, to studies and devotionals, we offer multiple options for you to attend in person or watch online. We’d love to have you visit us and share this profound moments with us. Whether you’ve been a churchgoer your whole life, or you’re just starting out on your faith journey, we created an Lenten experience just for you!
What is Lent
All About?
Lent is a solemn religious observance in the Christian liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts approximately six weeks, leading up to Easter Sunday. It is a period of reflection, penance, and spiritual renewal for believers. Traditionally, Lent is marked by fasting, prayer, self-examination, and acts of charity, as Christians prepare to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This time is seen as an opportunity for personal and communal growth, a chance to deepen one’s faith, and a period for Christians to embody the teachings and sacrifice of Jesus in their daily lives. The practices of Lent vary among different Christian denominations, but its essence focuses on introspection, repentance, and devotion.
What do the
40 days mean?
This period symbolically reflects the 40 days that Jesus Christ spent fasting in the desert, according to the New Testament, where he endured temptation by Satan. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. However, when calculating the length, Sundays are not included in the count. This exclusion of Sundays is because each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter,” a day of Christ’s resurrection and joy, which contrasts with the penitential nature of Lent. Therefore, while the period from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday covers more than 40 calendar days, the actual number of days during Lent is 40.
Ash Wednesday?
What is that?
This day is characterized by the imposition of ashes on the foreheads of believers, usually in the shape of a cross. These ashes, often made from the burnt palms of the previous year’s Palm Sunday, serve as a reminder of human mortality and a symbol of repentance before God. The words, ‘Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,’ are spoken during the ceremony, echoing Genesis 3:19. Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence, solemn reflection and penitence, initiating the 40-day period of Lent that leads up to Easter. It invites Christians to begin their journey of spiritual introspection and renewal, focusing on prayer, self-denial, and charitable actions, as they prepare to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Times and Location
What to Expect?
Arriving at Victory Lutheran Church
When you arrive at Victory Lutheran Church, you will find an ample parking lot and will be able to easily find a spot. When you enter the building, there will be greeters at the door helping you to find your way to the sanctuary. Once you enter the main service area, feel free to sit wherever you’d like.
Ash Wednesday and Lenten Services
We offer two services for Ash Wednesday on February 14th, one at 4 pm and the other at 6 pm. Then, from February 21st through March 27th, we continue every Wednesday with Lenten Services at 4 pm, followed by a delicious Soup Supper in the Fellowship Hall.
The church services begin with a beautiful prelude that helps set our hearts in the mood for worship. After a warm welcome, we sing hymns accompanied by our organ. As the words of the songs are shown on large screens, feel free to participate as you feel comfortable.
One of our pastors shares a short, impactful, and thought-provoking biblical message. During the Ash Wednesday service, we participate in the most solemn segment: the ceremony of the ashes. Attendees are invited to approach one of the stations, where ministers apply ashes in the shape of a cross on each person’s forehead. This act is accompanied by words such as ‘Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,’ emphasizing the themes of mortality, humility, and repentance. It is a time for reflection, self-examination, and spiritual renewal. Participating in this segment of the service is not mandatory, but you will certainly be blessed if you choose to do so.
The Easter Experience Study (Free)
Mondays from February 19 – March 25; offered at 9:30am and 5:30pm
Enhance your Lenten experience join us for this study series! Paint yourself into the story and transform Easter into a truly life-changing experience. Once you experience the story of Easter, absolutely everything in life changes. This unique study brings the passion and resurrection of Jesus to life through dramatic storytelling and challenging teaching. It consists of six-sessions that bring the passion and resurrection of Jesus to life through dramatic storytelling and challenging teaching done in a highly cinematic style. Study Guides and table discussions will help you grow spiritually, bonding with others at Victory as well as with the eternal message of Christ’s passion culminating with Easter.
Join us and enjoy light breakfast or light dinner before each session!
Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, you will learn that:
- My Life Has A Purpose
- My Life Can Change
- My Pain Is Understood
- My Life Has A Plan
- I Have the Promise of Eternal Life
- I have A Hope That Never Dies
BONUS: Special Easter Vigil Saturday, March 30 at 9:00 AM
Can I watch it Online?
Absolutely!
You can join us live online every Wednesday at 4pm from February 14 – March 27 (which includes Ash Wednesday), or on demand any time, any day after each service.
Want more? Watch our Sunday services live online every Sunday at 9:30am or on demand at any day or time.
If you’re seeking deeper meaning this Lent or looking for a way to deepen your spiritual journey during this reflective season, we believe you’ll find what you’re searching for at our Lenten services. It won’t be the same without you, so we truly hope you’ll attend.