Lent and Easter
Join us during the Lenten season as we await the resurrection of Jesus!
On Easter Sunday, we will have services at 8:30 am and 11 am. Find more information on Lent, Holy Week, and Easter below.
Easter Services
Trinity offers two identical Easter services on March 31 at 8:30 am and 11 am in the Great Hall. Each service will be livestreamed on our website here and on Facebook.
All are welcome! Please explore the information below to decide which joyful service is right for you.
Lent
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, February 14. Join us at 7 pm in the Great Hall.
Sundays in worship at 8:30 am or 11:00 am, we will ponder the life of Peter.
We are focusing on the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most famous disciples, Peter. In him, we see a person who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer.
Join us on Sundays as we watch the story of Jesus unfold through the eyes of a very normal human trying to figure it all out—just like us.
Below you will find more information on Lent, Trinity, and the coming season.
What is Lent?
Lent is a 40-day period in the church calendar where we set aside time to focus on Jesus’ life up to his death and resurrection. We ponder the fact that Jesus, the son of God, was willing to suffer and die for our sake and for all human beings. We believe that we are all created and beloved by God. In the Lenten season, we take time to remember the pain and suffering that led up to Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Lent is not practiced by all Christian denominations, but it has its roots in the very early church. The PC(USA) views it as an invitation to deepen our relationship with God and observes its practice.
Lent lasts 40 days, beginning on February 14, Ash Wednesday, when we are reminded of our human limitations and mortality as we are marked with a cross on the forehead made from the ashes of last year’s Palm Sunday palms. Lent ends with the celebration of Easter, when we are reminded in Jesus’ resurrection that mortality is not a threat because God is greater than human death.
You may have heard someone say they “were giving up chocolate for Lent.” One of the most common Lenten practices is fasting, choosing to share in Jesus’ suffering in some small way by giving up something we love. But Lent is not just about fasting; it’s about trying to grow closer to God. For some, Lent can be a time of adopting a new practice such as engaging in walking prayer, Bible study, or some other active habit that trains us in a certain direction and focuses us on Christ.
Whether this is your first experience of Lent or your 90th, join us as we prepare our hearts and lives for Easter!
Lent Calendar of Events
Ash Wednesday
Join us Wednesday, February 14 at 7 pm for our Ash Wednesday service in McCoy Chapel as we begin our journey of Lent. This services includes the imposition of ashes. Child care will be available for kids 2nd grade and younger.
Youth Sunday
February 25 is our Youth Sunday worship service. A unique worship opportunity, this service is completely written and led by Trinity’s youth and culminates their 30 Hour Famine weekend. For more information, click here.
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is Sunday, March 24. On Palm Sunday Jesus entered Jerusalem, the religious and political center of his people. He did not come in with power or might, but humbly, riding on a donkey. Nonetheless the people spontaneously gathered to praise and even to worship him, recognizing that he was no ordinary man. Was he the Messiah, come to save them from the domination and oppression of the Roman Empire? Join us at 8:30 am or 11 am as we recognize this important moment in Jesus’ ministry.
Maundy Thursday – Living Last Supper
The Thursday before Easter is known as “Maundy Thursday.” This is the day that Jesus gathered with his disciples in the Upper Room, sharing a special Passover meal with them, and giving them a New Commandment, to love one another (John 13:34). The word “Maundy” is derived from the Latin word for Commandment. Following their meal together, Jesus and his friends went to the Garden to pray, and it was there that he was arrested and subsequently executed. To observe this solemn day, we host a Living Last Supper where we act out the meal along with special music. If we miss the observance of this day, we miss the full power and joy of Easter morning. Join us on Thursday, March 28 at 7 pm in the Great Hall.
Easter Sunday
Join us on Easter Sunday, March 31 as we proclaim, “He is risen! He is risen, indeed!” Both the 8:30 am and 11 am worship services will be held in the Great Hall. There is no Sunday School on Easter Sunday but childcare is available. It is our tradition to bring a flower to decorate the cross in the Celebration Garden.
Theme and Resources
For Lent, we are using Sanctified Art’s Lenten series on the life of Peter.
“Like many of us, Peter has a wandering heart. His journey is not polished, or linear, or perfect, but he is always tethered to the love of God. When you look closely at Peter’s story, you find Jesus at each step along the way—offering him abundance, catching him when he begins to sink, challenging him when he stands in the way, washing his feet, predicting his betrayal, and offering him agapē love. This Lent, we’re joining Peter in figuring out faith. We’re not idolizing or vilifying him; instead, we’re hoping to wander alongside him, open to what we might learn about Jesus (and ourselves) by stepping in his shoes.”
Do I need to be a Presbyterian to participate in Lent?
No. Trinity welcomes all, wherever you are on your spiritual journey. From longtime Presbyterians to people uncertain about God, our halls are filled with people from all backgrounds and perspectives.
Being a PC(USA) church means honoring God’s stated desire to work through and in all people (Joel 2:28). We are intentionally inclusive and we believe that God uses the leadership and teaching gifts of all genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds.
We invite you to join us just as you are!
Accommodations
At Trinity, we strive to offer radical hospitality throughout the year. If you are new to joining us in worship, we want to provide information on the accommodations we are offering at this time:
- There are three wheelchair accessible entry points. If you are attending a service in the Great Hall, please enter through the south or west entrances. If you are attending a worship service in McCoy Chapel, you can find a wheelchair entrance on the northeast side of our building;
- Accessible restrooms can be found in our main hallway;
- In the Great Hall, there are rocking chairs for use by new parents;
- Written sermons and large-print bulletins can be found outside the Great Hall and McCoy Chapel;
- Fidget toys are in our Children’s Worship Bags which are available at our Welcome Desk;
- There are two gender neutral bathrooms that can be found at the northeast and southeast entrances;
- The majority of the chairs in our worship spaces do not have armrests, however, we do offer chairs with armrests for those who need them. If you need a specific type of chair, please ask an usher who will be happy to assist you.
If you have any questions or if we can offer further accommodations to you or your family, please email contact@tpcmckinney.org.
Seasonal Missions
Trinity offers many ways to practice extravagant generosity throughout the year. During Lent and Easter, we partner with 30 Hour Famine and Little Free Pantry. Find more information by clicking below.
30 Hour Famine
Every year our youth participate in 30 Hour Famine. An event open to all youth, 30 Hour Famine involves worship, mission, and activities while fasting to support world hunger. This year famine weekend will be February 23-25. Throughout the weekend, the event tries to make youth feel the physical pains of hunger and make others aware of hunger related issues in the world. Youth also raise money before the event through World Vision to help hungry children all over the world. Trinity youth have raised over $170,000 in their fight against World Hunger. In 2022 alone, Trinity youth raised over $22,000! How much will they raise this year?
There are two ways to give:
You can donate by writing a check to Trinity with “Famine” in the memo line, or via Realm by selecting “Giving” and then “Mission of the Month”. You can also donate by clicking “DONATE” below.
Elevate North Texas Youth Shelter
Elevate North Texas Youth Shelter is our mission of the month in March.
Every night, thousands of young people experience homelessness without a parent or guardian –and go to sleep without the safety, stability and support of a family or a home.
Youth Homelessness is not an isolated issue only found in select areas of the United States. Unfortunately, it exists everywhere including right here in North Texas. Elevate North Texas seeks to fill in the gap of local youth homelessness with emergency shelter.
You can donate by writing a check to Trinity with “Elevate” in the memo line, or via Realm by selecting “Giving” and then “Mission of the Month” in March.
One Great Hour of Sharing
The three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing – Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People – all work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope. We will take this offering on Easter Sunday.
For more information or questions, contact the church office at 972-542-4629 or contact@tpcmckinney.org.