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Easter and Lent - 2012
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It's pretty easy to get caught up in the drama of work, school, relationships, and family. Our lives are filled with distractions that take us away from living a life with Christ. We try to fill the emptiness inside us with mindless TV, meaningless chatter, stimulants, alcohol or other things. We run from silence because we're afraid of being alone with God.
So, like Jesus, we need to take some serious time to pray and figure out where God is in our lives, and where God is calling us to serve. We need to re-focus our lives to be more in line with God.
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Lent
Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism. Today, Christians focus on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or volunteering and giving of themselves for others.
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and ends at sunset Easter Eve. The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan. Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a "mini-Easter" celebration of the Jesus' victory over sin and death.
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Holy Week ~ Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday
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Palm / Passion Sunday - April 1st
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This Sunday observes the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem that was marked by the crowds who were in Jerusalem for Passover waving palm branches and proclaiming him as the messianic king. West Chester United Methodist has a tradition of reading the Palm/Passion story with musical responses between the scenes. The parts are read by members of the congregation.
Palm/Passion Sunday Featuring The Passion of Christ
8:45AM in the Sanctuary/11:00AM in the Fiesta Center
The Chancel Choir & Carillon Choir
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Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday - April 5th
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There are a variety of events that are clustered on this last day before Jesus was arrested that are commemorated in various ways in services of worship. These include the last meal together, which was probably a Passover meal, the institution of Communion, the betrayal by Judas (because of the exchange with Jesus at the meal), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while the disciples fell asleep.
Holy Thursday Worship with Communion 7:00PM in the Sanctuary |
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Good Friday - April 6th
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On this day, the church commemorates Jesus’ arrest (since by the Jewish customs of counting days from sundown to sundown, it was already Friday), his trial, crucifixion and suffering, death, and burial.
Good Friday Worship 7:00 PM in the Sanctuary |
Easter Services - April 8th
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Worship Services at 8:45AM and 11:00AM
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We hope you'll join us for an uplifting experience as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The 8:45AM worship service in the sanctuary includes The Chancel Choir, Cross Connection (Youth Choir), and The Worship Orchestra with guests instrumentalists.
The 11:00AM service in the Fiesta Center will include the Praise Team leading worship with guest instrumentalists and Cross Connection (Youth Choir).
Please join us! |
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