This year, Lent begins on February 17th. Ash Wednesday marks its beginning.
Lent is what we call the weeks that lead up to Easter. It is 40 days long (not counting Sundays) and is a time when Christian churches focus on repentance. Lent’s traditional practices are prayer, fasting, and giving to those in need, intended to bring the follower closer to God. People might give something up during Lent or take on an activity, all in order to acknowledge our need to change and our need to connect more fully with God.
Lent reminds us that we are human and God loves us. Repentance in Lent is not about judgement or condemnation. Repentance is all about the human capacity to change and to grow; to become more fully who God is calling us to be. Lent is a time that we try to notice and accept the things that get in the way of faithfully following Jesus, and work to change. Of course, we do this all year long, but pay particular attention to repentance, turning back to God, and changing to follow more fully in the weeks of Lent.
In a broken world,
we are imperfect and struggling people,
embraced by God’s love.
Lent is a season where followers of Jesus try to
move closer to God,
be less selfish and more loving,
pay attention to God’s world,
live in ways that show love to other people,
talk to God more and listen to God more deeply.