CONNECT WITH US FOR THE SEASON OF LENT!
The season of Lent is a 40 day journey learning about the ministry of Jesus while he walked this earth. At the same time, we are invited to intentionally adopt disciplines that draw us closer to God and orient our lives in such a way that we learn to live our lives like Jesus - serving, loving, healing, and redeeming the broken world around us.
You can learn more about what Mountain Park UMC is offering throughout the season of Lent as well as learn more about our Holy Week and Easter events by clicking here.
WHAT IS “Lent?”
Most people are familiar with Easter Sunday, but what about the season that comes before this amazing, special celebration? In many western churches, this season is called, “Lent.” The season of Lent is a set of 40 days (46 days if you include the Sundays) following and learning from Jesus’ ministry. The beginning of the season varies slightly from year-to-year depending on when Easter Sunday may be observed on a given year.
The season of Lent begins with a special service called, “Ash Wednesday,” which has the focus of confession, forgiveness, and repentance as the first steps of beginning to draw ourselves closer to God. In addition, throughout the Bible, ashes have been used as a sign of mortality and of repentance. Abraham spoke of himself as being “but dust and ashes” (Genesis 18:27). After Job lost everything, he sat among the ashes (Job 2:8). The king, the people, and even the animals of Nineveh donned sackcloth and ashes as a sign of repentance (Jonah 3:5-10), and Jesus spoke of cities repenting in sackcloth and ashes (Luke 10:13). As a result, participants in this service come forward to receive an ashen-cross marked on their foreheads with the following phrase spoken, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” We are invited to remember our mortality in light of Jesus’ redeeming love.
In addition, observes of Lent will typically fast (or withhold) from some sort of food, activity, or habit throughout the season. For example, one may fast from coffee, lunch-time, watching TV, spending time on social media, etc. In place of those activities, one can spend that time reflecting, praying, reading scripture or a devotion, or practice some other discipline that helps draw them closer to God. Over time, these spiritual disciplines will hopefully become more sustainable practices in one's life, even beyond the season of Lent, itself. Of course, Sundays during this season are designated days to break from your fast as you continue to worship and rest.
Below, you will learn more about our Lenten worship series for this year as well as other ways to dive deeper in cultivating your faith and spiritual life!
MORE WAYS TO CONNECT
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