The Season of Lent
Originating in the 4th century of the church, the season of Lent spans 40 weekdays of the Christian calendar, preceding Easter or "Resurrection Sunday." The six Sundays of Lent are not counted as part of the 40 days of Lent, and so are therefore referred to as the Sundays in Lent. The number 40 is connected with many biblical events, but especially with the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for His ministry by facing the temptations that could lead him to abandon His mission and calling.
Therefore we as Christians are asked to do the same . . . to use these days preceding the celebration of Christ's resurecction as a time of introspection, prayer and preparation. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday which falls on February 21 this year. It climaxes during Holy Week with Holy Thursday (April 5), Good Friday (April 6) and concludes on Holy Saturday (April 7). Please join us in worship on Ash Wednesday at 7pm in the Sanctuary as we begin our 2007 Lenten journey.
This year at First Church Round Rock we have chosen our Lenten theme to center upon Christ as the "Lamb of God." Christ is referred to as "the Lamb" because of His sacrificial role, atoning for the sins of all mankind. His dying for us hearkens back to the ancient Jewish Temple sacrifices in which a lamb was slain during the passover, the blood sprinkled along the door and the lamb finally eaten. During the Sundays in Lent, our worships will be centering in on Christ's role as the Lamb from the perspectives of the four spiritual types: Lamplighter, Shepherder, Mystic and Crusader. We encourage you to worship with us as we enter this very special time of refelection, study and prayer.