This years 7:30 pm, Ash Wednesday Service will be hosted by:

Apostles Lutheran Church

370 Johnstown Road

Chesapeake, VA 23322

757-547-4692

What is Ash Wednesday?

Our Ash Wednesday Service is here at Messiah with Apostles Lutheran at 7:30pm.

Ash Wednesday begins the Christian's Lenten journey, with a reminder of our mortality and a call to repentance.

The ancient practice of imposing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful gives Ash Wednesday its name.

The church father Tertullian (215 AD) writes of the practice as a public expression of repentance and of our human frailty that stands in need of Christ. The ashes remind us forcefully of our need for redeeming grace as they recall words from the liturgy for Christian burial that are often spoken at the gravesite: "...earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust."

What is Lent?

Lent is a time the Church has set apart for spiritual self-examination so we can grow in our knowledge and love of the Lord as we remember His death and prepare to celebrate His Resurrection. Following the example of Jesus, who fasted and prayed in the wilderness for 40 days, Lent consists of the 40 days before Easter, not including Sundays.

Of course, not all Christians feel obligated to fast at this time; many find others ways to deepen their relationship with Christ.

In the Church year, previous to Lent, we celebrated Advent and Jesus' birth, the wise men following the star to Bethlehem, His baptism, and His early ministry. As the Gospel writers focus significantly on the last week of Jesus' life on earth, so does Lent. Beginning on Palm Sunday we consider His grand entrance into the revered city of Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey, with palms being thrown before Him as a kind of red carpet into the city, with everyone, especially the children, shouting Hosanna, which means "Save us, Lord." We remember the foot washing and His last Passover meal with his closest disciples, and His terrible agony in the garden before being arrested. Then we continue our journey with Him as we reflect on His humiliation, His suffering, and being nailed to the cross…all for us.

Then with great joy, we celebrate His Resurrection from the dead, defeating evil and death for all those who put their faith in Him!

Shrove Tuesday

Our Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper will be held Tuesday, March 8th, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Men's Ministry, led by Kit Lawrence, will serve pancakes, sausage, coffee and juice until about 7 p.m. Don't miss this great opportunity to fellowship with your church family!

What is Shrove Tuesday?

The name Shrove comes from the old word "shrive" which means to be cleansed of sin or to confess. Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday. In France they call it Mardi Gras, which means Grease or Fat Tuesday. Throughout the United Kingdom, as well as other countries, it is called Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day or Pancake Tuesday, when people enjoy foods that traditionally aren't allowed during Lent.

Why Pancakes?

At one time, fat, butter and eggs were not eaten during the 40 days of Lent. So, if a family had a store of these foods, they would spoil by the time the fast ended, on Resurrection Sunday (known as Easter).

What to do? What to do?

Solution: use up the milk, butter and eggs no later than Shrove Tuesday. And so, with the addition of a little flour, the solution quickly presented itself ... PANCAKES! (yum)