Lent is the period of 40 days, excluding Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes with Easter.  Sundays are not included as days in Lent because they are celebrations of the Resurrection.  Because of this, they are traditionally seen as “Feast” days. The Lenten season reflects the 40 years Israel wandered in the desert, and the 40 days Jesus spent in prayer and fasting in the desert prior to the start of his public ministry.  Often people choose to give something up for Lent, as a simple way of saying “no” to something, just as we do when we resist temptation – an important theme of the season.

When choosing to remove something from our everyday lives, a form of fasting, we seek to be filled with Christ instead. As noted, Sundays are Feast days – celebrations of the Resurrection that are not included in Lent – so we don’t have to abstain on those days (you can have your cup of coffee!)

As a church family we engage with the Lenten season through our Ash Wednesday Service, reading one of the Gospels together, a Lenten Project, a Lenten Seminar, and finally, our Good Friday and Easter services.  Information about all of these can be found below.  

We invite you to join with us in any or all of these ways as follow Christ through this unique season.

Ash Wednesday Services

Wednesday, February 14 | 5:30 & 7:00 pm

We invite you to join us in person for an Ash Wednesday service. Learn about the promises of Ash Wednesday as we open the door to the seasons of Lent and Easter.

Good Friday & Easter Services

Friday, March 29: 8:30 am, 10:00 am, 11:45 am
Saturday, March 30: 6:30 pm
Sunday, March 31: 7:00 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am

We invite you to join us onsite or online for Good Friday and Easter services as we celebrate the victory of the risen Jesus. 

The Gospel of Mark Readings

As a church family we have traditionally read through one of the Gospels together in a three year cycle starting with Matthew (Year A), Mark (Year B), and Luke (Year C).  This is Year B in the church calendar which means we will be reading the Gospel of Mark. We’ve made available a reading plan that includes some guidance for engagement that you can download and follow.

Pediatric Unit Operation

2024 LENTEN PROJECT

OUR GOAL

53000

FUNDS RAISED TO DATE

19778

This year we’re partnering with our international workers Ian and Rebecca, who are based in North Africa. Ian and Rebecca are focused on building a new pediatric ward at their hospital, and this year’s Lenten project will help provide equipment and patient subsidies for that unit. Our goal is to raise $53,000 throughout the season of Lent, which will provide 400 pediatric patients with access to the medical help they need.

Perhaps some of us have endured the terrifying experience of rushing a child to the Alberta Children’s Hospital and we realize the value of a safe, well-equipped place to care for sick children. In Ian and Rebecca’s city, there is currently no dedicated pediatric inpatient space in their local hospital, nor is there an Intensive Care Unit for kids. Through this project, we hope to join them in changing that with a dedicated pediatric ward that is child-friendly, brightly coloured, able to accommodate parents, and of course, medically equipped.

Ian and Rebecca’s city in North Africa is home to 300,000 people and has a relatively young population. In fact, over one-third of the population is below the age of fifteen. The majority of the population lives in poverty, without access to insurance coverage. A single day’s hospital stay often costs up to half an individual’s monthly salary. Our goal is to lessen that burden and care for those in need of medical care as a way of showing Christ’s love to them.

Ian and Rebecca’s hospital sees around 800-1000 pediatric patients per week, some of whom would greatly benefit from admission. For comparison, the Alberta Children’s Emergency Department sees 1500 patients per week. The difference is that parents in North Africa may be faced to choose between medical care for their child and food and shelter for their family.

As you consider how you might give towards this project, we encourage you to use the numbers below as a guide. Donations of all sizes can make a significant difference for these young patients. Thank you in advance for your prayerful consideration of this year’s Lenten Outreach Project.

$20

Supports the cost of a hospital bed for a pediatric patient.

$25

Supports the cost of a NICU bed for a newborn in need of extra care.

$35

Supports the cost of an ICU bed for a pediatric patient.

$450

Covers the cost of a chair in the ICU for parents and caregivers.

$700

Covers the cost of a bench/bed in the ICU for parents and caregivers.

$900

Covers the cost of a full sized bed in the ICU for parents and caregivers.

$1500

Covers the cost of a vitals monitor for pediatric patients.

$2500

Covers the cost of a CPAP machine for pediatric patients.