What is Lent?

Lent is the 40-day period beginning on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 22) and ending the day before Easter. The 40 days reflects the 40 days of Jesus’ fasting in the desert (Luke 4) or the 40 years of the Israel wandering in the desert (Exodus-Deuteronomy).

Traditionally, Lent is a season of engaging in three spiritual practices: prayer, fasting, and giving money to those in need. You could think of it as a 40-day exercise program, but instead of physical exercises, we’re engaging in spiritual exercises to welcome Jesus’ life and presence.

“Remember that you are dust;
now be filled with God’s breath.”
— from our Ash Wednesday service

Lent is a season for intentional connecting—connecting with God, ourselves, and the world around us. Sometimes we notice things in our lives that seem to be getting in the way of connecting, and the season of Lent invites us to consider putting aside those things (through fasting) and leaning into connection.  

But why does it include 46 days?

Good counting! During Lent, there are six Sundays that traditionally do not count as part of the 40 days. They don’t count because every Sunday is a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, and the spirit of celebration doesn’t quite resonate with the Lenten spirit of repentance, fasting, and self-denial.

Why do the dates change each year?

Easter corresponds to the Jewish Passover which is based on both solar and lunar cycles. Easter can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25, and then Lent falls into place accordingly. This year, Easter is April 9. (And not to over-complicate things, but different church traditions have different ways of calculating when Easter falls. That’s a whole other story….)

So what can I do for Lent?

The whole point is to engage in practices of prayer, fasting, and giving that are meaningful and life-giving. (See below for specific ideas.) These practices will be different for everyone. Like physical exercises, everyone has a different zone of comfort and development. And also like physical exercises, sometimes we can stretch ourselves a bit, which may not feel pleasurable in the moment but it leads to good growth. So experiment and see what happens. Try things by yourself, or try things with friends or family.

Ideas for Prayer, Fasting, and Giving

Prayer

  • Listening Prayer - listening to what God might be saying alone or with others

  • Immanuel Prayer - a type of healing prayer done with others (ask a Sanctuary pastor about this)

  • Intercessory Prayer - praying for others’ needs

  • Contemplative Prayer - thinking about God while being near God

  • Silent Prayer - being silent while being near God

  • Breath Prayer - Meditating on a particular word or phrase with each breath

  • Liturgical/Fixed Hours Prayer - praying the historical prayers of the church; see this website for more information.

Fasting

  • Skip one or more meals and use the time for prayer, reflection, or serving others

  • Lay aside technology and use the time to connect with others in person (e.g. put away the phone and computer in the evening)

  • Do not consume a particularly enjoyable food or beverage for some time and observe what is made possible, or impossible, by this (e.g. abstain from chocolate or coffee or beer for the duration of Lent)

  • Do not make any unnecessary purchases for the duration of Lent and donate additional money to those in need

Giving

  • Give money to those in need (e.g. donate weekly to a local nonprofit)

  • Give to Sanctuary’s HoFfering (Hands On Faith Offering). 100% of the money raised is donated to other nonprofits and those in need.

  • Give encouragement (e.g. write an encouraging letter each Saturday of Lent to a friend or loved one)

  • Give time (e.g. volunteer to serve in the church or another nonprofit organization)

  • Give the gift of presence (e.g. visit a friend for no particular reason, or visit a nursing care facility)