The holy season of Lent begins this Wednesday, March 5, which is Ash Wednesday.
Lent is a time when we prepare our hearts, minds and souls for the sacred observances of Christ’s passion and death on Good Friday (or Holy Friday) and his resurrection on Easter.
In the early Church, the six weeks of Lent were a time of training and instruction for converts to Christianity who were preparing to be baptized on Easter. The English word “Lent” is derived from the old German and English words “lenzin” and “lencten” which mean spring or lengthen because Lent occurs in spring, when the days grow longer…they lengthen—literally and figuratively as light comes into the world through the grace of God in Christ!
Forty days comprise the season beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Saturday—the day before Easter. Sundays are excluded from the counting of the 40 days because they are still considered “little Easters” or celebrations of the resurrection of Christ. We are called to pray, fast and resist temptation along with Christ during these 40 days in preparation for the glorious resurrection of Jesus which God worked on Easter.
We are all invited to observe a holy Lent through repentance, prayer, self discipline, fasting (as you are able try fasting for one or two meals a day or for the whole day—example after breakfast one day until the next day’s breakfast) and putting faith into action (serving others).
Ways through AUMC to help us observe a holy and disciplined season of Lent:
· Begin the season by attending Ash Wednesday service on March 5
· Bring a friend with you to worship during Lent
· Make a commitment to be at church for worship and Sunday School each Sunday during the season
· If you don’t have a Sunday School group, consider joining a group during Lent
· Find some mission ministry or way of serving others as we follow the example of Christ and his sacrificial self-giving
· Plan to attend the Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services at Church—April 13, 17 and 18 respectively.
· Plan on being a part of the celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday, April 20!
See you in Church and beyond Church during the holy season of Lent. God bless, James
Lent is a time when we prepare our hearts, minds and souls for the sacred observances of Christ’s passion and death on Good Friday (or Holy Friday) and his resurrection on Easter.
In the early Church, the six weeks of Lent were a time of training and instruction for converts to Christianity who were preparing to be baptized on Easter. The English word “Lent” is derived from the old German and English words “lenzin” and “lencten” which mean spring or lengthen because Lent occurs in spring, when the days grow longer…they lengthen—literally and figuratively as light comes into the world through the grace of God in Christ!
Forty days comprise the season beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Saturday—the day before Easter. Sundays are excluded from the counting of the 40 days because they are still considered “little Easters” or celebrations of the resurrection of Christ. We are called to pray, fast and resist temptation along with Christ during these 40 days in preparation for the glorious resurrection of Jesus which God worked on Easter.
We are all invited to observe a holy Lent through repentance, prayer, self discipline, fasting (as you are able try fasting for one or two meals a day or for the whole day—example after breakfast one day until the next day’s breakfast) and putting faith into action (serving others).
Ways through AUMC to help us observe a holy and disciplined season of Lent:
· Begin the season by attending Ash Wednesday service on March 5
· Bring a friend with you to worship during Lent
· Make a commitment to be at church for worship and Sunday School each Sunday during the season
· If you don’t have a Sunday School group, consider joining a group during Lent
· Find some mission ministry or way of serving others as we follow the example of Christ and his sacrificial self-giving
· Plan to attend the Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services at Church—April 13, 17 and 18 respectively.
· Plan on being a part of the celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday, April 20!
See you in Church and beyond Church during the holy season of Lent. God bless, James
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