Worship Notes - The Passion Story - February 17, 2026

Lent is the 40-day season of preparation for Easter. Worship in this season is marked by a more intentional somber tone, introspection, prayer, penitence, silence, and simplicity. This year we follow again the “Lenten guided Prayer.” We will pray through and reflect on (via lectio divina) the Scripture passages that cover the narrative of Jesus’ journey to the cross (mostly from Matthew 26 and 27). These passages will guide our worship as well.

Our visuals team wanted to come up with something simple for each service, based on the reading of the Passion story. We agreed on one symbol each week, which will be projected via a shadow on the stage. And then that symbol will be displayed on the table on the stage each week as well. Worshipers will be able to “see” the journey we’ve taken.

Each of these symbols (in tiny, tiny form) will be available for kids in a small “Lent in a Bag” on the first Sunday of Lent, February 22. Readings and simple questions along with the symbols will help families worship at home between Sundays. (Thanks to Leah and her 3-D printer it wasn’t even too difficult to make 80 tiny symbols for each week). While this is most suitable for families with young children, anyone is welcome to take one of these bags! We will make more as needed.

You will see a variety of ways that the Scripture will be presented in this season – mostly from our Scripture group memorizing (internalizing) some of the passages. On Sunday, March 1 the reading will be presented by some of our younger members via “tableau” or freeze-frame. We are excited for you to “see” the story!

SERVICES:

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper & Ash Wednesday Worship -
Tuesday, February 17th @ 6-7:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall.
Join us in beginning the Lenten season

Good Friday Tenebrae - Service of Shadows - April 3rd @ 7 PM

Resurrection Sunday – April 5th @ 10 AM

SOME WAYS TO PARTICIPATE IN WORSHIP:

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper & Ash Wednesday worship – Tuesday, February 17 @ 6-7:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Join us in a simple meal and reflective worship, including the imposition of ashes. Ashes have a long Biblical tradition and represent frailty and death; sadness or mourning; and repentance. This makes ash an appropriate symbol for Lent as we remember Jesus’ death and the death of our sin as we repent (turn around) and find new life.
Join a small group for the 6-week Lenten Guided Prayer – when your weekly life is connected to worship themes, worship is sweeter, richer, and more engaging. It’s true.
Kneeling for prayer of confession – You will be asked to kneel for our “I’m sorry” prayer during Sunday worship for the season of Lent. This is a way to not only hear/say words in prayer but to understand it “in our bones."
Join the Choir! We will be working on two pieces – one for Good Friday, April 3 and one for Easter Sunday, April 5. Rehearsals will be after worship on the five Sundays of March. Please let Ruth Ann know if you are interested asap.
Good Friday Worship April 3 @ 7 pm – for our Tenebrae Service of Shadows this year, we will mark the sombre event of Jesus’ death not only by increasing the dark, but also by decreasing the volume/thickness/texture of the music as the service goes on. We will begin with a full team on the stage, and as we proceed through the songs, a musician will leave, one per song, as we make our way through the service. We will end in quiet reflection with minimal accompaniment.

In Christ,

Ruth Ann