The Alfred St. John Matthews

Lenten Series 2011

Journey with Jesus

Named for a former rector, The Alfred St. John Matthews Lenten Series is one of our Christian formation highlights for the entire program year. The 2011 series is based on the Sunday Lenten Lectionary and is called Journey with Jesus. During this five-week special series from Sunday, March 13 to Wednesday, April 13, parishioners can participate on Sunday mornings and twice on Wednesdays, once at Noon and again in the evening, in different, creative offerings to deepen their Lenten experience.

Sunday Adult Forums during Lent will feature Journey with Jesus series speakers, including the Reverend Ian S. Markham, Dean of Virginia Theological Seminary; the Reverend Mpho Tutu, Executive Director of the Tutu Institute for Prayer and Pilgrimage; the Reverend William M. Kondrath, Professor of Pastoral Theology and Director of Theological Field Education at Episcopal Divinity School; the Reverend John W. Crossin, Executive Director of Washington Theological Consortium; and our own Associate Rector for Adult Education and Formation, the Reverend Mary Jayne Ledgerwood.

In addition The Alfred St. John Matthews Lenten Series Journey with Jesus theme continues during the Wednesday Noon Bible Study. For five weeks the Reverend Mary Jayne Ledgerwood will lead participants through a geographical journey of the Holy Land, using the Scripture to plot and explore together the lands Jesus visited throughout his ministry, particularly in the stories from this year’s Lenten lectionary. All are welcome, including those who have never been to Bible Study; remember to bring a brown-bag lunch.

For these five Wednesday evenings, children and adults will share a simple Lenten supper together beginning at 6:00 p.m. in Shears Hall, followed by separate, but related, programs from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. for both children and adults that continue the Lenten lectionary theme. Adults will view movie clips relevant to the Journey with Jesus series, which will be followed by group discussion. Children will learn about the Bible passages and also create related art that will hang in the St. John’s Gallery after Lent. As is our tradition, if you would like to help with the Lenten meals by preparing soup, salad, and/or bread for any of the parish Lenten suppers, please see the sign-up sheet in Shears Hall. This year, we are also introducing a special children’s Lenten menu!

Lenten Theological Conversations, led by the Reverend Mary Jayne Ledgerwood, are yet another opportunity for you to deepen your Journey with Jesus. Come to all three or any one that you can from 10:30 a.m. to Noon on Mondays, March 14, 21, and 28 in the Brooks Library.

Last year we introduced 40 Days to Fitness, a 40-day Lenten discipline for our entire community to help us to become more mindful to care for our own bodies. If you would like to participate in this event this year, sponsored by the St. John’s Wellness Committee, just meet others at 8:00 a.m. by the Shears Hall door for the daily one-mile walk through the surrounding neighborhood, beginning Ash Wednesday, March 9 through Holy Saturday, April 23 (excluding Sundays). If you can’t make it to the church for the 40 Days to Fitness, make it a Lenten discipline from home.