Lent Themes and Holy Week Schedule February 11, 2026 Ru-Lee Weller Passman Lent Theme Description Calvary’s 2026 Lent theme comes from theologians and creatives at A Sanctified Art—Tell Me Something Good: Grounding Ourselves in the Good News this Lent. Lent was originally a season for new converts to learn and prepare for their baptism on Easter. During that time, they would study what was central to Christianity. This series focuses on what was central to Jesus’ life and ministry: radical welcome, love for neighbor, care for the vulnerable, nourishment for the hungry, nonviolence in the face of injustice. At the heart of Jesus’ teachings, we find liberation, love, mercy, and grace—all of which are meant to be very good news for us all. Jesus’ words are easily distorted and sanitized in our modern world. Following Jesus leads to a richer, more expansive life, but it’s not necessarily comfortable. Jesus’ ministry can be described as “radical” which comes from the Latin word “radicalis,” meaning “root” or “ground.” Therefore, the good news should bring us back to our roots. Emulating Jesus and embodying his teachings should ground us in who God created us to be. Can we be “good news” people in a world too often burdened by bad news? This Lent, let us remember that the good news really is good news. It is joyful—like fine wine saved for celebration. It grows like a mustard seed and smells like perfume poured from an alabaster jar. It tastes like bread passed endlessly through a hungry crowd. It sounds like laughter and feels like mercy. The good news is alive in the world. We hope this series will provide fertile ground for conversation and worship, rooting our hearts and lives in the expansive goodness of God. This Lent, let the teachings of Jesus lead us forward. May the good news inspire us to take action in a world desperate to hear, see, and taste what is good. Weekly Themes & Texts: Ash Wednesday—The Good News is…all are invited (Luke 14:15-24, parable of the wedding banquet) 1st Sunday in Lent—The Good News is…so good it catches us by surprise (John 2:1-11, the wedding at Cana; Matthew 13:31-32, parable of the mustard seed) 2nd Sunday in Lent—The Good News is…great love for God and neighbor (Luke 7:36-50, woman with the alabaster jar washes Jesus’ feet; Matthew 25:35-40, “whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me”) 3rd Sunday in Lent—The Good News is…together, the impossible is possible (Mark 6:32-44, feeding of the 5,000; Ephesians 3:20-21, “By the power at work within us [God] is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine”) 4th Sunday in Lent—The Good News is…protection and care for the vulnerable (Matthew 19:13-15, Jesus blesses the children; Deuteronomy 24:17-22, Care for the alien, the orphan, and the widow) 5th Sunday in Lent—The Good News is…rooted in justice, mercy, and faithfulness (John 8:2-11, Jesus refuses to condemn a woman caught in adultery; Matthew 23:23, “You have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness.”) Palm Sunday—The Good News is…inspiring us to act (Mark 11:1-11, triumphal entry into Jerusalem) Maundy Thursday—The Good News is…even Judas gets his feet washed (John 13:1-35, Jesus washes the disciples’ feet) Good Friday—The Good News is…revealed through nonviolence (Seven Last Words of Christ) Easter Sunday—The Good News is…alive in the world (Matthew 28:1-10, “do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”) Lent & Holy Week Worship Schedule at-a-Glance Ash Wednesday Worship – February 18 – 6:30 p.m. – Sanctuary/Livestream A contemplative service of reflection, repentance, scripture, music, and the imposition of ashes as we begin the season of Lent together. Special elements of this service include cello music, breath prayers, quiet contemplation, and communion. Five Sundays in Lent – Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8, 15, 22 – 10:30 AM – Sanctuary/Livestream Children’s Orders of Worship connected to each Sunday’s Theme will be available on the Children’s Clipboards Holy Week Schedule: Sun. Mar. 29 – Palm Sunday Worship – 10:30 AM – Sanctuary/Livestream Palm Sunday Blanket Donation Drive. As we honor Jesus’ final journey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, please bring new or gently used blankets to worship to donate for our Blessings Ministry guests. We will wave palms and place blankets over the pew ends and down the aisles as we process into worship—symbolically representing how people laid down cloaks in Jesus’ honor 2,000+ years ago. Mon. Mar. 30 – Holy Monday Video Devotional Available on Calvary’s YouTube Channel and sent to all who receive Calvary’s Enews Tues. Mar. 31 – Holy Tuesday Video Devotional Available on Calvary’s YouTube Channel and sent to all who receive Calvary’s Enews Wed. April 1 – Holy Wednesday (Garden of Gethsemane) Video Devotional Available on Calvary’s YouTube Channel and sent to all who receive Calvary’s Enews Thurs. April 2 – Maundy Thursday Service – 7:00 p.m. – Sanctuary & Livestream A contemplative service focused on the “New Commandment” to love one another; includes communion, foot/hand washing, silence, music (incl. the Calvary Choir), and reflection Fri. April 3 – Good Friday “Seven Last Words of Christ” Service with New Hope Baptist Church – 7:00 p.m. – New Hope Baptist Church (3701 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80205) A dynamic, powerful evening featuring preachers from both churches, as well as a combined choral anthem and musical experience as we reflect on the Seven Last Words of Christ. Sat. April 4 – Silent Saturday Service – 12:00 p.m. (Silence begins at 11:50) – Chapel/Livestream A contemplative service of reflection, silence, candle lighting, music, and scripture as we wait at the tomb of Jesus in that liminal space between the darkness of Good Friday and the joy of Easter morning—a liminal space that reflect the lived experience of most moments in our life, the “in between.” Sun. April 5 – Easter Sunday Worship – 10:30 AM (No Nursery Childcare or Church School) Easter Egg Hunt for Children – Playground Bring Flowers for the Easter Cross. You’re invited to bring fresh flowers to flower our Easter cross during Sunday worship. Together we will create a beautiful display of new life! Easter Offering – Week in and week out, Calvary tells us something Good about the Good News of God’s love for our lives. Help us Share that Good with the world by giving an extra gift this Easter Season! Write “Easter Offering” in the memo line of your check or online gift.