Lent is the season of the Christian year when we prepare our hearts and souls for the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ which we celebrate during Holy Week and Easter. It comprises the six weeks before Easter, beginning with Ash Wednesday. We offer a number of ways to join in this Lenten season:
- Sunday Worship Series
- Special Worship Services
- Congregational Studies
- Lent Prayer Calendar
- Order Easter Lilies for Easter Sunday
Sunday Worship Series
This year, we invite you into the story of Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem using the Gospel of Mark. We will be informed by theologians Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan in their book The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’s Final Days in Jerusalem. During this season, we will progress day-by-day through the events of Holy Week. Worship is in-person at La Jolla UMC and live-streamed.
- 2/18 – What Kind of King is Jesus? (Mark 11:1-11)
- 2/25 – Trouble in the Temple (Mark 11:12-19)
- 3/3 – Conflict and More Conflict (Mark 11:20-13:37)
- 3/10 – The Need for a Traitor (Mark 14:1-11)
- 3/17 – A Last Supper and Gethsemane (Mark 14:12-71)
- 3/24 – (Palm/Passion Sunday) The Crucifixion of Jesus (Mark 15:1-41)
- 3/31 – (Easter Sunday) Resurrection (Mark 16:1-8)
Special Worship Services
Services will be both in-person and online as noted below.
- 2/14 – Ash Wednesday, 6:30pm at La Jolla UMC (livestream)
- 3/28 – Maundy Thursday, 6:30pm at Pacific Beach UMC (livestream)
This service will include the ritual of foot washing. There will be several options to allow each person to participate in whatever way they are comfortable. If you plan to participate in the foot washing, please wear shoes and/or socks that are easy to remove. - 3/29 – Good Friday, 12:00pm to 3:00pm at Pacific Beach UMC
Self-Guided Stations of Peter – Drop in and spend as little or as much time as you’d like to walk the “way of sorrows” to the cross, through the eyes and experiences of Peter. - 3/29 – Good Friday, 6:30pm at La Jolla UMC (livestream)
3/31 – Easter Sunrise, 6am at Crown Point Park(CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER)- 3/31 – Easter Worship, 8:30am and 10am at La Jolla UMC (10am livestream)
(If you wish to dedicate lilies for Easter Sunday, use this form)
Congregational Studies
Individual or Family
Read The Last Week on your own or with your family. Find it at Amazon or your favorite bookstore. Alongside this, use our Sermon Notes, which will include a guide with illustrations and helpful questions to work through individually, with your family, or with a group. This is intended to accompany the Worship Series.
Tuesdays at 7pm via Zoom
Pastor Bob leads group study based on the Worship Series and book by Borg and Crossan. Each week will include a short video, guided conversation, and prayer. Beginning on February 20th at 7pm and continuing Tuesday evenings using Zoom, this is scheduled to be inclusive of working adults and/or persons with vulnerable health conditions. The Zoom link will be in each weekly Journal or by contacting the church office.
Lenten Prayer Calendar
The Cal-Pac Connectional Ministries Team invites you to join United Methodists around our Conference in daily prayer starting February 14. Embark on a spiritual journey this Lenten season with a prayer calendar dedicated to uplifting those struggling with physical and spiritual hunger.
Download the calendar using this link. If you’d like (instead or in addition) to receive daily text messages for the daily prayers, follow this link to sign up for our Lenten Daily Texts!