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Everything In Between
Lent at Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ 2025
March 5, 2025 – April 20, 2025
Lenten Theme:
This year, we’re letting the Gospel of Luke guide us through Lent, working through familiar stories—the Good Samaritan, Mary and Martha, the fruitless fig tree, the Lost Sheep, Zacchaeus, and more. We notice that Jesus’ ministry in these stories disrupted the established social, political, and religious divides of his time. Jesus intentionally pointed out cultural and political extremes to emphasize the radical, inclusive, and surprising love of God. We see how these stories mirror the divisions many of us experience in our families, churches, and communities today.
Our theme, “Everything In Between,” will explore two supposed binaries each week, like “faith & works” or “rest & growth,” or “grief & hope.” God invites us to navigate the polarities in our lives with more faith, intention, and openness to be transformed. We might begin to see a full spectrum instead of black and white, complexity rather than easy answers, nuance instead of false dichotomies. We will imagine that God might be meeting us beyond the black and white and easy answers. This Lent, we’re trusting that God shows up in shades of gray, rainbow hues, and everywhere in between.
Ways to go deeper this Lent:
Attend the All Church Retreat: Our theme this year explores the seeming polarities of “faith” and “works”: how we develop spiritual resilience for meaningful action in the world. Set on beautiful Green Lake at Daycholah Center, our time together will include opportunities for rest, reflection, play, and prayer. The retreat is a wonderful way to experience deeper relationships with others at ORUCC as we also grow in our faith together. Sign up TODAY!: Registration is only open through February 26th. Sign up today!
Join a homegroup: These hosts are so excited to help you go deeper with your faith, build community with you and connect more deeply over these themes. Click here for the sign-up page. Scroll down the sign-up page to sign up for a Home Group.
Devotionals: We will have weekly devotional booklets and daily devotional cards to help us stay connected to this theme and to each other during lent. Pick these up before or after worship for a suggested donation of $5.
Special Worship Services:
Ash Wednesday March 5th 4:30-5:15 pop-up ashes rituals and labyrinth, 5:15-5:45 Taize Service
Maundy Thursday meals, sign up coming!
Good Friday Tenebrae service 7pm
Palm Sunday April 13 10am
Easter April 20th with Sunrise Service at 6am followed by brunch and
10am worship followed by Easter Egg Hunt
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