Lutheran Churches Unite for Ash Wednesday Service

Lutheran Church in the Foothills (LCIF) and Mt. Olive Lutheran Church of La Crescenta are joining together to host an Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 18. The service will be held at 7 p.m. in the LCIF sanctuary in La Cañada. All are welcome to attend. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day

period during which Christians remember the events leading up to and including the death of Jesus Christ. Lent is a time of reflection and asking for forgiveness. Ultimately, it is a preparation to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection at the feast of Easter. 

A central element of the Ash Wednesday service is the imposition of ashes. These ashes, traditionally made from burned palm branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday, are applied to the forehead in the shape of a cross. This act symbolizes mortality, repentance and humility.

LCIF will continue its tradition of “Soup Suppers” and worship at 7 p.m. on Wednesday nights during Lent. The services will be led by Pastor Viv Vega. Anyone wishing to prepare or help with the suppers should contact the church office. Sunday worship is held at 10 a.m.  

For more information about all activities at LCIF, please visit the church’s website lcifoothills.org.   

Those who need pastoral care can email office@lcifoothills.org or call (818) 790-1951. The church is located at 1700 Foothill Blvd in La Cañada Flintridge. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Upcoming events at Mount Olive Lutheran

Mount Olive holds a community luncheon on the second Wednesday of the month, every month, and the community is welcome. The cost is $10 for a three-course luncheon: salad, main course and dessert, followed by entertainment. Doors open at 11 a.m. 

Every Wednesday night Mount Olive Lutheran Church has a Bible study and prayer group that starts at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome.

Also in February, the Mount Olive Lutheran members will travel to Lutheran Church in the Foothills, 1700 Foothill Blvd., for the Feb. 18 Ash Wednesday service. This is a service where the two congregations gather and begin the journey into Lent. 

On the third Saturday of the month, there is a breakfast Bible study at Panera starting at 8:30 a.m. Participants typically meet at the back of the restaurant; all are welcome. The group is studying 2 Corinthians on Feb. 21.

Mount Olive is located at 3561 Foothill Blvd. in La Crescenta. Questions? Call the Mount Olive Lutheran office at (818) 248-4253 or visit the website MOLC.org.

Grygus Returns to UUCVH 

UUCVH – Unitarian Universalist Church of the Verdugo Hills –

welcomes back non-theist pagan Andrew Grygus on Feb. 15 for another scholarly presentation titled: Consciousness. Grygus will share the latest scientific and philosophical developments regarding consciousness and how they relate to spirituality. In-person at 10:30 a.m. at 4451 Dunsmore Ave. in La Crescenta or visit the UUCVH website for the ZOOM link https://www.uuverdugo.org/

Anxious Generation Addressed

The community is invited to La Crescenta Presbyterian Church for a free presentation on The Anxious Generation – Discussing the intersection of technology, mental health and faith. The presentations will be on Wednesday evenings continuing through March 18 from 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. They are given by Dot Kim and Jamie Given in the Fireside Room. 

Dinner available for purchase.

La Crescenta Presbyterian Church, 2902 Montrose Ave. in La Crescenta.

CSL Offers Gentle Movement Class

The Center for Spiritual Living – La Crescenta is offering a gentle stretch and relax chair movement with Michelle Gillette. It takes place every Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. The cost is a $10 donation.

The class is at Chaffee Hall in the Center for Spiritual Living – La Crescenta.

The Center for Spiritual Living is located at 4845 Dunsmore Ave. in La Crescenta. For more information, call (818) 249-1045.

Walk and Word 

Walk and Word participants will meet in the parking lot of Deukmejian Wilderness Park, 3429 Markridge Road in La Crescenta/Glendale at 8 a.m. on Feb. 15 & 22. Participants will walk for the first hour and then gather to read a selection of Scripture. About a half hour will be spent journaling about what was read and then there will be conversation, sharing thoughts.

Participants are asked to bring something to write with, anything wanted to eat or drink, and a chair to use for the writing part of the morning. Because people will be outdoors and social distancing will be practiced, masks will be optional. 

Those with questions can email Jeanne at jnlavieri@earthlink.net. 

All are welcome. If the hike is too strenuous, there are level paths at the park. There are ramps from the parking lot to the field where the group gathers after the hike.