Lent 2025
Like many of us, Peter has a wandering heart. His journey is not polished, or linear, or perfect, but he is always tethered to the love of God. When you look closely at Peter’s story, you find Jesus at each step along the way—offering him abundance, catching him when he begins to sink, challenging him when he stands in the way, washing his feet, predicting his betrayal, and offering him agapē love. This Lent, we’re joining Peter in figuring out faith. We’re not idolizing or vilifying him; instead, we’re hoping to wander alongside him, open to what we might learn about Jesus (and ourselves) by stepping in his shoes.
About the sermon series.
This Lent, we are focusing on the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most famous disciples. In Peter, we see a person who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. In Peter, we often see ourselves. By following Peter’s journey, we watch the story of Jesus unfold through the eyes of a very normal human trying to figure it all out—just like us.
As we were studying Peter’s faith journey, the lyrics of “Come Thou Fount”2 came to mind. It’s as if Peter himself wrote this song. And so, for each step in Peter’s journey, we have selected a phrase from this hymn. As we follow Peter’s story, we will sing our way through Lent, binding our wandering hearts to God.
In this series, we want to affirm that faith is a constant journey of steadfast pursuit, one that ebbs and flows. We want to affirm that wandering is exploration, not necessarily distance from God. We want to affirm the ways Peter keeps going: he drops his nets, he walks on water, he runs to the empty tomb, he swims to the shore to meet the risen Christ. He keeps searching and yearning and loving, even after missteps or mistakes. Ultimately, in Peter’s story, we are reminded that God loves imperfect people—in fact, time and again, that’s precisely who God claims and calls.
This Lent, we will look for ourselves in the stepping stones of Peter’s story. We will reflect on the stages of our own faith journeys as well as who and what has shaped us along the way. As we wander, let us tune our hearts to sing God’s grace. May we rest in streams of mercy, never ceasing.
Ash Wednesday | March 5 • Wed (7pm)
As we begin the season of Lent, let us turn inward and tune our hearts. Before an orchestra plays together, they must all tune their instruments—the cacophony of this process may be very loud and create lots of dissonance, but it’s a necessary step in the process of creating harmonies and melodies. And so, this Lent, how can you tune the instrument of your heart so that it aligns with God?
Palm Sunday | April 13 • Sun (10am)
As Holy Week begins, Peter is no longer front and center, and so we imagine he is with the rest of the disciples when Jesus enters Jerusalem on a colt. As they witness crowds shouting hosannas, the disciples are confused. When they look back on this experience, perhaps they will remember the songs. The singing is surely etched in their memories. As we imagine ourselves in the crowd on this day, may we remember that they are supposed to be praising Caesar, but instead they are shouting for the one entering the city on a donkey. Their singing is subversive, courageous, and contagious. Their praise shows the ripple effect of public displays of faith.
Maundy Thursday | April 17 • Thur (7pm)
During the Last Supper, Jesus kneels to wash his disciples’ feet. When he comes to Peter, we see a similar pattern unfold yet again: reluctance then exuberance. Peter initially resits, but then he wholeheartedly submits. We see this duality in Peter often, but do we also see these patterns in ourselves? Peter is named “Cephas,” which means “the rock.” In this story, we imagine that God’s grace reshapes him in the way that water softens the rough edges of stone. When we, like Peter, are reluctant and resistant to receiving love, can we remember that streams of mercy are never ceasing? Will we be reshaped by grace?
Note: Childcare for birth-PreK will be available for this service.
Prayer Vigil | Thur. April 17, 8pm - Fri. April 18, 3pm | SIGN UP HERE
This year, we are offering an opportunity to center yourself through guided prayer and quiet meditation during our Holy Week Prayer Vigil. The vigil will begin following worship on Maundy Thursday and continue through 3pm on Good Friday, the time scripture tells us was the hour of Jesus' death. Just as Jesus asked the disciples to stay awake and pray with him as he prepared for what was to come in the Garden of Gethsemane, the invitation is for us to do the same. Sign-up for an hour\ time slot to participate in the vigil, when you will come and pray in our worship space. Step more deeply into the Holy Week experience by partaking of this unique opportunity to journey with Jesus as he makes his way to the cross.
Good Friday | April 17 • Fri (7pm)
On this Holy Day, we are paying close attention to how Peter acts in Jesus’ final hours. So much happens in a short amount of time: Jesus predicts Peter’s denial, soldiers come and Peter draws his sword, Jesus is arrested and Peter denies him, Peter denies Jesus again and again and the cock crows, then Jesus is crucified and dies. Peter is prone to mess up, to fight, to deny, to leave, to seek safety for himself. But aren’t we all? May we lament all the ways we are prone to leave the God we love.
Note: Childcare for birth-PreK will be available for this service.
Easter Sunday | April 20 • Sun (8 & 10am)
We might expect that, after denying Christ, Peter would cower in shame—or perhaps even run away in an attempt to leave his past behind him. Instead, when he hears the news from the women, he doesn’t dismiss them like the other disciples. He gets up and runs to the tomb. When he peers into the empty tomb and sees the linen cloth, he is filled with awe. Even after the biggest failures, even after the worst case scenario has happened, can we run toward hope? Like Peter, will we keep going? Will we keep looking for God in our midst?
Invite your family and friends to join us at either 8am or 10am. Prepare to engage in a meaningful and exciting worship experience as we together proclaim the goodness of God whose love is powerful enough to save us all! While you’re here, take a moment to take a pic in our photo booth and grab a donut! Note: Childcare for birth-PreK will be available for this service.
There’s a seat for you.
At Kaw Prairie, we believe there's a seat for you. Always. No matter who you are, where you've been, or what's going on in your life, there's room for you at the table.
We welcome people of every race, ethnicity, economic class, marital status, sexual orientation, and faith background (or lack of).
We know many of you have had bad experiences with the church in the past. Christianity hasn't always lived up to its calling. We know the church has left some of you feeling hurt or rejected.
We understand. And we will be the first to admit, we aren't perfect either. But we will do our best to be open, honest, and welcoming. You belong at Kaw Prairie.