The journey through Lent into Easter is a journey with Jesus. We are baptized into his life, self-giving, and death; then, we rise in hope to life transformed.

What is Lent?
Lent is the season that leads up to the most holy and sacred time of the Christian year: the Paschal Triduum, or the great three days of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, culminating in the Great Vigil of the Resurrection.
In the western church the forty days of Lent extend from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, omitting Sundays which are little feasts of the Resurrection. The period of 40 days commemorates the “40 days and 40 nights” (Matthew 4:2) that Jesus fasted in the desert and then resisted temptations from Satan.
The word “Lent” comes from an Old English word for “spring,” and is derived from the German word “lang,” meaning “long,” because during this season before Easter, the hours of daylight become longer.
The Episcopal Church invites us to observe Lent “by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 265).
During this season, our worship adopts a uniquely reflective and penitential tone. Throughout Lent, we use purple for vestments and altar hangings to represent penitence and royalty. During Holy Week, we change to Lenten array, a rough linen or unbleached fabric, that reflects the mood of Old Testament mourning (wearing sackcloth). In place of our typically festive approach to worship, these changes allow us to experience a different side of the Christian life as we journey with Christ to the cross.

This Lent, we invite you to walk with Jesus and into the experience of transformed life through special services, studies and activities. The Cathedral offers you the following opportunities to help make this Lent a holy time for you.

Preparing for Lent

We have two opportunities for one last day of joyful celebration before Lent begins. Come celebrate with us Sunday, March 2 for pancakes and Tuesday, March 4 for jambalaya. Sign up to help at kccathedral.org/upcoming-events

Last Sunday after the Epiphany: March 2
The Last Sunday after the Epiphany marks the last time we say “Alleluia” until the Great Vigil of Easter. During the 10:30 service, our children will help us “bury” the Alleluia.

Shrove Sunday Pancake Breakfast • 9 & 11:45 a.m. in Founders’ Hall
Join us for breakfast following both morning services. Our annual Shrove Sunday Pancake Breakfast is the perfect way to indulge in some syrupy fun before Lent rolls in! Volunteers can sign up at kccathedral.org/upcoming-events.
What is Shrove Sunday? Well, it involves pancakes, laughter, and fellowship! Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent. Lent is a season of simple living, and historically people did not each rich foods, like milk, butter, or eggs during Lent. The day before Lent, people would clean out their kitchens by indulging in these rich foods. They would make pancakes, which use all of these ingredients plus flour. We celebrate Shrove Tuesday on Sunday at the Cathedral so we can all be together for the pancake feast.

Mardi Gras Jambalaya Dinner • 6 p.m. in Haden Hall
Tuesday, March 4, Mardi Gras (“Fat Tuesday”)
Join us for a festive Mardi Gras dinner featuring jambalaya, good company, lively music, and the joyous spirit of Fat Tuesday as we prepare for Lent. We look forward to celebrating with you!
Jambalaya will be provided. Please bring cornbread/bread, a salad or a dessert.

Lenten Preparation: Making a Spiritual Assessment & Developing a Rule of Life

Ash Wednesday, March 5 • 5:30-6:45 p.m. in the Common Room
“All of Lent is moving towards the passion and resurrection of Jesus, culminating at Easter with baptisms or the renewal of baptism. Lent prepares us for this grace by taking us into the mystery of the cross, our bridge from death to life. It is the season to probe sources of bondage and diminishment: What feels like death just now? What is holding us back from fullness of life in Christ? Our renewing of baptism entails searching self-examination and repentance. We must undergo a death to sin and all forms of resistance to God.” -Julia Gatta
Lent is a time to check in on our spiritual life, to renew our commitment to life in Christ, and to take on new practices to deepen that life. In this workshop, you will be guided through a self-assessment of your current spiritual life and explore the use of a systematic approach to the spiritual life known as a Rule of Life. This workshop is for anyone looking to develop a guide for their spiritual practice or to review and renew their current practice.

Lent Resources

Lent resources for adults and children are available in the Tower entry to assist you with your observance of a holy Lent. Additional resources are available for purchase in the Bookstore.

Lent Madness

In a takeoff of basketball’s March Madness, Lent Madness is a fun, engaging way for people to learn about the Church’s Calendar of Saints. Visit lentmadness.org to fill out your bracket for a chance to win the “Golden Halo!” You can also check out this fan site at playlentmadness.com.

Stations of the Cross
During Lent you may walk the Stations of the Cross on your own with the Stations of the Cross booklet, found in the Welcome Center in the Tower, or you may follow along with our parishioner-led Stations of the Cross video, available on our YouTube channel.

Lenten Worship

Ash Wednesday
Wednesday, March 5 • 7 a.m., 12:05 & 7 p.m.
The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. On this day, you are invited to gather to begin the journey towards the Cross and the Resurrection with the Ash Wednesday service. The imposition of ashes and Holy Communion takes place at all three services.

The 7 a.m. service is spoken.
The 12:05 service will include hymns and organ music.
The 7 p.m. service will include the Trinity Choir.

Noonday Prayer will be broadcast at noon and the 7 p.m. service will be livestreamed.

Holy Eucharist
Sundays at 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 5 p.m.
Wednesdays at 12:05 p.m.

The 5 p.m. service on March 16 will be Choral Evensong. Choral Evensong is a service offered by members of the Trinity Choir that includes hymns, scripture readings, prayers, chanted Psalms, canticles and a choir anthem. Following the service, all are welcome to take communion in the Chapel.

The Daily Office
Noonday Prayer: Wednesdays at 12 p.m. online only
Morning Prayer: Mondays-Thursdays at 9 a.m. in person & on Facebook

Formation

Praying the Lenten Gospels: Embodying ourselves in the Wilderness
Wednesdays, March 12, 19, 26, April 2, 9 • 6:30-7:45 p.m. • Common Room
Dean Keyse will lead four Lenten mediations in which participants will listen to the corresponding Gospel for the upcoming Sunday, Year C, and begin to picture themselves within the story. Each meditation will utilize images and music associated with that particular Gospel. With the image before us, we will hear the reading and immerse ourselves within the wilderness of Lent. Time for reflection and discussion will follow. The Gospels we will use are Luke 13:31-35; Luke 13:1-9; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32; and John 12:1-8.
Registration is required. Use the coupon code GRACE to register for free.

Confirmation Classes
Sundays through April 6 • 9:15 a.m.
Youth meet in the Haden Hall Youth Room and adults preparing for Confirmation at the Easter Vigil meet in the Founders’ Hall Multipurpose Room. Please pray for those who are enriching their faith and starting their journey as a confirmand in the Episcopal Church.

Sunday Adult Formation: The Path
9:15 a.m. • Common Room
We are taking a journey using Forward Movement’s The Path, an excerpted version of the Bible that covers most of the major stories chronologically. Through The Path, we will become familiar with the grand overarching narrative of the entire Bible. We will learn the story of God’s extraordinary and unrelenting love for us in its many dimensions.

Women’s Bible Study
Tuesdays, March 4-April 15 • Zoom
During Lent, WBS will be using Give up Something Bad for Lent by James Moore. During Lent each year, Christians give up something as an act of sacrifice and spiritual discipline. Often it is something like chocolate, knowing that after Easter Sunday they can once again enjoy what they have given up. In this study James Moore challenges readers to take it further—to give up something spiritually that they would be better off not doing. He invites all to seek God’s help to focus on eliminating one habit or attitude that is destructive. Imagine giving up envy, jealousy, self-pity, apathy, procrastination, gossip, resentment, or negative thinking, how much better life would be.
The forty days of Lent are ideal to use this study and prepare to give up something bad while preparing to fully embrace the “Good News” of Easter.
Books and e-books are available at Amazon, Cokesbury and other book sellers.

Lectionary Bible Study
Tuesdays, 6:45 p.m. • Zoom
We study the lessons for the upcoming Sunday. Join the Lectionary Bible Study group in Realm or visit the LBS page, kccathedral.org/adultformation/lbs for more details.

Outreach

This Lent, “let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Volunteer Opportunities

Easter Basket Packing

Palm Sunday, April 13 • 9 a.m.
Come help us pack Easter baskets for the kids at Crittenton, Sheffield Place and Kaw Valley!

The Emergency Food Assistance Program

March 15, April 19 • 9:30 a.m.-noon
In partnership with St. Paul’s on Main, we have been invited to help organize and distribute food as part of TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program). St. Paul’s receives delivery of several pallets of shelf-stable and frozen food from Harvesters each month. Friendly volunteers are needed to break down the pallets and repackage the food into family-sized boxes and bags. Then we open the doors to those in need and start handing out the food. To volunteer or for more information, contact Deacon Barbara 816.739.8032 or bwegener@kccathedral.org.

Pete’s Garden

In the lower level of Founders’ Hall, Pete’s Garden is a food rescue committed to less food waste and more family meals. They collect unserved prepared food from caterers, restaurants and food service operations each day. These meals are distributed through social service agencies that serve children and their families. Most of the families who receive Pete’s Garden meals are headed by single women in low paying jobs, living below federal poverty guidelines. Volunteers work together to portion and package donated food so it can be redirected to social service agencies who get meals to families.
Sign up for a shift at petesgarden.org/volunteer.

Nourish KC

Volunteers are the heart and soul of NourishKC. Every meal served, every pantry stocked, and every food item redistributed is made possible because of the time, energy, and dedication of our volunteers. Your support ensures that we can continue providing nutritious meals, offering essential pantry staples, and building a hunger-free community. By volunteering with us, you become part of a compassionate movement that transforms lives—one meal at a time. Whether it’s lending a hand in our Community Kitchen, assisting with pantry distribution, or helping with events, your contribution makes a lasting impact. Together, we can achieve more. Join us today and help nourish Kansas City!
Sign up for a shift at theprospectkc.org/nourish-kc.

March: Food Drive for JFSKC Pantry in Brookside

We are collecting food for Jewish Family Services Pantry in Brookside.
Suggested items to bring: Canned Meat, Canned Fruit or Vegetables, Macaroni & Cheese and Packaged Mashed Potatoes, Packaged Dessert Mixes.
The JFS Food Pantries in Kansas and Missouri distributes over 29,000 pounds of food to over 400 families each month. Your donation goes directly to the shelves in the pantry, helping people right in our community. You may leave items in the box in the Tower.

April: Toiletries Drive for JFSKC

We are collecting toiletries for the Jewish Family Services pantry in Brookside. Bring your donations of REGULAR size body wash, hand/body lotion, shampoo, conditioner or deodorant to the basket in the Tower during the month of April.

Lent at Grace and Holy Trinity