Lent is a period of reflection and preparation, an opportunity to focus on our relationships with God and with others.  The forty days of Lent remind us of the difficult forty days Jesus spent in the desert pondering who he was and what he was here to do.

For adults: Our Lenten Spiritual Reflection for group is a chance to go into the desert with Jesus, exploring who we are in God and what we are here to do.  It is also a chance to look at the “hard stuff” that Jesus faced and the trials we go through in our own lives. We’ll have the chance to reflect on how we might use the hard times to grow in our relationship with God and in our strength. We may also explore spend some time with issues relevant to parents, if this seems appropriate, including helping make sense of the “hard stuff” in our kids’ lives. Our reflection group will meet at the Harris Academy library from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on three Wednesdays during Lent: March 13, March 20, and April 10. There will be a children’s Lenten Series running at the very same time (see below). We’ll begin with supper together and end our time in prayer. All are welcome to join! If you’re interested, get in touch with our co-leaders, Ann Lovko (annlovko@hotmail.com) and Erica Ridderman (erica@churchthatserves.wpstagecoach.com). Newcomers welcome!

For kids: Good Sam’s Kids and Explorers (grades 1-6) are invited to take a Journey to Easter during the season of Lent. Mark you calendars for four Wednesdays: March 13, March 20, April 10, and April 17 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Harris Academy. (Please note that we will not meet on the Wednesdays of Spring Break.) Our gathering will run in tandem with the Good Samaritan adult Lenten series, making it easy for families to participate! We will enjoy a simple dinner together in the GSK classroom that Good Samaritan will provide, and then jump right into our journey. At 7:15, we will join the adults in the library for a quiet prayer dismissal.

Our Journey to Easter will look deeper into the days of Holy Week: Palm Sunday (March 13), Maundy Thursday (March 20), The Last Supper (April 10), and From the Garden to the Cross (April 17). Parents who are not taking part in the adult series are welcome to stay and help or can drop their children off. Guests are welcome and we encourage our GSK and Explorers to invite friends! Please remember that Safeguarding requirements in the Episcopal church require two unrelated adults to be with the children at all times. We will need one additional adult to volunteer to meet this requirement. Simply email Barbie Russell to register your child for the series and/or to volunteer!