Season of Lent

What is Lent?

Lent is a 40 day period, excluding Sundays, during which Christians prepare themselves spiritually for the commemoration of Christ's suffering, death and resurrection. The name is derived from the Old English, lengten, a reference to the lengthening of the days that happens in the springtime.

Beginning in the second century, Christians would undergo a brief period of fasting and prayer in preparation for Good Friday and Easter. They understood that Easter was too important, and too potentially transforming, to rush into unprepared.

By the fourth century the period had been extended to 40 days to coincide with the 40 days that Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness at the beginning of his ministry. It was common to fast from meat and dairy products during Lent, and many Christian converts made their first professions of faith in Jesus as Lord. It was also a time of repentance for those who had abandoned the faith. The season is a time for more intense and intentional spiritual growth during which we remember the message, the life, the suffering and death of Christ.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, with a special worship service in the Sanctuary, where we are marked with ashes as a sign of our desire to repent of our sin and follow Jesus.

Click here to view a Video for Good Friday.