Bible Study
2023 Lenten Formation Series
“Preparing to Become the Beloved Community”
February 26-March 29
Wednesday & Sunday Sessions
WELCOME And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. —Mark 1:9-12
This Lent, the Diocesan Community is invited into a journey to commit in new ways to becoming Beloved Community and growing loving, liberating, life-giving relationships across the human family of God. We make the journey not only as individual Christians and congregations but as a whole church. We are excited about the St. Paul’s family and friends joining together on this journey.
For your convenience, every session will be provided each week on both Wednesdays at 10 a.m. and Sundays at 9 a.m. the Meeting Room on the Lower Level. Please join us!
Session One: Lent 1 – Becoming the Beloved Community
Session Two: Lent 2 – Repairing the Breach in Institutions and Society
Session Three: Lent 3 – Proclaiming the Dream of Beloved Community
Session Four: Lent 4 – Telling the Truth about Our Churches and Race
Session Five: Lent 5 – Practicing the Way of Love in the Pattern of Jesus
Clips from the video series called “The Chosen” will be incorporated into the study. à Handouts will be provided. For more information, please see Deacon Robin, or call the Church Office at 330-455-0286.
“Preparing to Become the Beloved Community”
February 26-March 29
Wednesday & Sunday Sessions
WELCOME And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. —Mark 1:9-12
This Lent, the Diocesan Community is invited into a journey to commit in new ways to becoming Beloved Community and growing loving, liberating, life-giving relationships across the human family of God. We make the journey not only as individual Christians and congregations but as a whole church. We are excited about the St. Paul’s family and friends joining together on this journey.
For your convenience, every session will be provided each week on both Wednesdays at 10 a.m. and Sundays at 9 a.m. the Meeting Room on the Lower Level. Please join us!
Session One: Lent 1 – Becoming the Beloved Community
Session Two: Lent 2 – Repairing the Breach in Institutions and Society
Session Three: Lent 3 – Proclaiming the Dream of Beloved Community
Session Four: Lent 4 – Telling the Truth about Our Churches and Race
Session Five: Lent 5 – Practicing the Way of Love in the Pattern of Jesus
Clips from the video series called “The Chosen” will be incorporated into the study. à Handouts will be provided. For more information, please see Deacon Robin, or call the Church Office at 330-455-0286.
Lent historically has prepared us for a return to the church
Early Christians observed “a season of penitence and fasting” in preparation for the Paschal feast, or Pascha (BCP, pp. 264-265). The season now known as Lent (from an Old English word meaning “spring,” the time of lengthening days) has a long history.
Originally, in places where Pascha was celebrated on a Sunday, the Paschal feast followed a fast of up to two days. In the third century this fast was lengthened to six days. Eventually this fast became attached to, or overlapped, another fast of forty days, in imitation of Christ's fasting in the wilderness.
The forty-day fast was especially important for converts to the faith who were preparing for baptism, and for those guilty of notorious sins who were being restored to the Christian assembly.
In the western church, the forty days of Lent extend from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, omitting Sundays. The last three days of Lent are the sacred Triduum of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday..
Today Lent has reacquired its significance as the final preparation of adult candidates for baptism. Joining with them, all Christians are invited “to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word” (BCP, p. 265). https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/lent/
Originally, in places where Pascha was celebrated on a Sunday, the Paschal feast followed a fast of up to two days. In the third century this fast was lengthened to six days. Eventually this fast became attached to, or overlapped, another fast of forty days, in imitation of Christ's fasting in the wilderness.
The forty-day fast was especially important for converts to the faith who were preparing for baptism, and for those guilty of notorious sins who were being restored to the Christian assembly.
In the western church, the forty days of Lent extend from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, omitting Sundays. The last three days of Lent are the sacred Triduum of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday..
Today Lent has reacquired its significance as the final preparation of adult candidates for baptism. Joining with them, all Christians are invited “to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word” (BCP, p. 265). https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/lent/