LENT

What is LENT?

LENT is the season of the Christian Year where Christians focus on simple living, prayer, and fasting in order to grow closer to God. LENT begins with a service called Ash Wednesday where we recognize life as a precious gift from God, and re-turn our lives toward Jesus Christ. We commit to change our lives during these 40 days so we might be more like Jesus. In our Ash Wednesday service Pastor Jimmy will mark the sign of the cross on our forehead with ashes.

Why Ashes?

In Jewish and Christian history, ashes are a sign of death and repentance (being sorry for our sins). This is a way of confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness. At our Ash Wednesday service people are invited to the altar to recive the ashes. The ashes remind us of our life and sin, the cross reminds us of Jesus' resurrection and forgiveness.

Where do the ashes come from?

On what we now call Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter) Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem while people waved palm branches and cheered him on. Less than a week later, Jesus was killed. The palms that were waved in joy became ashes or sorrow. It has become a symbolic tradition to get the ashes for Ash Wednesday by saving the palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday service, burning them, and mixing them with oil.

Why 40 days?

As told in Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus was sent into the wilderness by the Spirit, where He fasted and prayed for 40 days. During this time He was tempted by Satan and found clarity and strength to resist temptation.

However the 40 days of Lent do not include Sundays. Each Sunday should be used for a time of reflection of the true meaning of Lent.

Why "DO" Lent? How do I start?

Lent is a great time to "repent" - to return to God and re-focus our lives to be more like Jesus. It is a 40 day trial run in changing your lifestyle and letting God change your heart. You might want to try at least one of these practices for LENT:

Fasting - cutting out something in your life that distracts you from God. What do you need to let go of or "fast" from in order to focus on God? A lot of people fast from candy, TV, games, etc. as a means to shift their focus from that particular thing back to God. When you are fasting and feel the desire for that thing, concentrate on Jesus and the price He paid.

Service - You can collect items for MUST or other charities or commit to help others every day for Lent. Serving others is one way we serve God.

Prayer - You can pray at every opportunity so to be more in tune with God.