Lent is a season of preparation leading up to Easter. It is the forty days plus the six Sundays before Easter. For centuries, it has been observed as a special time of self-examination and penitence. Lent is a time of spiritual cleansing, of prayer, and of growth in faith…a time of returning to the Lord our God, who is gracious and merciful and abounding in steadfast love.
If you have found yourself away from church and wondered about another try, Lent is the perfect time. For centuries, Lent has offered a chance to try the fellowship of the church one more time. In fact, Lent developed as a way to receive people back into church. If you are questioning your own faith and wondering what you believe, this could be the perfect time to come back to church.
Throughout Lent, the worship services of the church take on a simpler tone, appropriate to this season. Crosses showing the risen Christ are veiled. The word "Alleluia" is not used in the words of the liturgy or hymns. These practices help the worshipping community to mark this season of renewal as a special time in the church year.
Observing Lent
The custom is to mark the season of Lent by giving up some things and taking on others. Both can serve to mark the season as a holy time of preparation. Some examples of things people give up for Lent include sweets, meat for all or some meals, and alcohol. In most cases, giving up something for Lent can be made more meaningful by using the money or time for another purpose. For example, meal times on fast days could be spent in prayer. Another example is that if you give up meat during Lent, the extra money that would go to meat dishes can be given to a group, such as World Vision, which works to end hunger worldwide, or Daily Bread which supports London families. Some things added during Lent might be daily Bible reading, extra times of prayer or taking a course of study related in some way to spirituality. Note that the season of Lent is forty days plus the six Sundays. This is because Sundays are celebrations of Jesus’ resurrection and are always an appropriate day to lessen the restrictions of Lent. So that if you have, for example, given up chocolate for Lent, you could indulge in a weekly candy bar on Sunday.
Special Days and Services
Shrove Tuesday
This is actually the day before Lent begins. The day is named for the "shriving" or confessing that was traditional on this day before beginning Lent. This day is also known as Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday," because it was a time for eating the things from which one would abstain during Lent. Pancake suppers are traditional as they were a way of using up some of the ingredients not needed during Lent. St. Anne’s has an annual pancake supper on Shrove Tuesday.
Ash Wednesday
The first day of Lent is marked with fasting, when safe, and a special liturgy. The theme for the day, though not for all of Lent, is that we stand as sinners condemned to die, but for God’s grace. This is symbolized by the imposition of ashes on the forehead, with the words, "You are dust and to dust you shall return." In the Old Testament, ashes were a sign of penitence (feeling regretful at offenses) and mourning.
St. Anne’s holds an Ash Wednesday service at 7 pm in the church.
Stations of the Cross
These are depictions of 14 incidents in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ death, from the condemnation at Pilate’s house to being placed in the tomb. They are used for the service called the Way of the Cross, which visits each station in turn with a brief reading, response, collect and on some occasions, a meditation. This is particularly appropriate for Good Friday and all Fridays in Lent.
Outdoor Stations of the Cross guided walking tour will be available at St. Anne’s. Copies of an accompanying prayer guide are in the black mail box attached to black iron gates. Please return after use to the mail box.
Holy Week begins
On the sunlight hillsides of Galilee, Jesus was popular, the crowds were friendly and the future was bright. Even his entry into Jerusalem had been marked by a joyous welcome. But in Jerusalem there was a growing darkness as the crowds began to draw back from the man who spoke of commitment and servanthood. There was an ominous tone in the murmuring of the Sadducees and Pharisees who were threatened by the new future Jesus proclaimed.
Palm Sunday
This Sunday before Easter is the last Sunday in Lent. The day commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem with a blessing of palms and a procession in which the whole congregation carries palms. Some of the Palm Sunday palms are kept and used to make the Ash Wednesday ashes for the next year. St. Anne’s will hold its Palm Sunday services at 8:30 and 10 am.
The Easter Triduum
The last three days of Holy Week draw us deeply into the paschal mystery. We celebrate not only with words, but with rituals and actions that bring the passion of Christ into the story of our redemption – dying, he destroyed our death and rising, he restored our life. Just as the Israelites remember that God had rescued them from slavery in Egypt and lead them to freedom in the promised land, so the church celebrates yearly its Passover festival. We remember that we have been saved from slavery to sin and death and led into new life through Christ crucified.
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday begins our great three day journey. Come among friends and share the cup of blessing and eat the bread of life, broken for you. It is known as The Last Supper when Jesus said, "I give you a new commandment; that you love one another."
Even as Jesus and his disciples came together to share this meal, they already stood in the shadow of the cross. It was later that night, after the meal, as Jesus and His disciples were praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, that Jesus was arrested and taken to the house of Caiaphas the High Priest. On Friday He would die.
This year, we commemorate this day with Holy Communion in Taizé prayer simplicity at 7:00 pm. At the conclusion of the service, the altar is stripped of any ornamentation and crosses are removed or veiled to mark the solemnity of the occasion.
Good Friday
The Friday in Holy Week is a time for remembering Jesus death. Traditionally there is a Good Friday service at noon as Jesus hung on the cross from noon until 3 pm. There is no celebration of Communion from Maundy Thursday until the Easter Vigil on late Saturday or early Sunday.
St. Anne’s will hold a Cantata Service of Tenebrae (Service of Darkness) with full choir, organ and narration of Jesus` Passion at 10:00 am on Good Friday.
Holy Saturday Easter Vigil
The Easter Vigil service is appropriate from after sunset on Holy Saturday until sunrise Easter morning. This was the traditional time of baptism in the early centuries of Christianity. The service traditionally begins in darkness and a new fire is lit outside the church, from which the Christ candle is lighted. From the Christ candle, each worshiper may light their own candle that they then carry throughout the service. This signifies the light of Christ coming into the world anew at the Resurrection. Easter Vigil ends the season of Lent and begins the joy of the Easter season.
St. Anne’s will hold our 7:00 pm Easter Vigil at the church.
Easter Sunday
Alleluia, Christ is Risen! Our Alleluias, buried in Lent, are released. With jubilant rejoicing, we celebrate that the grave could not hold Jesus down. We celebrate Easter not simply as an historical event, incredible as it was – but as a reality we can know in our lives today! As people belonging to Christ, we share the new life that is his. St. Anne’s offers three joyous services on Easter morning.
6:15 am
Gather just before sunrise in Springbank Park with St. Anne’s for a simple outdoor sunrise service of Holy Communion. Enter by main entrance on Springbank Drive (opposite North Street), head a short distance west (left) to 2nd pavilion at bottom of hill on your right (park on road and walk down short hill). Dress warmly. Bring flashlights, although we will also have hand held candles.
8:30 am
A traditional Holy Eucharist from the Book of Common Prayer with our organist and favourite Easter hymns.
10:00 am
Parish Family Holy Eucharist with Senior Choir, children and youth participation from the Book of Alternative Services. We will sing traditional and contemporary music celebrating Jesus’ triumph over death, while unearthing our alleluias and joyful praise.
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