Lent brings a variety of spiritual opportunities to Church of the Apostles

Shirin McArthur

The Christian season of Lent is just around the corner and the Episcopal Church of the Apostles in Oro Valley will host a variety of free events during this forty-day period. The spiritual season of Lent is intended to be a time of reflection, enrichment and strengthening of the spiritual life.

Beginning on Wednesday, March 20, Church of the Apostles will host a series of three Lenten Suppers. These evenings will focus on the theme of Finding God in All Things, which is the spiritual focus for the entire year at Church of the Apostles. The three sessions, which include a free soup-and-bread supper, will take place from 5:30-6:45 p.m. on March 20, March 27 and April 3. These sessions will conclude with a simple nighttime worship service called Compline.

Finding God in All Things is a concept from St. Ignatius of Loyola, a Spanish Basque Catholic priest and theologian, who founded the religious order called the Society of Jesus (known popularly as the Jesuits). During each Lenten Supper, participants will ask each other a different spiritual question.

On March 20, the question will be, “How am I being hard on myself and what message does that send to people who are connected to me?” On March 27, the question will be, “Where do I try to control events and other people? How is that going?” In the final session, on April 3, the question will be, “Would I rather pray as if everything depends on God or depends on me? Why?”

In addition to these Lenten Suppers, the church will also host a Lenten Choral Evensong on Sunday, March 24 at 5:30 p.m. The featured music will be by William Smith, C.V. Stanford and Herbert Howells. While much of the music is sung by the priest and the choir, some is also sung by all the people assembled. You are invited to listen, sing (if you like) and allow yourself to be moved by this beautiful service. Please join us for this special free event.

Finally, on Sunday, April 7, following the 9:30 a.m. worship service, Rev. Debra Asis and Rabbi Helen Cohn will discuss Jewish and Christian Values: The Same or Different. Rabbi Cohn is from Tucson’s Congregation M’Kor Hayim. Rev. Asis and Rabbi Cohn have also led this conversation at M’Kor Hayim.

Church of the Apostles is located at 12111 N. la Cholla Blvd., just north of Tangerine. Sunday services are at 7:30 a.m. (a quiet, contemplative service without music) and 9:30 a.m. (a family-oriented service with music). If you have questions about any of these events, please contact the Apostles church office at [email protected] or 520-544-9660.