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Text Box: Trinity Lutheran Church 301 E. Stuart St. Fort Collins, CO 80525 Pastor Jim Rasmussen Church Musician Marcia Yernberg Chancel Choir Director Dr. James McCray Youth Directors Erin and Andy Sprain TLC Preschool Director Brenda Harju Office Manager Linda Bleich Financial Secretary Debbie Schwartz Church Phone: 482-1226 FAX: 482-0817 TLC Preschool: 221-9852 Website: www.trinitylutheranfc.org Email: trinity@trinitylutheranfc.org Office Hours: 9 am - 3 pm Mon - Thurs. 9 am - noon Friday Radio Broadcast 600 KCOL 9:30-10 am Bulletin Deadline: Wed., noon Tidings Deadline: 17th of the Month The Tidings is published monthly as a ministry of Trinity Lutheran Church. Worship Times Saturday Praise- 5:00 pm Sunday - 8:00 & 10:00 am Education Hour 9:00 am Church Office Hours Monday - Thursday 9:00 - 3:00 Friday 9:00 - 12:00 Text Box: “CROSS SHADOWS!” Three years ago Lent came early - but not as early as this year. February 6th is the earliest it has been at least since ’69, maybe the earliest that Ash Wednesday is recorded in recent history. And even though the calendar said Ash Wednesday, February 6, the reality wasn’t front and center until after the Annual Report was published and I took a serious look at the calendar. The Season of Lent is 40 days - not counting Sundays. 40 days: a journey. 40 days like Noah and his family in the flood; 40 year journey of the Israelites in the wilderness; 40 day journey of Jesus in the desert after His baptism in the Jordan. A contemplative time. A solemn season. A revealing time. Yet we remember the words of our Lord Jesus, that our personal piety is not to be worn on our person, calling attention to ourselves, but live in relation to our Father in heaven. The Ash Wednesday Gospel from Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 sets the stage for our Lenten journey. The Lenten time is a special time of invitation during the liturgical year. This year our focus will “Cross Shadows” as we experience the evening hours extend for a while, and then with Daylight Savings Time arriving on March 9th, we will fall back into the extended evening shadows. ASH WEDNESDAY, with ashes - FEBRUARY 6th ... 12 NOON with a meal following ... 6:30 PM with a meal @ 5:30 PM ... THE FIVE LENTEN WEDNESDAYS our worship and meal schedule will be the same as above. The themes... I. The Shadow of Betrayal - Mark 14:17-21 II. The Shadow of Servant Leadership - John 13:1-15 III. The Shadow of Denial - Luke 22:54-62 IV. The Shadow of False Accusations - John 18:25-19:1 V. The Shadow of a Last Chance - Luke 23:32-33, 39-43 As Ash Wednesday comes upon us quickly in this new year, so Holy Week will be very early this year. Holy Week will also be ‘Spring Break’ week. Maundy Thursday evening will feature a brass instrumental addition to a Service of Servanthood. Good Friday evening will focus on a ‘Stations of the Cross’ meditative journey. Easter will be glorious!