Lent at Mount Calvary: A Quiet Invitation to Repent, Receive, and Rejoice

Lent is a tender and serious season in the life of the Church. It is a time to slow down, to listen more carefully to the Word of God, to examine our hearts, and to return again to the mercy of Christ. At Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, we would be glad to welcome you into that rhythm of repentance and faith.

If you have been looking for a Lent Service in Lancaster, PA, or for a faithful Lutheran Church among the churches in Lititz, PA and the Lutheran Churches near Lancaster, PA, we invite you to join us. Mount Calvary is a congregation shaped by the historic liturgy, the clear teaching of Holy Scripture, and the comforting gifts of Christ given in His Word and Sacraments. You can learn more about our life together here and read more about our beliefs and confession of faith.

A Congregation Rooted in Worship and Care

At Mount Calvary, Lent is not simply a season on the calendar. It is a time when Christ gently calls sinners to Himself, not to shame them, but to forgive them, strengthen them, and restore them. Our congregation gathers for the Divine Service on Sunday at 9:00 AM, for Adult Bible Class at 10:30 AM, and again on Wednesday at 7:00 PM. These services and studies form a steady pattern of prayer, preaching, and Christian fellowship throughout the week.

We are located at 308 Petersburg Rd., Lititz, PA 17543, and we warmly welcome both longtime Lutherans and first-time visitors. If you would like to plan a visit, you may find our service information, our contact page, and our church calendar helpful.

Open Hours for Private Confession and Absolution During Lent

One of the great gifts of Lent is the opportunity for honest repentance and the clear hearing of Christ’s forgiveness. Private Confession and Absolution is one of the Church’s most personal and comforting treasures. Here, burdens are spoken aloud, sins are confessed, and the pastor speaks Christ’s own absolution into the ears of the penitent. For troubled consciences, this is a profound consolation.

All Christians are encouraged to make use of individual confession from time to time, and Lent is especially fitting for it. This season, Mount Calvary is offering Open Hours for Private Confession and Absolution, so that you may come without needing to make an appointment first.

• Wednesday, March 25, 4:45 PM–5:45 PM
• Wednesday, April 1, 7:00 PM–8:00 PM

If neither of these times works for you, please contact the pastor.

If this practice is new to you, do not be intimidated by it. Private Confession is not meant to burden Christians, but to comfort them. It is one more way our Lord serves His people with His mercy. Those who want to better understand the pastoral and sacramental life of Mount Calvary may also wish to read about Pastor Seifferlein and Vicar Michael Usner.

Midweek Lenten Service Resources

Our Midweek Lenten Service was held on Wednesday, March 11, and we are thankful to be able to continue sharing those resources with members, friends, and visitors. If you were unable to attend, or if you would like to reflect again on the preaching of Christ’s Word, the following materials are available:

• The bulletin for the service is available here.
• The sermon text is available here.
• The audio recording of the sermon may be heard here: Midweek Lenten Sermon Audio

There is real comfort in hearing the Gospel more than once. Lent teaches us not to rush past the cross, but to dwell there—where Christ has borne our sin and won our salvation. Additional sermons and recordings may also be found on our YouTube channel.

Save the Date: Historic Ephrata Cloister Tour

Lent is also a season in which we continue life together as a congregation, encouraging one another not only in worship, but also in fellowship and learning. We are pleased to announce that a tour of Historic Ephrata Cloister has been scheduled for April 25 at 10:00 AM. The cost will be $9 per person, and participation is limited to 30 people. Please watch for more details in the April Beacon.

Gatherings like this are a reminder that the Christian life is not lived in isolation. The Lord places us into a congregation so that we may pray, learn, sing, and share life together. If you are looking for ways to become more involved, you may explore ways to connect at Mount Calvary.

The Fourth Sunday in Lent: Christ Feeds His People

On the Fourth Sunday in Lent, we hear again the account of Jesus feeding the hungry thousands in the wilderness. It is a beautiful Gospel, full of both compassion and abundance. Our Lord sees the crowd in their need, and He does not send them away empty. He gives bread to satisfy them, and there is still more left over.

That same Lord still cares for His people now. He still sees the hungry. He still has compassion. He still gives what is needed. Above all, He still feeds His Church with the Bread of Life in His Word and Sacrament. That is why the Church gathers: not merely out of habit, but because Christ Himself serves us there.

Come this Sunday and see Him do it again.

Feed Thy children, God most holy;
Comfort sinners poor and lowly.
O Thou Bread of Life from heaven,
Bless the food Thou here hast given!
As these gifts the body nourish,
May our souls in graces flourish
Till with saints in heav’nly splendor
At Thy feast due thanks we render.

Text: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110004740

• The bulletin for the service is available here.
• The sermon text is available here.
• The audio recording of the sermon may be heard here: Fourth Sunday in Lent Sermon Audio

Adult Bible Class: Hearing and Learning Together

Our Adult Bible Class continues this week with a study of Deuteronomy chapter 4. In that chapter, the children of Israel are urged to turn away from idols and to trust in the Lord alone. It is an ancient word, but it is also a timely one. Every age has its idols. Every heart is tempted to trust in what cannot save. And in every age, the Lord calls His people back to Himself.

We will also continue our liturgy study by considering the Salutation and Response. These familiar words in the Divine Service are not empty ceremony. They are part of the Church’s rich inheritance, biblical, reverent, and full of meaning. By studying them, we learn not only what we say in worship, but why the Church has so faithfully said these things for generations.

The audio recording of this class may be heard here: Adult Bible Class Audio.

A Warm Invitation This Lent to Mount Calvary

If Lent has stirred in you a desire to return to church, to hear God’s Word more deeply, to seek the comfort of absolution, or simply to be present where Christ is serving His people, you are most welcome at Mount Calvary. Whether you have been in church every week for years, or whether it has been a long time since you last attended, this is a fitting season to come and receive what the Lord delights to give.

Mount Calvary is a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and our congregation may also be found through the official LCMS congregation locator. Sermons and teaching resources are also available through our Spotify podcast page. We would be glad to welcome you this Lent, to pray with you, to worship with you, and above all to point you to Christ, who forgives sinners, feeds the hungry, and gives rest to the weary.