Lent with Westminster

From Ashes to the Cross… and into Resurrection Hope

Lent is not a straight line. It’s a journey—a slow, honest, hope-filled walk with Jesus that moves us from ashes, through deep teaching, into costly love, and finally toward resurrection life.

This year at Westminster, our Lenten journey invites us to walk the Sermon on the Mount all the way to the cross—and beyond.

Our Journey Begins: Ash Wednesday

Lent opens with Ash Wednesday, a sacred pause that reminds us of who we are and whose we are. Marked with ashes, we begin again—naming our mortality, our need, and our trust in God’s mercy.

(See our Ash Wednesday blog post for full details on worship and the community dinner that follows.)

Sundays in Lent: Walking the Sermon on the Mount

February 22 – Palm Sunday

From February 22 through Palm Sunday, our Sunday worship will center on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7)—not as lofty ideals, but as an invitation into a different way of living, loving, and being in the world.

Together, we’ll listen as Jesus:

• Blesses the poor, the meek, and the merciful

• Calls us toward reconciliation, integrity, and trust

• Invites us to seek first God’s kingdom in the everyday stuff of life

A Special Guest on March 1

On March 1, we’re honored to welcome Rev. Ben Williams, President of the Methodist Home for Children, who will bring the message that Sunday. His presence will deepen our reflection on faith lived out through compassion, justice, and care for the most vulnerable.

Thursdays in Lent: Going Deeper Together

A Sermon on the Mount Study

Alongside our Sunday worship, Lent also offers space to slow down, ask questions, and listen together.

Each Thursday during Lent, we’ll gather for a study of the Sermon on the Mount using insights from Amy-Jill Levine. Known for her ability to open familiar texts in fresh and faithful ways, Levine helps us hear Jesus’ words with historical depth, spiritual honesty, and practical wisdom for today.

This study is designed for:

• longtime church members and first-time participants

• those who love Scripture and those who wrestle with it

• anyone who wants to engage Jesus’ teaching thoughtfully and openly

👉 We’ll share full details—including dates, times, and format—in a dedicated blog post soon.

Looking Ahead: Holy Week Together

As Lent turns toward the cross, we’ll move into Holy Week—a week where worship slows down and love costs more.

Community Holy Week Gatherings

Monday–Thursday, we’ll gather with churches across our community for worship and lunch, hosted through the Kinston–Lenoir County Association of Congregations—a powerful sign that the body of Christ walks this road together.

Maundy Thursday at Westminster

On Maundy Thursday, we will gather at Westminster to remember Jesus’ last supper, his command to love, and the humility of a Savior who kneels to serve.

Good Friday

On Good Friday, we will pause again—this time at the foot of the cross—holding space for grief, sacrifice, and the deep mystery of love poured out.

And Then… Easter

April 5

Lent does not end in ashes or even at the cross. It ends in resurrection.

Easter morning proclaims that death does not get the final word—God does. The journey that begins with repentance and teaching opens into new life, renewed hope, and a love stronger than the grave.

An Invitation

Whether you join us every week or step in along the way, this Lenten season is an invitation:

• to walk more slowly

• to listen more deeply

• to live more faithfully

Come walk with us—from ashes, through the words of Jesus, to the cross…and into resurrection life.