Lent 2026
Dear Friends,
Jesus begins his ministry by calling a ragtag band of 12 disciples to follow him. He begins with two pairs of fisherman brothers—Simon and Andrew, James and John—but he continues with Matthew, the tax collector in cahoots with Rome, and Simon the Zealot, sworn enemy of Rome. For all 12, the invitation is a disruptive one: Jesus calls them away from one way of life and into a grand adventure of learning to see things through his eyes and to building the Kingdom of God by living and loving like him.
Jesus has never stopped calling disciples to follow him. Throughout the centuries, faithful women and men have sought to respond, just as those 12 did.
This Lent, join with your fellow parishioners in asking this most important question: what might it look like for us to follow Jesus today? How might it disrupt our routines, challenge our assumptions, and set us off on a grand adventure? How might it turn our worlds upside down in the best possible way?
Blessings for a holy Lent, and may God bring us all to the joys of Easter,
The Rev. Ryan Fleenor, Rector
Ash Wednesday
Wednesday, February 18
Lent is a time of repentance, re-dedication, and renewal: a 40-day season of penitential preparation for Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday, a day of particular solemnity as we begin our Lenten journey. Please join us for worship on this holy day.
Services of Holy Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes
- 8am | Chapel, spoken
- 12pm | Chapel, with hymns
- 5pm | Chapel, for children & families
- 7pm | Church, with choir & hymns (also livestreamed)
“Ashes to Go” will be offered between 6-7am at Noroton Heights Train Station by our Lay Ministers.
Follow Him with us through these 40 days
Join us for Discovery Hour Forums on Sundays
Sundays at 9am | Parish Hall
Follow Jesus through the last week of his life as, each Sunday in Lent, we explore one of the days in Holy Week, from the perspective of what Jesus might have experienced as well as how we mark these momentous events with our liturgies and traditions. Following Jesus to the Cross and Empty Tomb, we rediscover the saving power of the Paschal Mystery.
Second Sunday Book Club
Sunday, March 8 at 6:30pm
A new offering! Join the Rev. Ryan Fleenor for a monthly book club at the Rectory. Each month, we’ll read a work of theology, then come together for a discussion over potluck dinner. For March, we begin with Being Christian by former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
Lenten Quiet Day: A Journey into Celtic Christianity
Saturday, March 21 | 9 am – 2 pm
This Lent, join us on a journey into Celtic Christianity, where the sacred shimmers in the everyday. Earthy, poetic, and deeply attentive to God’s presence in the natural world, we are invited to pay attention, slow down, and live with reverence and joy.
We’re thrilled to welcome our Quiet Day leader, the Rev. Susan Sowers, Episcopal priest and former Rector of Saint Christopher’s, Pensacola (where Rev. Ansley served as her associate). A graduate of West Point, Susan served as a Transportation Corps Officer for 25 years, retiring as a Colonel after her final military assignment as Chief of Staff of the Logistics Department in Iraq. She was ordained alongside Rev. Ryan in the Diocese of Virginia and served in Florida and Hawaii. Passionate about Celtic spirituality, Susan has led several pilgrimages to the Celtic Nations and enjoys sharing her knowledge and discoveries.
To attend, please RSVP to the office at 203-655-1456.
Start your morning with Daily Lenten Reflections
Wake up to an email offering a short reflection written by a fellow parishioner on the day’s Scripture reading. Unsubscribe anytime.
Travel “The Way of the Cross” each Friday
Fridays, 12:30-1pm | February 20 – March 27
Saint Luke’s Stations of the Cross, composed of 14 framed woodcuts, depict the sorrow and agony of Christ’s Passion. “Walking” this path each Friday is a powerful and meaningful Lenten practice. Join us also for the Ecumenical Crosswalk on Good Friday!
Make confession: The Rite of Reconciliation
Lent is a time to focus on returning to right relationship with God, our neighbors, and ourselves. Did you know that our Prayer Book offers the Rite of Reconciliation (also known as Confession)? You can read the liturgy, which begins on page 447 of the Book of Common Prayer. Interested? Contact any member of the clergy.
Special Musical Offerings this Lent
Lenten Evensong
Saturday, February 28 at 5pm
Saint Luke’s Parish Choir sings a special service of Evensong to mark the Lenten season. Observing the feast of George Herbert, one of the Anglican tradition’s greatest poets, the Anthem and Hymns will feature Herbert texts.
Choral Evensong with our Choristers
Saturday, March 21 at 5pm
Come enjoy Saint Luke’s Parish Choir and our young Choristers as they mark their Lenten journey in song. After the service, join us for a reception in the Parish Hall, where all children are invited to participate in an Outreach activity.
March Choir Opportunity
4 half-hour rehearsals (Mar 1, 8, 15, 22); Sing on Palm Sunday at 10am
“Nothing so uplifts the soul…as does harmonious music and a divine song,” (St. John Chrysostom). If you agree, but there isn’t quite time to commit to our Choir program, March Family Choir might be for you! Young and mature singers alike (soprano, alto, tenor, bass), are invited to meet in the Choir Room after Coffee Hour, 11:15-11:45am, March 1, 8, 15, and 22, culminating in singing at the 10am Palm Sunday service on March 29. Come learn “We are marching in the light of God” and a Chorister favorite, “Forgive them, o my Father.” Interested? Contact david.pulliam@
Especially for children, families, & youth
Nightwatch Lenten Retreat at St. John the Divine Cathedral in NYC
March 27-28 | 5:30pm-1pm
We are excited to join youth from around the country at Nightwatch. Our middle & high school students will make a pilgrimage to the world’s largest Gothic Cathedral for an overnight retreat to experience community building, workshops, exploration of the Cathedral, candlelight meditation, music, writing, a labyrinth walk, and a shared Eucharist. Participants stay overnight, sleeping in the Cathedral’s undercroft. The cost is $75 per student. Scholarships are available. A minimum of ten students must register to make the trip possible. To register or for more info, email the Rev. Ansley at [email protected]. St. John the Divine Cathedral, New York, New Yor
Communion Awareness
March 1-22 | Sunday mornings from 9-9:45am | Great Room | Ages 4 & up
As the Episcopal Church invites every baptized member to receive communion, we offer this four-week course to teach an age-appropriate Instructed Eucharist. Questions? Contact [email protected].
Easter Egg Hunts for children
April 4 after 3:30pm worship & April 5 after 9:15am worship
Bring your own basket & join us on Saint Luke’s campus for an Easter egg hunt!
Holy Week Services especially for children
While children are always welcome in worship, we offer shorter services with sermons tailored especially for children:
Maundy Thursday | April 2, 4pm, AYCC
Good Friday | April 3, 4pm, AYCC
Easter Vigil | April 4, 3pm, AYCC (followed by an Easter Egg hunt!)
