Principal's Corner
The days go slow, but the years go fast. It is now already February of 2024 and while we still have a good portion of this school year to go, we have already begun planning for the upcoming 2024-25 school year and beyond. We invite families to register for the 2024-25 school year when priority registration begins on Feb. 5.
The month of February is an exciting time as we celebrate our Top School Heroes of Orange County. This year we had 5 RHLS teachers/staff selected as finalists for this prestigious honor.
Mrs. Alexis Renninger, TK Teacher, is a Top Preschool Teacher
Mrs. Keri Walden, 2nd grade teacher, is a Top Elementary Teacher
Mr. Dave Brenner, 7th/8th History, is a Top Middle School Teacher
Mrs. Veronica Chino, Paraeducator, is a Top Employee
Mrs. Lisa Tarkoff, Assistant Principal, is a Top Leader
All 5 RHLS School Heroes were selected by Parents and Parenting OC magazine and appear in the February issue of Parenting OC magazine.
The month of February begins the observance of the Lenten Season with our special All-School Ash Wednesday chapel service on Feb. 14, Valentines Day.
The very next day, our annual Grandparents-VIP Day will take place on Thursday, Feb. 15. Parents of students in Kindergarten – 5th grade are required to RSVP using the online form so we can plan accordingly.
Let’s celebrate each day as a special gift of life from God, beginning our day in prayer and ending our day in prayer to Jesus Christ who guards, guides, and directs our path for His Glory and good purposes.
February Dates to Remember:
2/1-2/2: Rise Against Hunger Meal Packing Event
2/5-16: Priority Registration for Fall 2024 Enrollment
2/9-2/11: YFM Middle School Camp
2/14: Ash Wednesday Chapel
2/15: K-5 Grandparent/VIP Day/ Preschool & Middle School Non Student Day (No Daycare)
2/16 & 2/19: No School/Campus Closed: President's Days
2/20 Open Enrollment Begins
2/21-2/23: PTF Online Auction Fundraiser
2/23: MIddle School Winter Social/End of Trimester 2
2/24: Father Daughter Dance (Preschool-8th)
2/26-2/29: Book Fair
2/26-3/1: Literacy Week
Please consider volunteering in the garden. Click on image to volunteer. Once into signup, you can select grade and shift. Thank You!
Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0445A8AE28AAFA7-garden3#/
Pastor's Corner
The Season of Lent
On Ash Wednesday, February 14th, we begin the sacred season of Lent. Ash Wednesday is a Christian holiday (holy day) observed by the Christian Church for centuries. The name, Ash Wednesday, comes from the ancient practice of placing ashes on the forehead in the shape of a cross. The ashes symbolize that we are mortal creatures, created by God and dependent upon God for our life—we are creatures and not the creator (Genesis 3.19)! Because we forget this truth, we sin. Because we sin, we separate ourselves from God. However, God sent Jesus to get us back! The ashes on our foreheads are made in the sign of the cross to remind us that Jesus loved us so much, He died for our sin and rose from the tomb on Easter, defeating death and the devil.
The word Lent comes from the Middle English word, “Lente,” meaning “spring time,” and is a forty-day period of spiritual reflection on the life of a disciple of Jesus. The forty days of Lent mirror Jesus’ forty days of fasting and prayer in the wilderness prior to the beginning of His public ministry. The Gospel of Mark describes this event in the life of Jesus:
“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’ 12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, 13 and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.” (Mark 1.9-13)
After Jesus’ Baptism, He is sent by the Holy Spirit into the desert where He does battle with Satan. Coming out from the wilderness, Jesus would resolutely set His face toward Jerusalem and the cross. Lent allows us time to explore and understand Jesus’ journey from the desert to the cross to Easter, absorbing its meaning and power.
In the early years of the church, the Lenten season was an intensive, forty-day period of instruction in preparation for Baptism on Easter. Consequently, Lent was (is) a time to reflect on, and prepare for, Baptism and the lifestyle of following Jesus as Lord and Savior.
As a summary description, here are some “FAQs” about Ash Wednesday and Lent:
1. What is the Lenten season, and why is it set apart?
It is a period of six weeks preceding Holy Week and Easter, and is set apart as a special season of fasting, penitence, and prayer.
2. Why is it called Lent?
Because it always comes in the spring of the year, and the old, Saxon word lent means “spring.”
3. With what remarkable event in Jesus’ life does the Lenten season correspond?
The forty days which He spent fasting in the wilderness.
4. Why is the first day of Lent called Ash Wednesday?
From the tradition and practice that prevailed in the early church of sprinkling ashes on the heads of penitents the first day of Lent, as a symbol of repentance and sorrow for sin.
5. Are there any examples of this custom mentioned in the Bible?
Yes, the example of Daniel and of David and the people of Nineveh, to which Jesus Himself refers in Matthew 11:21.
6. If Lent is only forty days, why does it begin forty-six days before Easter?
There are six Sundays in Lent, and as all Sundays are feast and celebration days in honor of the Resurrection, they are taken out. To make up for these Sundays, six days are added to the beginning of the season.
7. How should the Lenten season be observed by Christians today?
As a special season for drawing near to God by acts of penitence, charity, and spiritual devotion, and by fasting and abstinence from all things that tend to draw the heart from God.
8. Why does the church require us to observe the Lenten fast?
Because repentance and acts of devotion to God, are essential to growth in faith. And because these duties are apt to be neglected and forgotten unless some special time is set apart for their observance.
9. What objection do people sometimes raise against the observance of Lent/Lenten fasting?
They say that it is a useless and superstitious custom, and that Christ nowhere commanded his disciples to fast. Additionally, nowhere in the Bible are we directed to place ashes on our forehead and/or observe Lent.
10. How do we answer this objection?
While not a Biblically commanded observance (nor is Christmas Eve or Thanksgiving Day), the focus of this season is entirely Biblical (Repentance and discipleship). And, as mentioned above, the observance of Lent has been practiced by the church for centuries as preparation for Baptism and the celebration of Easter, as was the sprinkling of ashes as a sign of repentance, similar to the Prophet Job (Job 42:6).
Additionally, fasting was a common practice among God’s chosen people (Exodus 34:28; 2 Samuel 12:16; 1Kings 19:8; Psalm 35:13; Joel 1:14; Jonah 3:5). Jesus fasted and so did his disciples. He did not command his followers to fast; He assumed that they would and gave directions on how to fast (Mathew 6:17).
As with every season in the Church Year, Lent is an annual reminder of a daily truth: Jesus came to live the life we do not live and died the death we deserve. Because of what Jesus has accomplished for us, we are forgiven, justified, death is defeated, and an entirely new way of living is offered to us in love!
During the Lenten season (and any time!), you are invited to join us for our Sunday morning Worship Services (in person, livestreamed, and recorded) at 8:00 a.m. (Classical) or 10:15 a.m. (Contemporary). “DiscipleU” our Sunday education ministries for children and adults is at 9:15 a.m.
Beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 14th, join us for Ash Wednesday Worship, with the traditional imposition of ashes, at 12:00 noon or 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
Our hope and prayer for you during this Lenten season, is that you will deepen your relationship with Jesus and grow in faith, hope, and love! You are always welcome at Red Hill!
God’s blessings to you!
Pastor Seth
Red Hill Lutheran Church and School
Email: rhlsoffice@redhillschool.org
Website: www.redhillschool.org
Location: 13200 Red Hill Avenue, Tustin, CA, USA
Phone: 714-544-3132