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Lent at St. Paul’s

St. Paul’s invites you to the observance of a holy Lent.

Shrove Tuesday, February 17
Annual Pancake Supper in the Parish Hall at 5:30pm

The Men’s Group hosts its annual Pancake Supper, featuring pancakes, bacon, sausage, and merriment. Big Joe the Storyteller will be on hand to entertain the kids, and all are welcome to complete and submit their Lent Madness bracket for 2026.

Ash Wednesday, February 18
Children’s Ash Wednesday service in the Sanctuary at 4:30pm
Holy Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes in the Sanctuary at 7:30pm 

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, and a time to reflect upon the fragility of our own lives and of all life. The afternoon service is especially for children and families. The evening service will feature the Holy Eucharist with sermon, choir, and ashes. 

See the Holy Week and Easter page for our Holy Week service schedule.

Lenten Food Collection March 9 to April 13
The Outreach Committee’s Bread Team will kick off our annual Hunger Awareness food collection on February 22 with an Offering of Letters to federal legislators after the Sunday services in March. Monetary donations and food/personal care items will be collected for the three local pantries: Bedford, Billerica, and Middlesex Community College. Check the weeklies and the Outreach bulletin board for more information.

Devotional Resources Online and in the Parish Library

  • Communities for Spiritual Vitality offers a series of daily entries on the theme “The Sermon on the Mount: On Earth as in Heaven.” Free digital download
  • Walking as Children of Light: A Bread for the World Lenten Devotional has weekly reflections on bringing the light of Christ to the world. 
  • Episcopal Relief & Development has a new edition of their Lenten Meditations. These daily meditation emails were written by author and TikTok influencer Sister Monica Clare
  • The Episcopal Office of Government Relations continues to offer weekly prayers on issues of current concern. The entire collection is available at Public Policy and Witness Weekly Prayers Archives. Join by Zoom each Monday at 11:45 am ET to hear the prayers aloud, in the context of a simple liturgy, prayed by members of the Community of Francis and Clare.

Here are some titles from our own Library. Sign them out on the clipboard.

  • Season for the Spirit: Readings for the Days of Lent, by Martin L. Smith.
  • Whirlwind of Ash: Daily Lenten Reflections and Psalm Prayers, by Joseph J. Juknialis.
  • The Crown and the Fire: Meditations of the Cross and the Life of the Spirit, by N. T. Wright.
  • In the Shadow of the Cross: The Seven Last Words of Jesus, by Stephen C Rowan.
  • Who Killed Jesus: Exposing the Roots of Anti-Semitism in the Gospel Story of the Death of Jesus, by John Dominic Crossan.

Pysanky Decorating Workshop, March 28
Join us from 2:00pm to 5:00pm for the decoration of Easter eggs in the Ukrainian tradition of pysanky. Throughout the centuries Ukrainian families have gathered together after supper by candlelight to apply Christian symbols and motifs on eggs during Lent. All are welcome, including children over five years of age. For more information and to sign up, please contact Ginny Bradford.

Who will win the Golden Halo? LENT MADNESS Has Begun!
Each year in Lent, The Episcopal Church holds our own version of “March Madness,” featuring many of the Saints that we commemorate in our calendar. Thirty-two saints have been placed into a bracket, to face off in daily “head to head” competition – conducted online by popular vote! Every member of the parish is invited to complete a bracket, available in the Narthex and at the Pancake Supper. Completed brackets must be received by Emily Mitchell by Ash Wednesday, February 18, as the competitions begin on February 19. Whichever bracket earns the most points through the tournament will be crowned the St. Paul’s winner and receive a prize on Easter Sunday. You can vote for your favorite Saint each day in Lent by visiting LENTMADNESS.ORG.

 

Outreach

The Outreach Committee coordinates congregational activities including support for immigrants, advocating for bills addressing food insecurity, and helping restock local food pantries. In addition, we have a knitting ministry (including Project Linus), we support the Diocese’s B-Safe summer youth program, and our youth participate in service projects and mission trips. Our international mission includes partnerships with programs in Haiti.

Music

Worship is the centerpiece of our life together in Christ, and music plays a vital role. Our adult choir sings at every Sunday service from September to June. We rehearse at 9:00am on Sunday mornings before church, and again at 11:30am after church. The children’s choir sings approximately once a month, on Family Sundays, and rehearses Sundays after church.

Education

At St. Paul’s we believe that we are all continually striving to learn and understand our faith and our relationship with God more fully. Christian formation with and for our children on Sundays uses a variety of curricula. High school and middle school youth groups meet regularly during the church year. Adult education takes place through study groups, adult forums, and groups for men and women.

Fellowship

St. Paul’s is a family of God, and as a family, we enjoy being together, sharing our time, our interests, and our faith. We share food and fellowship at weekly and annual events throughout the year. We also provide meals, rides, prayers, and other support for our members in times of need.

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