Where does the Lenten journey lead—and what is it’s pragmatic effect? The Reverend Frank Wismer, Vicar of Christ Episcopal Church, East Norwalk, told parishioners, while leading the Ash Wednesday liturgy earlier this week, “the journey eventually leads us to death and resurrection of Jesus.” Wismer went on to say that, after the stories and prayers of a holy Lent have been shared, and Christians arrive at Good Friday and the cross, “the pragmatic effect of that fact is that we will be left to carry on the work of the church through the power of the Holy Spirit. So, Lent is a season for getting prepared to be the active agents of Christ in the world.” Wismer invited listeners to be about the work of study and prayer for their Lenten journey.
In addition to Ash Wednesday observations, Reverend Wismer will lead a Lenten Bible Study exploring the parables. According to an online resource of the Episcopal Church, a parable is:
The term is from the Greek for "something placed by the side of something else." New Testament parables are sayings of Jesus in which he uses metaphors or similes, brief or extended, to challenge people to a decision about his message. The parables of Jesus are "word events" in which the Kingdom of God breaks through in power. Parables may be understood as elaborated comparisons. For example, the Gospel of Matthew (20:1-16) records Jesus' parable that likens the kingdom of heaven to a householder who hired workers for his vineyard at different hours in the day, and then paid all the workers the full day's wage that he promised to the workers who were hired in the early morning.
All are welcome to be part of the study on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m., during Lent, in the Guild Room, beginning February, 22, 2010.
A Lenten Spiritual Day is planned for Saturday, February 27, 2010, led by the Reverend Mpho Tutu, daughter of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Practice of Prayer: Body, Mind, and Spirit is an all day event, from 9:00 a.m. thru 4:00 p.m., open to the public.
Christ Church was founded as a mission Sunday school in 1892, when a small group of East Norwalk residents began teaching and worshiping together, they were in a building on the corner of Van Zant Street and Osborne Avenue. At that time, the sanctuary was known as the Chapel of Saint Edward the Confessor. Construction of the current church, located at the corner of Gregory Boulevard and Emerson Street, began in 1908.
Christ Church offers Christian formation at 9:50 a.m. weekly, for children and youth. Infant and toddler care is available during worship, upon request.
Sunday worship is regularly scheduled for 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Adult Bible Study takes place on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m.
For more information regarding Christ Church, visit www.christchurcheastnorwalk.org or follow Christ Church on Facebook.
