Lent

The season of Lent begins during late February or early March on the day called Ash Wednesday, which is six and a half weeks before Easter Day. It is the first day of Lent. 

Lent is a time when people are sorry for the wrong things in their lives and ask God for forgiveness and ashes are signs of sadness. 

A special service in which the Priest performs 'ashing' is sometimes included for Ash Wednesday: as a way of showing sorrow for wrongdoings, and as a reminder that all die, the Priest makes a sign of the cross in ashes on the forehead of each person. The ashes are usually made from burning palm crosses that were kept from Palm Sunday the previous year. Lent is a time when Christians think about the things they have done and the way that God wants them to live. Saying sorry to God by confessing our sins - owning up to the wrong things we have done, is a more important part of people's worship and prayer during Lent. 

In many of these churches the Priest will wear black as a sign of sadness. In other churches people may gather for a Bible study (see the Lent Course below) or may not do anything special. 

Lent lasts for 40 days and ends the day before Easter Sunday (a day known as Holy Saturday). The 6 Sundays are not included in the 40 days: Lent is a serious time but Sundays are always a day of celebration in the Christian church and so they cannot be included in the 40 days of Lent. 

Lent is a serious and reflective festival - a time for Christians to remember how Jesus spent 40 days and nights alone in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. During this time Jesus prepared for His work by fasting and praying. (The Bible, Matthew chapter 4 and Luke chapter 4.) 

We offer a Lent Course to help us discover our abilities and the God-given powers that are ours - all are welcome to attend. Please follow the link here for more information.