Lent 2026 at Cloverdale United Church: The “Seven Last Words”

The Christian season known as Lent begins this week, kicking off with the Ash Wednesday observance on February 18th and the First Sunday in Lent following on February 22nd. Through the many centuries of Christian faith and practice, this stretch of time leading up to the annual celebration of Easter has borne a special weight of discipline and spiritual deepening. In the earliest centuries and, increasingly, in recent years, Lent serves as the container for an intentional journey of self-reflection and preparation for those getting ready to become new Christians through the sacrament of Holy Baptism on Easter. In many eras and still today, Lent has held space for deep and significant reflection on the mystery, majesty, and meaning of the cross—of Jesus' suffering and death by crucifixion.

Here at Cloverdale United Church this year, our worship will be shaped by a series of statements made by Jesus while he was dying that are commonly referred to as his “seven last words from the cross”. Pieced together from across all four of the Bible’s gospel accounts, these sayings provide entry points and windows into the multiplicity of ways in which what God has and is accomplishing in the person and work of Jesus Christ truly acts for us, and stands as good news. As theological and preacherly luminary Fleming Rutledge writes in her 2015 magnum opus, The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ, “Christians do not simply look to the cross of Christ with prayerful reverence. We are set in motion by its power, energized by it, upheld by it, guaranteed by it, secured by it for the promised future because it is the power of the creating Word that ‘gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.’ (Rom. 4:17)” [p. 14].

Our framing of Lent this year, a departure from our usual adherence to the Revised Common Lectionary for our schedule of scripture readings for Sunday worship, is inspired in part by our hosting on Sunday, March 22, the 5th Sunday in Lent, of a wonderful performance of The Seven Last Words of Our Savior from the Cross, the 1796 sacred oratorio by Joseph Haydn (more information about that elsewhere).

• 1st Sunday in Lent – Feb 22: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34), Rev. Matt preaching

• 2nd Sunday in Lent – March 1: “Truly, I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43), Pastor Youngsun preaching, Holy Communion celebrated

• 3rd Sunday in Lent – March 8: “Woman, here is your son. ... [Beloved,] Here is your mother.” (John 19:26-27), Rev. Matt preaching

• 4th Sunday in Lent – March 15: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34 & Matthew 27:46), Rev. Matt preaching

• 5th Sunday in Lent – March 22: “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28), Pastor Youngsun preaching

• Palm Sunday – March 29: “It is finished” (John 19:30), Rev. Matt preaching

• Good Friday – April 3 (12:00 Noon): “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46), Rev. Matt preaching

(Worship plans for Maundy Thursday, April 2nd, are still T.B.D.)