Wednesdays beginning March 1, 6:30pm: Soup Supper and Seeking Together Series – Come for a simple soup/bread supper and a time exploring our Lenten Theme: Seeking: Honest Questions for Deeper Faith. We will engage in the spiritual practice of seeking – by asking questions and by staying curious, open, and nimble. We pray that these questions create a safe space to explore and be drawn more deeply into the fullness of life, the heart of God. We will use artwork, scripture, poetry, music and reflections.
For those who may not be able to come out on Wednesday evenings, we have been invited to join Epiphany Lutheran’s Wednesday Noon Bible Study in Beltsville: Communion into Community: Six Weeks of God’s Lenten Promises, Send Us Out to Serve. Gather around the table, break bread, enjoy soup and study God’s Word.
Here is a link to our Lent theme music for Seeking: Honest Questions for Deeper Faith:
Help beautify our Easter Celebration with Flowers and/or Music:
Holy Week at Saint Stephen:
We use all of senses during this week of special devotion. These worship experiences provide a time for God’s people to encounter the last days of Jesus’ earthly life, as well as the time and events leading up to His resurrection. At Saint Stephen, we celebrate this Holy Week with deep reverence and intentionality.
Palm/Passion Sunday – April 2, 10:00am – begin outdoors with the joyous procession of music and palms, hear the Passion according to Matthew, and be sent prepared for the blessings of Holy Week and to celebrate the Triduum – the great Three Days.
Maundy Thursday – April 6, 7:30pm – we begin the Triduum by concluding our Ash Wednesday and Lenten season call to repent; we follow Jesus’ example by washing one another’s feet/hands; we celebrate together around the Holy Communion; we solemnly Strip the Altar/Worship Spaces to prepare for Good Friday.
Good Friday – April 7, 7:30pm – we encounter Jesus’ passion through music and the Gospel of John, the ancient Bidding Prayer, Solemn Reproaches, and the Procession of the Cross with a time for reverencing the candlelit cross.
Family-friendly Easter Vigil – Saturday, April 8, 7:30pm – we light a New Fire; we hear and experience ancient stories of God’s saving acts among God’s people; and we celebrate the Good News of Jesus’ passover from death to life. We also break/end our Lenten fasts together immediately following the worship.
Resurrection of Our Lord – Sunday, April 9:
Easter Breakfast Buffet, 8:00-9:30am
Celebration Worship with Holy Communion, 10:00am
Children’s Easter Egg Hunt immediately following worship (approx. 11:30am)