The Lent Candles

by Ian Doescher

In worship recently, you may have noticed nine white pillar candles on the front of the altar All nine are lit at the start of the services, and if you’ve been watching carefully, each week one more is extinguished. On Ash Wednesday one was extinguished after the service, on the first Sunday of Advent two were extinguished, today three were extinguished, and so on.

There are nine Lenten services celebrated at St. Luke’s throughout Lent: six Sundays, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. The nine candles were something Reverend Jennifer borrowed from a ministerial colleague for this Lent -- a further way of adding significance to the season of Lent, as slowly the Light of the World is extinguished until, on Good Friday, it is snubbed out entirely as we remember Jesus’ crucifixion.

Lent is a time full of significant liturgical acts. We put away our “Hallelujahs,” we adorn the sanctuary in dramatic and bold purple, we put rocks representing the darkest parts of us into a bowl at the start of the service and pour water over them at the absolution, and now we light nine candles and slowly extinguish them throughout Lent. Some of these traditions are ancient, some are brand new this year. Hopefully, all of them guide us into a deeper and more profound experience of the crucified and risen Christ during this season of penitence and reflection.