Lent: Churches share their perspectives

HOW TO GO

What: Five Rivers Deanery Lenten Series Jesus Christ Superstar dinner/program

Where: Christ Episcopal Church, 20 W. First St., Dayton

When: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday

More info: (937) 223-2239

Who is the star of the Lenten season? The teachings of the Messiah are highlighted in the Five Rivers Deanery Lenten Jesus Christ Superstar dinner events at various churches in the Dayton area.

The final program in the Five Rivers Deanery Lenten Series is being held Tuesday evening at Christ Episcopal Church, in downtown Dayton. The program is moderated by the Rev. Ruth Paulus, priest at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Fairborn.

“The version of Jesus Christ Superstar I chose is set in a very modern arena. This one shows walls with graphitti, the apostles have tattoos, and everyone has automatic weapons,” said the Rev. Paulus. “The flavor of the presentation is very modern, so people can relate to it. It shows Jesus is fully divine, and fully human.”

We checked in with some churches for their Lenten perspectives.

St. Anthony Parish, Dayton

“To begin this year’s Lenten season, we burned all the palm leaves from previous years in a prayer service,” said St. Anthony pastoral associate Janet Gaier. “It was a roaring bonfire, and we used the ashes for Ash Wednesday.”

St. Anthony also has a Lenten schedule for Sacrament of Reconciliation from 3:30 to 4:30 every Saturday; and 6 to 7 p.m. followed by Stations of the Cross every Wednesday. Another Lenten tradition is a study of the Old Testament from 7 to 8:30 every Tuesday.

“For Lent, we focus on the idea of service and repentance. We do that through educational events, like the bus trip this Saturday going to the Cincinnati Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls, and touring the Holy Cross Immaculata. That’s be filled for two weeks,” said Gaier, a pastoral associate there for 27 years.

David’s United Church of Christ, Kettering

In addition to gathering food and clothing for St. Paul’s United Methodist for the past decade, peanut butter is donated for Kettering School’s Backpack Program. This program sends 400 jars of peanut butter home with underserved children for the weekend to make sure they get nutritious meals when not in school.

“The Lenten season is a reminder to practice our devotion to God and make time for service to others,” said the Rev. Brian Q. Newcomb, senior pastor at UCC for more than four years.

This church, at Mad River and David roads, got its start in 1826, with a stone building dating back to about 1836.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Riverside

Officials at St. Mark’s, the site of the first program on Feb. 19 in the Deanery Lenten Series, recommend “Lent for Everyone: Luke Year C,” a book written by New Testament Scholar Bishop N.T. Wright. It’s available at Barnes & Noble stores and online at Amazon.com.

Catholicism

The Catholic Spirit, an official publication of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, offers 10 things to remember for Lent:

1. Remember the formula: 10 Commandments, seven sacraments, three persons in the Trinity.

2. It's a time of prayer. As we pray, we go on a journey that brings us closer to Christ.

3. It's a time to fast. It's a form of penance, which helps us turn away from sin and toward Christ.

4. It's a time to work on discipline. The 40 days of Lent can be giving up something that you know is bad for you, or making a positive change in your life.

5. It's about dying to yourself. Find aspects of your character that are less than Christlike and let them die.

6. Keep Lent simple and focused. We spend our entire lives growing closer to God; don't try to cram it all into one Lenten season.

7. Lent reminds us of our weakness. Fasting, in particular, shows our weaknesses. But recognizing how helpless we are encourages us seek God's help.

8. Be patient with yourself. The temptation is to get angry and frustrated, but God calls us to be patient.

9. Reach out in charity. Lent should renew our compassion for those who are hungry, suffering, or otherwise in need.

10. Learn to love like Christ. Lent is a journey through the desert to the foot of the cross on Good Friday. As we seek him out, ask his help, join in his suffering, and learn to love like him.