Lenten Theme

Midweek Lenten services will begin with Ash Wednesday on February 14. During the six Wednesday services this year we will focus our attention on the book of Job. We all suffer—personally and privately. We also suffer in more public ways. A husband or wife loses a job. A child gets divorced. A parent dies. And now because of advancements in communication technology we are able to see and experience more and more of the world’s catastrophes and suffering. We need the book of Job more than ever. Martin Luther asserted that “Job is magnificent and sublime as no book of Scripture.” The early Christian scholar Jerome perhaps put it best when he called the book of Job an “eel,” since the more one tries to contain it, the slipperier it becomes!

The purpose of our Lenten emphasis on the book of Job is to learn how to apply Job to our lives so that the book becomes less like an eel and more like a loving companion through life’s dark valleys. Job’s most famous statement appears in Job 19:25: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth” (ESV). Christ is alive! He has conquered death and the grave and all that afflicts us. His Word is sufficient. His grace is enough. His love brings us comfort and healing. And this Lent these gifts come to us through the book of Job.

Noon, Mission Campus: Solemn abbreviated service to initiate the penitential season of Lent. Imposition of ashes and communion are offered.

7pm, Mission Campus: Solemn service to initiate the penitential season of Lent. Imposition of ashes and communion are offered.

7pm, Shawnee Campus: Solemn service to initiate the penitential season of Lent. Imposition of ashes and communion are offered.

Service Times

Noon, Mission Campus, weekly during Lent until Holy Week: abbreviated penitential service

7pm, Mission Campus, weekly during Lent until Holy Week: penitential service

7pm, Shawnee Campus, weekly during Lent until Holy Week: Holden Evening Prayer – a contemporary setting of an ancient evening prayer liturgy

The Book of Job Lenten Series Weekly Themes

February 21:        Sweet Surrender – Job 1:13–21
February 28:     Learning to Lament – Job 3:1–26
March 7:     It Is Enough – Job 14:1–14
March 14:     Understanding How It All  Works Together – Job 23:1–17
March 21:          God Speaks in the Storm – Job 38:1–11

Palm Sunday

5:30pm, 8:30, 9:45 and 11am, Mission Campus: These services follow Jesus as He journeys triumphantly into Jerusalem to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies. We shout “Hosanna to the King of David!” along with the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The 8:30 and 11am services will be enhanced by the Trinity Festival Choir.

8:30 and 11am, Shawnee Campus: We follow Jesus as He triumphantly enters into Jerusalem with special music and scripture.

Maundy Thursday

Noon and 7pm, Mission Campus: Join us before worship for a light middle-eastern style buffet starting an hour before each service as we remember the Passover meal celebrated by Jesus and His disciples and by all of Judaism since the Exodus. Following the buffet, we gather for a solemn service commemorating the Last Supper. Communion is celebrated, the altar is stripped, and a hand washing ceremony takes place to remember the servant nature of our Savior.

6pm, Shawnee Campus: Join us for a special Seder meal, as we celebrate the Passover the way Jesus and His disciples would have celebrated it. We will also see how Jesus changed this traditional meal, bringing it to fulfillment as He instituted the meal we now call Holy Communion. The Maundy Thursday Seder Meal runs from 6-8pm, and is a fully integrated experience, a combined time of worship and a full meal eaten together as the extended family of Christ. This year, instead of a potluck, we will be catering the meal to enrich the worship experience. You do not need to bring a potluck item, but it would help us plan if you would RSVP at tlcms.org. If you would like to contribute to the meal, please sign up for one of the needs at the link at tlcms.org.

Good Friday

Noon and 7pm, Mission Campus
7pm, Shawnee Campus

This service commemorates the crucifixion of our Savior. As we journey with Jesus to the cross and remember His last words, we are reminded of the ultimate sacrifice that He gave for our salvation. Good Friday worship is actually the second part of the worship service that began on Maundy Thursday and that will conclude with Easter. The entire three-part service is known as the “triduum.” Thus the first portion of our Good Friday services has the feel of being “already in progress” as it begins with the Confession and Absolution in preparation for receiving Holy Communion.

Holy Saturday Easter Vigil

5:30pm, Mission Campus: This contemplative service begins outside and transitions indoors as worshipers begin to transition from the somber mood of Good Friday to the joy of Easter.

Easter Services

8:30, 9:45, 11am, Mission Campus: Easter services are the climax of the church year when we celebrate Christ’s victory over sin, death and Satan. These services are festival services with the Trinity Choir and Easter Chamber Orchestra with a new premiere of “Alleluia” by Ben A. Spalding especially written for this Easter celebration. Holy Communion will be celebrated at the 11am service.

8:30, 11am, Shawnee Campus: Easter services are the climax of the church year when we celebrate Christ’s victory over sin, death and Satan. We celebrate Christ’s resurrection with contemporary praise music fitting for the occasion. Special music will be included and Holy Communion will be celebrated in both services.