The Season of Lent at Woodbine

 

The holy season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, February 17.

 

Ash Wednesday Service -- February 17. We will have a simple supper at 6:00 in the Fellowship Hall...All are welcome! Followed by our service of worship at 7:00 in the Sanctuary.

 

Lent is a time when we prepare our hearts, minds and souls for the sacred observances of Christ’s death on Good Friday (or Holy Friday) and his resurrection on Easter. On Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, and throughout the season, we recognize that we are simply dust and ashes without Christ, we confess our sins to God and, with God’s help, we follow Christ to the cross, and on to the empty tomb through which we are made whole again.

 

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 Germanic root word “lencten” which means lengthen because Lent occurs in spring, when the days grow longer…they lengthen—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. The number 40 is significant in biblical numerology—how many years did the Israelites wander in the wilderness? 40. How many days did Jesus pray, fast and resist temptation in the desert? 40. We are called to pray, fast and resist temptation along with Christ during these 40 days in preparation for the glorious resurrection 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 Woodbine to help us observe a holy and disciplined season of 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 class, consider joining a class during Lent

·                    Make sure to get a Lenten devotional book—a gift from the church called From Fear to Love to read through, reflect upon and put into practice. Also get the little card to put on your key chain as a reminder during Lent.

·                    Plan to attend the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services at Church the evenings of April 1 and 2 in the Sanctuary.

·                    And of course plan on celebrating the resurrection on Easter morning.