What to expect on a Sunday9:30 am
Whether you worship in the Sanctuary or in the Hill via simulcast, Sunday morning worship at Hillcrest is intentionally multigenerational, welcoming, and Christ-centered. Using the Bible as our guide, each service features relevant and engaging preaching, a well-conceived liturgy, the best of hymnody led by excellent organ playing, and the best of Christian contemporary music led by our worship teams 5:00 pm The Hillcrest congregation values Sunday evening worship and gathers at 5:00 pm each week for a time of praying, sharing, singing, preaching, and confessing Biblical creeds. |
Join us for Lent at Hillcrest!
Distractions: Thoughts for Observing Lent
From Got Questions Ministries: “Lent is a period of fasting, moderation, and self-denial traditionally observed by Catholics and some Protestant denominations. It begins Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday. The length of the Lenten fast was established in the 4th century as 46 days (40 days, not counting Sundays). During Lent, participants eat sparingly or give up a particular food or habit. It’s not uncommon for people to give up smoking during Lent, or to swear off watching television or eating candy or telling lies. It’s six weeks of self-discipline.
Lent began as a way for Catholics to remind themselves of the value of repentance. The austerity of the Lenten season was seen as similar to how people in the Old Testament fasted and repented in sackcloth and ashes (Esther 4:1-3; Jeremiah 6:26; Daniel 9:3).
However, over the centuries Lenten observances have developed a much more "sacramental" value. Many Catholics believe that giving something up for Lent is a way to attain God’s blessing. But the Bible teaches that grace cannot be earned; grace is “the gift of righteousness” (Romans 5:17). Also, Jesus taught that fasting should be done discreetly: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen” (Matthew 6:16-18).
Fasting can be a good thing, and God is pleased when we repent of sinful habits. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with setting aside some time to focus on Jesus' death and resurrection. However, repenting of sin is something we should be doing every day of the year, not just for the 46 days of Lent.
If a Christian wishes to observe Lent, he/she is free to do so. The key is to focus on repenting of sin and consecrating oneself to God. Lent should not be a time of boasting of one’s sacrifice or trying to earn God's favor or increasing His love. God’s love for us could not be any greater than it already is.”
From Pastor Brian: Take a moment to ponder these questions:
This is where the practice of fasting fits in Lent. It is a way to repent, to turn away from self and toward Him. Fasting is not limited to food. It can be habits/activities that are not in themselves bad, but they take up time that could be spent with the Lord and in Christian practices.
- Is God calling you to a greater devotion and consecration to Him?
- Do you want to know and experience His love in even greater ways?
- Are there distractions can you remove from your daily life that may lead you to hear and follow Jesus Christ more fully?
This is where the practice of fasting fits in Lent. It is a way to repent, to turn away from self and toward Him. Fasting is not limited to food. It can be habits/activities that are not in themselves bad, but they take up time that could be spent with the Lord and in Christian practices.
These suggestions may help you find what is right/best for you:
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Category 1…technology Limit the use of cell phones/computers. Perhaps you take a break from “social media”…get off of Facebook and seek His Face…quit “tweeting” and start journaling…take a break from texting and get into THE TEXT of the Bible…quit “searching” the internet and ask the Spirit to search your own soul. Category 2…entertainment Is “March Madness” really worth your time? Netflix…Amazon Prime…Hulu…”regular” TV…will they miss you if you take a break from watching this entertainment? You can find other things online about Christian ministry, the plight of the poor around the world, other wholesome topics that will challenge your awareness of what God is doing in the world. |
Category 3…physical health Is there something harmful you could stop eating? Is there something that’s not necessarily bad to eat, but something you enjoy that you could refrain from? Your hunger/thirst for that might remind you of your need to be hungry/thirsty for God. Is there a mild form of fitness training (walking, for example) that you could do either by yourself or with others. And as you did this, perhaps it becomes part of your time of listening to God’s Voice. Category 4…time alone with God Most Christians struggle with having a consistent time alone with God to meditate on Scripture and have a time of prayer. Let this window of time be your season to ingrain this habit into your daily life. |
