Sundays in Lent:
Sundays in Lent … Listen in on Jesus’ inspired conversations. Worship in-person or livestream at 8:55 am.
February 22 – Conversations that try to sway us: Jesus is tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11)
March 1 – Conversations that we fear: Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night (John 3:1-17)
March 8 – Surprising Conversations: Woman at the Well (John 4:5-42)
March 15– Conversations that challenge our truths: the man born with blindness (John 9:1-41)
March 22 – Heart-to-heart Conversations: Lazarus is raised (John 11:1-45)
Wednesdays in Lent:
Ash Wednesday- February 18th A simple liturgy includes the imposition of ashes and Holy Communion.
Noon – In person only
7 pm – In person or livestreamed
Wednesdays in Lent- February 25 thru April 1
Food for the Journey. . . Wednesdays from 6-6:45 pm. Come for connection and stay for a simple one-pot supper in the Fellowship Hall! If you’re headed home from work or just happy to have your dinner plans made for you one night of the week, share in this community meal (whether or not Wednesday midweek worship is part of your evening plans). If you would like to contribute to a meal, a week of clean-up, paper sign up in the Narthex or email the church office.
Holden-Inspired Evening Prayer . . . 7 pm in person or livestreamed. Midweek worship includes portions of Holden Evening Prayer along with the opportunity to hear Inspired Conversations with community members. Each week, you’ll be invited into reflective prayer focused on our weekly themes.
Creating Community Connections
Inspired conversations happen when we have the opportunity to gather and talk. Watch for details in the weekly Star newsletter.
- Sunday, February 22 – Dessert followed by Compline at Christ Church – Come for one or both!
- Sunday March 1 – Sunday Table and games!
- Saturday, March 7 – Gonadagan Interpretive Center in Victor
- Week of March 15 – Create your own meet-up – let us know and we’ll communicate your plans!
- Sunday, March 22 – Splash Party at Perinton Rec (rescheduled!)
- Sunday, March 29 – Winery visit hosted by Pastor Amy and Hans
Daily Devotions through the Lenten Season
Receive a daily devotion delivered to your email beginning Ash Wednesday and continuing through Easter! We will combine reflections written by the Bethlehem community with poems, prayers, and writings that reflect upon our Lenten theme – Inspired Conversations. Sign up to receive it in your daily email throughout Lent at blcfairport.org/lenten-devotions, or pick up a printed copy in the Narthex beginning Sunday, February 15.
Inspired Conversation Starters . . .
Inspired conversations happen anytime, anywhere and with anyone. Use these daily conversation starters and listen for what emerges. Prepare to be surprised!
Easter Flower Orders and Alternate Giving
Donate Easter flowers to adorn our sanctuary on Easter morning or donate to support ELCA World Hunger – or both! To donate or order Easter flowers, visit blcfairport.org/easter-flower-alternate-giving or find hard copy forms in the Narthex. Flower orders are due by Friday, March 20th
Supporting Others
One tangible way to share a message of hope and love is by writing an anonymous note of prayerful support to someone who may be desperately in need of hope. Many prisoners have had no contact with the outside world for months or years and can feel like they have no one who cares. Prison Ministry of Upstate New York (PMUNY) runs a variety of faith-based programs in prisons in the upstate NY area. Each year during the Easter season, PMUNY delivers Messages of Hope and Love to incarcerated individuals. Look for the display in the Narthex for instructions and examples. PMUNY is a ministry supported by Bethlehem through Ecumenical Ministries of Perinton. For more info on PMUNY you can visit pmuny.org or ask Dave Wideman.
Between Sundays
A chance to reflect on life and faith. Each Monday, we send an email with a brief reflection, a faith formation at home suggestion, and a resource for pondering. Visit Between Sundays on the BLC website where you can sign up to receive emails or to listen to past episodes of our Between Sundays podcast (https://blcfairport.org/between-sundays).
Holy Week/Easter Sunday Worship Schedule
Palm/Passion Sunday, March 29 at 8:55 am (in person and livestream)
Maundy Thursday, April 2 (in person and livestream)
Noon (in person and livestream) – Individual Absolution and Holy Communion in the Sanctuary
6 pm (in person only) – Remembering Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, we will begin worship with a shared meal at tables in the Narthex and end in silence in the sanctuary after the altar is stripped
Good Friday, April 3 at 7 pm (in person and livestream) – Tenebrae Service
Easter Sunday, April 5 at 8:55 am (in person and livestream) and 11 am (in person only)
Easter Breakfast served 9:45 – 10:45 am