Lent is the annual observance of 40 days of reflection during the weeks leading up to Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday, and including the Last Supper with the Disciples on Maundy Thursday, the death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday, and the in-between waiting space of Holy Saturday.
The church traditionally considers 40 days to be a manageable time to commit to a new rhythm of worship, justice, service, and study. We have put together a guide to opportunities at First Church for this season: I hope you take advantage of them as we spend another season at home, connected virtually. These opportunities are important. Acts of service build muscle memory. Learning about injustice bends our senses to spot them more readily. Repetition retrains our neural pathways. Study and enrichment fill us up so we can go out again to serve, and to advocate. We need these 40 days of Lent because this season shapes us into the followers of Jesus we need to be in 2022.
Blessings,
~Rev. Jeremy
Opportunities for Worship
Ash Wednesday & COVID Memorial Service, March 2nd @ 7:00pm
This year, we will hold close to our hearts the ongoing tragedy of over 900,000 lives lost to COVID-19 over the past two years, including members of our community, and those we, or those close to us, hold dear. This service is combined with our traditional Ash Wednesday service, a time when we pause to reflect on our own mortality, and the ephemeral nature of human life.
Note: This is an in-person at First Church and live-streamed service on Zoom, and registration is required for the Zoom link.
Holy Communion is offered Online twice a month
We celebrate Holy Communion in-person each Sunday, and for our members at home, online communion is offered twice each month. You do not need to be a member to participate, all you need is to bring your own bread (whatever that is!), beverage, and have access to Zoom. Note: This is a live-streamed service, and registration is required
- Thursday, March 10th at 7pm
- Thursday, March 24th at 7pm
- Thursday, April 14th at 7pm (Maundy Thursday)
Opportunities for Spiritual Enrichment
Daily Lenten devotional begins March 2nd
This year during Lent, First Church will be publishing a daily Lenten Devotional. This year, each daily devotional will include a scripture passage, and a reflection written by someone in the First Church community. Sign up to receive your copy by daily email beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 2. Or view the entire devotional online (PDF available to download). We will also have printed copies available at the Welcome Desk in the Narthex to be picked up on Sunday, February 27.
Sunday morning devotional conversation, begins March 6th at 9am
Let’s take a moment to reflect together during the season of Lent. We will gather each Sunday morning to study this year’s Lenten Devotional, a daily devotional booklet published by First Church each year. This devotional includes reflections from members of the First Church community. Lent is a time of preparation for Easter, and we hope you’ll join us as we build our faith together. Class is held in-person at First Church or on Zoom. Register here.
Seattle Urban Pilgrimage guided walks begins again on April 3rd!
Spring is here and that means a better chance of a warmer spiritual experience on our Seattle Center Urban Pilgrimages. This kickoff event will focus on the public art of the new Climate Pledge Arena and reflect on them with scripture, song, and prose.
Registration is encouraged but not required. See you at 2 pm on Sunday, April 3rd outside the Sanctuary entrance.
Opportunities for Justice and Service
Lenten Opportunity to Advocate for Voters in the Midterm Elections
The Church and Society/Social Justice Committee of First Church has been organizing a postcard writing campaign for the 2022 elections through the Center for Common Ground-Reclaim Our Vote (ROV). The postcards are written to people in states that have been known to purge voters from the rolls or that have been passing more restrictive voter access laws. The postcard encourages voters to check their registration status and get election information.
As a postcard writer, you will receive a packet with 20 postcards, stamps, a non-partisan script, and the names and addresses of 20 people to whom you will send the postcards. Each packet costs $9 for the supplies. If you are interested in writing postcards, contact Sue Porter at seporter29@yahoo.com with your address and phone number by March 28. You will receive the packet on April 4.
You understand the critical importance of the upcoming midterm Congressional elections and the State level elections occurring throughout this year. Control of both houses of Congress is up for grabs. At the same time, there will be races for governor, state legislative seats, and openings on the State Supreme Courts which we know impact voting rights dramatically. People’s voices need to be heard!
Global Missions Team opportunities for serving in Western Washington
Neighborhood House Welcome Kits:
Throughout the month of March we will again collect NEW household items like Laundry Detergent, Toilet Paper, Soap, and more (no harsh cleaning chemicals please) to create Welcome Kits for families experiencing homelessness and moving into new homes through Neighborhood House. Drop-off your NEW items in the Narthex during March and then join us on Sunday March 27th after Worship as we compile the kits.
Food Lifeline:
Then during Holy Week, when many students are also on Spring Break, join members of the Celin Family for a two-hour Food Lifeline volunteer experience as we sort food at their Hunger Solutions Warehouse that gets distributed to over 300 shelters and food banks in the area. If you are interested in volunteering (ages 10+ can participate) between April 11 – 15, email us and let us know a day or days that work best for you: Missions@firstchurchseattle.org
Habitat for Humanity:
Lastly, on Holy Saturday, April 16, from 9am-4pm, join a small group of First Church volunteers at Habitat for Humanity’s LaFortuna community in Renton to work on a build project. No construction skills required! Ages 16 and up can participate. Email us to learn more and sign up! Missions@firstchurchseattle.org
Climate Justice Working Group
The First Church Climate Justice Working Group is a group of church members (including representatives of our Church & Society/Social Justice, Adult Spiritual Enrichment, and Worship Committees) who have coalesced to launch a faithful response to the climate crisis. The latest U.N. report described “global heating” as “choking our planet and putting billions of people at immediate risk.” This working group aims to:
- Raise the awareness of members of our community about the dimensions, stakes, and urgency of the crisis
- Inspire individual and collective action
- Reveal rays of hope and opportunities for action.
To reach these objectives, we are launching a campaign on three fronts: Education, Worship, and Advocacy. If you are interested in joining us, get in touch by contacting Tom Carlson: tomcarlson111151@gmail.com
Shared Breakfast Volunteering
Shared Breakfast, a ministry of First Church for over 20 years that provides a hot, nutritious breakfast to those in need in downtown Seattle, is still going strong despite the challenges of operating during the pandemic. Every Sunday, volunteers from the congregation as well as the community, come to Fellowship Hall, to prepare, cook and package meals in take-out bags for walk-up guests as well as for delivery via the Metro King County Access Van to residents of 3 shelters operated by Compass Housing in downtown Seattle. We are feeding around 200 people every Sunday.
Our biggest need is for people willing to serve as Assistant Cooks, helping to prepare the food for Shared Breakfast in the First Church kitchen on Sunday mornings or to help with fundraising. If you are interested in either of these opportunities, please contact Jim Schone or Sue Porter: jrschone@aol.com or seporter29@gmail.com