St. David of Wales
Episcopal Church
Lent at St. David's
Lent is a solemn season characterized by repentance and self-examination where the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (giving to the poor) receive particular emphasis. Christians do not engage in Lenten disciplines to earn God’s favor or even to become better people. Lent comes to remind us that this life is not the end, and that we do not properly belong to this world anyway. Lent prepares us for the life to come by stripping us from some of the comforts and amenities this world has to offer.
One of our prayers grasps the thrust of the Lenten season perfectly when it says, “Grant us, O Lord, not to mind earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to cleave to those that shall abide.” Lent helps us to cleave to those things that shall abide by causing us to slow down, take inventory of our lives, and reorder them after the pattern of Christ and his kingdom.
To help us slow down and better focus on Jesus, our worship takes a more somber tone these next forty days. Following ancient practice, our organ is silent throughout the season, except to quietly accompany the singing of hymns. The one exception is on Refreshment Sunday (Lent IV) when we are led to rejoice in the God of our salvation. Our service music (the Ten Commandments, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei) is sung to the notation of John Merbecke (c. 1510 – c. 1585), the oldest English Mass setting. The music is intentionally simple, with just one note per syllable.
We welcome you to join us in this journey and hope that in the midst of this reflective and somber season, you will be led into more profound awe and wonder as you consider the mystery of the world through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lenten Schedule
Ash Wednesday
Wednesday, February 22nd
7:00 am, Noon & 7:00 pm
Ash Wednesday is a solemn reminder of human mortality, and the need for reconciliation with God. It marks the beginning of the penitential Lenten season.
Our 7:00 am and 12:00 pm (noon) Masses will be shorter, spoken services. Our 7:00 pm Mass will include our Choir and childcare.
Morning Prayer & Holy Eucharist
Monday - Thursday, 8:00 am
February 23rd - April 5th
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Throughout the week, we meets in our Chapel for Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist. Together, the liturgies last about 35-40 minutes.
Please note: no services February 27th - March 3rd; and no services March 13th - 16th (Spring Break week).
Stations of the Cross
Tuesdays at 6:00 pm
February 28th - March 28th
The Stations of the Cross are a devotion that emerged in the late Middle Ages and direct us to consider our Lord's suffering for us. Beginning with Jesus's condemnation and concluding with his entombment, the stations lead us on a journey of contemplation and worship of the One who was "crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate."
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
(Confession)
Tuesdays at 6:30 pm
Sundays at 4:00 pm
March 7th - March 26th
The Sacrament of Confession liturgically welcomes us back into fellowship with God when sinful patterns and habits draw us away. We encourage you to watch this video about making a confession, and prayerfully review this document as you prepare to make a Lenten confession.