A Living Relationship with God: Praying Day by Day
​ A Lenten Series

​Please join us for Immanuel’s 2024 Lenten Series forum hours in the Welcome Center next to Immanuel Chapel (3737 Seminary Road, Alexandria), following the 10:30 am Holy Eucharist (approximately 11:45 a.m.). We are grateful to these outstanding speakers for sharing their perspectives on prayer.

​For those who cannot join us in person, here is the Zoom link:
Join Zoom Lenten Forum Hour
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86411601346?pwd=V2RhNFNPcTBGaUxmMjQzRWxtVWx0UT09
Meeting ID: 864 1160 1346
Passcode: 231371

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February 11: The Rev. Dr. Sarah Coakley
What is Prayer and What Does the New Testament Teach on It?
​Re-thinking the Challenges and Difficulties of Christian Prayer this Lent
​Click to hear audio.

February 18: The Rev. Dr. Sarah Coakley
Early Monastic Prayer in the Desert:
The Desert Fathers’ Wisdom on Repetition, Silence, and Distractions in Prayer
​Click to hear audio.

February 25: The Rev. Dr. Frank Wade
Examining the classic spiritual disciplines
​Discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)
​Click to hear audio.

March 3: The Rev. Martin Smith
Being Emotionally Honest in Prayer
​Prayer remains unreal if we don’t express to God our actual experience and real feelings. If we get better at being real, we open our lives to God’s recognition, blessing, healing. Our forum will focus on practical ways to bring to the surface what we actually feel - stop censoring ourselves - so that prayer can be intimate rather than guarded.
Click to hear audio.
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March 10: The Rev. Dr. Kate Sonderegger
St. Benedict and his Rule (and prayer within it)
​How might the wisdom and approach to prayer of St. Benedict help us today?
​Click to hear audio.

Discover the Practice of
​Silent Prayer

On February 21st, 28th, March 6th, 13th, and 20th, Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill and Virginia Theological Seminary will jointly offer an opportunity to discover the practice of silent prayer, led by the Rev. Dr. Sarah Coakley from 5:15- 6:00p.m. in the Oratory, Immanuel Chapel (3737 Seminary Road, Alexandria).

ALL are welcome to participate.

LENTEN RESOURCES

"Lent at Immanuel": Gives information about the holy season of Lent, including Immanuel's worship and study offerings.

"Lenten Resolves": to assist with personal Lenten planning

"2024 Lenten Creation Care Calendar": a Lenten discipline of becoming more mindful of the ways that our daily choices impact both our common home and all those with whom we share it -- to be better stewards of God's creation. 
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Life Transformed: The Way of Love in Lent 
The Episcopal Church has published a set of videos, readings, and a calendar that can be used by groups or individuals, tying Lenten readings to the seven practices of the "Way of Love"

LITURGICAL CHANGES IN LENT

• On the First Sunday in Lent, we will follow age-old Anglican tradition and pray the Great Litany, the first Christian worship service that was translated into English. 
• Throughout the season we omit the ancient praise-shout "Alleluia” as we await the joy of Easter. 
• Our liturgical color will change to purple, the traditional color of penitence, waiting, and expectation. 
• We will make more space for silence in all of our liturgies, more of a time apart from our busy and often noisy lives.