What is Lent?

Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday, March 2nd this year, and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, meaning “lengthen” and refers to the lengthening days of spring. The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry.

Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by new converts and then became a time of penance by all Christians. Today, Christians focus on relationship with God, growing as disciples and extending ourselves, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of ourselves for others.

Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a "mini-Easter." This is why you will see the designation "Sunday in Lent" rather than "Sunday of
Lent" in the naming of these Sundays. On each Lord's Day in Lent, while Lenten fasts continue, the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.

Why not join us in Church and come together in “Unity” this Lenten Season, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together for worship”.

A Prayer: Dear God, I lay down all my cares, worries, and fears at Your feet. I pray that You would calm my heart whenever anxiety overwhelms me. Teach me to be still and know that You are in control. I may not know what tomorrow holds, but You do. Help me put my complete trust in You and remember that Your will is always pleasing and perfect. Thank you for Your grace amid trials. May Your perfect peace guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Amen.

Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.