Jesus Walked...

…but we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste 

death for everyone.

Hebrews 2:9

As the Director of Music, it is my responsibility to provide elements of worship that include but are not exclusive to music.  I am always searching for unique ideas that will bring freshness to the worship service. We are one week away from the beginning of Lent, and I was delighted to find a wonderful component that I believe will have great meaning for our Lenten services.

During the season of Advent, we have a beautiful wreath at the front of the sanctuary, with three purple and one pink candle to represent the four Sundays of Advent, with the Christ candle in the middle.  Each week one candle is lit representing the imminent arrival of the Light of the World.  On Christmas Eve, the Christ candle is lit in honor of His birth. 

During this Lenten season, we will again have a wreath at the front of the sanctuary, but it will be a crown of thorns.  There will be six purple candles representing the six Sundays of Lent, again with the Christ candle in the middle.  All candles will be lit before the service begins.  During the reading of the Lenten message, one candle will be extinguished each week, representing the slow eclipse of the precious Light, until the Christ candle is snuffed out on Maundy Thursday.  Rather than some meaningless pageantry, I hope that we will experience a potent reminder of the path that Christ traveled to the cross – for you, and for me.

Jesus walked this lonesome valley,

He had to walk it by Himself.

Oh, nobody else could walk it for him,

He had to walk it by Himself.