March 2 – April 14, 2022
Lent is the six-week period leading up to Easter. Lent is to Easter what Advent is to Christmas. But while Advent is a time of reflection and celebration of Christ’s birth, Lent is a time of solemn observation of Christ’s death and celebration of His resurrection.
It is an important time of the year for many Christians and a way that Christians all over the world can join in unity as we prepare for Easter. Lent is a season of repentance and grief over our sins, and “offering our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God as a spiritual act of worship.” [Romans 12:1] We fast food or sacrifice in some way as a response to the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made when He willingly went to the cross to die for our sins.
We invite you to join us on Saturday, February 26th at 6:00 pm for a time of quiet prayer and reflection to prepare your heart for Lent and how the Holy Spirit may be asking you to observe this season.
Fasting is a beautiful spiritual disciple and is a proper response to the grievousness of sin. Lent is traditionally observed by fasting any meat and meat products. There are differing ways this is observed in regards to frequency, days, and even what meat (allowing fish, eggs, etc). If you are feeling lead to fast during Lent, pray and ask the Holy Spirit what kind of fast He is asking of you and how you can use this time to be with Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to transform your heart.
Practicing simplicity is another spiritual discipline that many people participate in during Lent. Simplicity is a way of removing things in our lives that have taken a priority over being with Jesus. This could be different things for different people, so it is important to prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit if there is something to let go of during the Lent season in order to make space to be with Jesus. Considerations are social media, entertainment, spending, etc.
One way to practice simplicity is by practicing generosity! By denying extras that you might indulge in, consider setting aside the cost for those things and giving to a local organization that reflects the heart of God for social justice (the poor, the oppressed, widows & orphans, the grieving & broken-hearted).
In a world filled with noise, the spiritual discipline of silence and solitude are ways to be with Jesus and hear his voice. Ruth Haley Barton says, “[Silence and Solitude] are concrete ways of opening to the presence of God beyond human effort and beyond the human constructs that cannot fully contain the Divine.”
Lent is a season of intention. Intentionally positioning of bodies, minds, and souls to be with Jesus and allow space for all the Holy Spirit wants to do in and through us. “We do not take the spiritual life seriously if we do not set aside time to be with God and listen to him.” – Henry Nouwen
Join us on Good Friday (April 15th) at 10:00 am for a special Good Friday service. Registration may be required.
Celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and defeat of sin and death with us! We have two services to choose from: 9:30 am and 11:15 am. Registration may be required.
