What is the season of Lent?
Lent is a 40-day journey of reflection and renewal—a time to ask big questions: Who am I? Who is God calling me to be? Rooted in Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness, Lent invites us to step away from distractions and look inward with honesty and openness.
In the Episcopal Church, we mark this season with purple, a color that symbolizes reflection, transformation, and the deep work of the soul. It’s not just about giving something up—it’s about making space for something deeper: prayer, self-examination, and acts of love.
Wherever you are on your spiritual path, Lent isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about showing up, asking the questions, and letting God meet you on your journey.
Lenten Sermon Series: Who am I?
Lent is an invitation to examine the core of our identity—not just who we are, but who we are becoming. This series, “Who Am I?”, considers the tension between our deepest longings and our created purpose, the ways we define ourselves, and the ways God reshapes us. As we journey through this season, we confront the paradox of human frailty and divine love, seeking clarity in the wilderness of self-understanding.
- March 9: I am powerless to defeat sin and evil.
- March 16: I am God’s own.
- March 23: I am precious and worthy of redemption.
- March 30: I am a reconciled reconciler.
- April 6: I am ready for resurrection.
- April 13: I am a pilgrim on the way of the cross.
Who Am I? Lenten Conversations with Clergy
Lent is a season of reflection, and sometimes, talking through the big questions can bring clarity and insight. This Lent, you’re invited to meet one-on-one with clergy for a conversation about your own journey of exploring Who Am I?—your faith, your doubts, your hopes, and where God may be leading you. Whether you’re deep in the Lenten journey or just beginning to reflect, this is a space to pause, talk, and listen. Sign up for a time to meet with clergy and explore the questions on your heart by emailing Mtr. Jean Long.
Learning Opportunities
Who am I? A Lenten Journey of Light and Shadow
Thursday Nights at HJ’s, March 13 – April 10
Dinner: 5:30 –6:00, Exploration & Discussion: 6pm-7pm
In this five-week series, we will explore the complexities of identity through the lens of archetypes & identity, scripture, art, theology, and personal reflection. Together, we will examine depictions of angels and the devil— both in scripture and artistic tradition—wrestle with the nature of sin & goodness and engage in the spiritual practices of journaling and Visio Divina to deepen our understanding. This Lenten journey is not about finding simple answers but embracing discovery—seeing ourselves more fully in both our struggles and our capacity for grace. Join us for meaningful conversation, prayerful.
Rooted & Growing: A Lenten Journey for Families
Sunday mornings, 9:15am-10am, beginning March 9 at HJ’s.
Who are we? Who are we becoming? This Lent let’s explore these questions as families—together. Parents will dive into meaningful conversations about faith, identity, and community, guided by the St. Andrew’s Lenten devotional. Meanwhile, preschool and elementary-aged kids will bring the theme to life through hands-on activities like art, storytelling, and creative play. This is more than a class—it’s a chance to pause, connect, and grow in faith as a family. Come be part of the journey!
Who Are We? Tracing Our Episcopal Roots
Fridays, 10:30am -11:30am beginning March 7 at HJ’s
This class explores the history of Anglicanism as a lens for understanding our own spiritual identity. From the English Reformation to the development of the Episcopal Church, we will trace the traditions, theology, and key moments that have shaped our faith. As we journey through Lent—a season of reflection and renewal—we will ask: How does our Anglican heritage inform who we are as individuals and as a church today? RSVP to Mtr. Jean at jean@standrewkc.org.
The Open Door: Explore, Ask, and Connect
Wednesday, March 19, 5:30–6:30 PM, in the Jewell Room
RSVP by Sun. March 16 to Mtr. Jean Long at jean@standrewkc.org.
Finding your place in a church— whether you’re new, considering membership, or looking for fresh ways to engage —can feel like a big step. Where do you start? Who do you talk to? The Open Door is an invitation to step in, ask questions, and explore how St. Andrew’s can support you in deepening your faith, serving others, and building meaningful connections. Join clergy, ministry leaders, and fellow parishioners for a relaxed evening of conversation. Bring your questions, hear about different ministries, and let’s explore together where your gifts and interests align with opportunities to grow, serve, and connect.
Tools for Spiritual Practice
The Good Book Club
Journey Through Luke With the Good Book Club
Through April 23, the Good Book Club will take up the Gospel of Luke. Most scholars say Luke was written after the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70, perhaps around 80, using the Gospel of Mark as its main source. Following this hypothesis, Luke (like Matthew) edits Mark and adds new material—for example, the Christmas story from Mary’s perspective. Luke emphasizes Jesus’ compassion for the marginalized and downtrodden, portraying him as a friend to sinners and poor people. Luke also highlights the role of women in the disciple community and uses female characters in the narrative more often than Mark or Matthew. The Gospel of Luke includes numerous parables, including favorites not found elsewhere, such as the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. Themes of forgiveness, repentance, and salvation are prominent in this Gospel. Overall, Luke presents a comprehensive and compassionate portrait of Jesus, highlighting his ministry and mission to bring salvation to all. You can get the readings in daily texts or emails.
To sign up, contact Fr. John (frjohn@standrewkc.org).
Daily Prayer
A Morning at the Office – daily audio Morning Prayer from Forward Movement, available wherever you get your podcasts.
Forward Day By Day – daily reflections available in a printed pamphlet you can pick up at St. Andrew’s or as a podcast.
Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer from Mission St. Clare, with readings and music provided.
Prayer Apps
Prayer apps for your phone: There are many apps available, all with different strengths and weaknesses. Most of them are named “Daily Office,” which makes it tricky to sort them out. So, here are a couple suggestions:
Daily Office (Common Prayer Where You Are): This app gives you abbreviated Morning and Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) with an option to read the Scripture appointed for that day. This app gives you a good feel for the Daily Office; it has a lot of options but isn’t too complicated.
Daily Prayer App (A Guide to Spiritual Rhythm): This app is loosely based on the BCP Daily Office but with a streamlined experience. It’s beautiful and very simple to use.
Mission St. Clare (Praying the Daily Office): An app version of the website mentioned above.
Hallow: a simple, easy-to-use mobile app that helps us foster a relationship with God and the peace of prayer through guided prayer and meditation. Hallow is a simple way to create a daily, personal retreat each morning for you in your home.
Musical Offerings
Mid-Week Lenten Recitals
Wednesday, March 12, 12:15-12:45 PM
Dr. Jacob Hofeling, Organist
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Kansas City
Organist and Accompanist
Wednesday, March 19, 12:15-12:45 PM
Neo-Art Piano Duo
Regina Tanujaya, Pianist
Matteo Generani, Pianist
Wednesday, March 26, 12:15-12:45 PM
Dr. Thomas R. Vozzella, Organist
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Kansas City
Minister of Music and Principal Organist
Wednesday, April 2, 12:15-12:45 PM
Lauren Auge, Soprano Soloist
Dr. Jacob Hofeling, Accompanist
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Kansas City
Music Ministry Staff
Wednesday, April 9, 12:15-12:45 PM
Dr. Lucas Fletcher, Organist
Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Kansas City
Director of Music and Organist
Special Worship
Ash Wednesday
Wednesday, March 5, 7 a.m., 12 p.m., and 7 p.m.
Ashes to Go at Charlie Hooper’s in Brookside – Wednesday from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Taizé Worship
Tuesdays (March 11, April 1, April 15) at 6 p.m.
Join us for Taizé worship at St. Andrew’s, which includes prayer, simple music, a time for silence, and inspirational readings. Song refrains are sung many times over as a prayer of the heart.
Palm Sunday
Sunday, April 13, a single service at 9:30 a.m. beginning at HJ’s Youth and Community Center.
We’ll combine our morning services, gathering at 9:30 a.m. in HJ’s parking lot for the Blessing of the Palms. Then, led by members of the Kansas City St. Andrew Pipes & Drums, we’ll walk with Jesus as he rides a donkey to the church entrance. We’ll also experience a scriptural and musical presentation of the Stations of the Cross before sharing Holy Communion. (In case of inclement weather, the Palm Sunday procession will begin in the Jewell Room.)
Holy Week
Monday in Holy Week
April 14 at noon in the chapel
Tuesday in Holy Week
April 15 at 6 p.m. Taizé worship in the chancel
Wednesday in Holy Week
April 16 at noon in the chapel
Maundy Thursday Agapé, Worship, and All-Night Watch
Thursday, April 17 at 5:30 p.m. and continuing through the night.
5:30 p.m. – The Agapé is an ancient feast of love. Ours is a reception featuring special finger-foods from the Holy Land in preparation for Maundy Thursday’s worship.
7 p.m. – The Maundy Thursday Eucharist commemorates the Last Supper. We remember Jesus taking the bread and wine, declaring them to be his Body and Blood, and giving himself for his disciples. As he washed the feet of his friends before dinner, so we will wash each other’s feet during worship. Doing so, we live out Jesus’ commandment to love by serving others.
All night – Following the Maundy Thursday Eucharist, you’re invited to pray during an all-night watch with Jesus in the chapel decorated as the Garden of Gethsemane. This powerful time of devotion begins when our worship ends and concludes with the noon Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. Individuals keep watch in the chapel in hour-long shifts. It’s our response to Jesus’ question to the sleeping disciples, “Could you not stay awake one hour? Watch and pray…” (Mark 14:38).
A security guard will be posted at the church door throughout the night. Look for the Maundy Thursday Watch sign-up board in the church’s entryway, or email Mary Sanders to sign up.
Good Friday Stations of the Cross
Friday, April 18 at 12 p.m.
On Good Friday, we’ll gather in the church to walk the Stations of the Cross. It’s an opportunity to meditate on our Lord’s suffering as we symbolically follow in his footsteps along Jerusalem’s Via Dolorosa, the Way of Sorrow. At stations marked by shadow boxes, we’ll remember the 14 most significant events of Jesus’ journey, beginning in the chapel with the judgment by Pontius Pilate, continuing along the side aisles around the nave, and concluding in the columbarium with Jesus’ death and burial. Within each box hangs a photographic interpretation of the event each station represents.
Good Friday Solemn Liturgy
Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m.
We’ll offer the Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday. This service is like no other – a time to put ourselves face to face with the cross, the instrument of bloody death and ultimate salvation, and contemplate the deep mystery of God’s own sacrifice for us.
Holy Saturday Prayers
Saturday, April 19 at 9 a.m.
We’ll mark the time our Lord’s body lay in the tomb and his followers mourned what they thought was the end of hope and promise. This very brief service in the chancel (where the choir sits) includes just a few readings and prayers. (After this service, the church will be prepared for Easter.)
The Easter Vigil
Saturday, April 19, at 8 p.m.
As the sun sets, come celebrate Christ’s journey from death to resurrection with the Easter Vigil. This is Christianity’s most ancient worship, and its power to tell the story of our faith is still astounding. We begin outside, under the porte-cochere, kindling a new fire to symbolize how the evil of the cross can’t extinguish God’s light; and from this fire, we light the Paschal candle. The congregation then follows this holy light into the darkened church, after which a series of Old Testament readings tells the story of salvation from creation through the prophets. Then we baptize new Christians and reaffirm our baptismal vows, remembering our own passage from death to life in Christ. The congregation sits in darkened silence for a few minutes until a noise breaks through (symbolizing the earthquake that opened the tomb) and the lights come on, revealing the altar and cross adorned in flowers! Suddenly, it’s Easter, and God’s light and life have once again conquered the power of sin and death. From there, the celebration continues with the first Eucharist of Easter.
Easter Day
Sunday, April 20 at 8 and 10:15 a.m.
We’ll welcome this happy morning with our Festival Eucharists of Easter, complete with a chamber orchestra. An Easter egg hunt for the kids will follow the second service, about 11:30 a.m. The “alleluias” will return (including the chance for all of us to sing the Hallelujah Chorus) as we celebrate the joy of Christ’s resurrection and the joy we know in our own new lives – foretastes of the eternal life Jesus has won for us.
Community
Serve Opportunities
More info coming soon
Contact Sarah Tepikian (sarah@standrewkc.org) for more information.
Who am I? – A Lenten Devotional
The clergy of St. Andrew’s have created a Lenten devotional booklet to guide your reflection throughout the season. This devotional invites you to engage Lent as more than a season of tradition—it is a time to examine identity, purpose, and the forces that shape us. Each day offers scripture, prayer, and reflection to help you consider questions like: What defines me? How do my actions reflect my faith? Where is God at work in my life?
Lent challenges us to strip away distractions and confront what truly matters. Use this devotional as a daily guide for that work. Download a pdf of the devotional booklet here.