Lent is a season of repentance and renewal, where for forty days we walk “the way of the cross” through prayer, fasting, and giving: spiritual practices that help us create space to encounter more of God’s grace as we journey with Jesus toward the cross and resurrection.
To that end, we make several changes to our Holy Eucharist liturgy during Lent:
- We practice silence in the sanctuary for 20 minutes before worship on Sundays. Nursery care is available during this time, as well as a contemplative practice for kids (K-5th).
- We don’t say “Alleluia”. We refrain from shouting or singing this joyful acclamation of praise until Easter Sunday to highlight the reflective nature of Lent.
- The Confession of Sin is at the beginning. This is called a “penitential order,” because it places our repentance at the beginning of the service.
- The song after opening acclamation is a prayer for mercy instead of a song of praise. Again, this emphasizes the Lenten themes of repentance and renewal.
- Our music becomes simpler. We speak portions of the service we usually sing, and our music is more sparse and spacious.
- We use wafers for Holy Eucharist instead of home-baked bread. This underscores the “stripped-down” feel of Lent, and is a form of fasting that makes us eager for the return of home-baked bread at Easter!
- We use the Agnus Dei as our “fraction anthem” (the words said after the bread is broken), which is a prayer to Jesus the Lamb of God to have mercy on us and grant us peace.
- At the end of service, instead of a Blessing, a Solemn Prayer is prayed over the people. We save the joyful proclamation of blessing for Easter (just like “Alleluia”).
We encourage you to notice and be curious about your internal responses to these liturgical changes. What emotions and thoughts stir in you? How might God be seeking to meet you in the midst of those responses? Here’s to a good Lent!
