Information Regarding the Observance of Lent
Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday
and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes form the Anglo-Saxon work lecten, which means
“spring.” The season is a preparation for celebrating Easter. Historically, Lent began a
period of fasting and preparation for baptism by converts and then became a time for
penance by all Christians.
The First Sunday describes Jesus' temptation by Satan, and the Sixth Sunday
(Passion/Palm Sunday),Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem and his subsequent
passion and death. Because Sundays are always little Easters, the penitential spirit of
Lent should be tempered with joyful expectation of the Resurrection.
Information Regarding the Service of Worship for Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday emphasizes a dual encounter: we confront out own mortality and confess
our sins before God within the community of faith. The form and content of the service
focus on the dual themes of sin and death in the light of God's redeeming love in Jesus
Christ.
Depending upon circumstances, this service may be held early in the morning, before the
work and school day begin; an noontime, perhaps observing fast with the deletion of the
regular noon meal; or early in the evening perhaps following a shared sacrificial meal
of bread and water.
The visual environment should be solemn and stark. Purple is the most traditional color
throughout Lent; but on Ash Wednesday gray, with its suggestion of ashes, is especially
appropriate. Dark earth colors or any somber hues are also appropriate. Rough, coarse
textures such as burlap – sackcloth and ashes – suggest the character of the day and
season.
The use of ashes as a sign of mortality and repentance has a long history in Jewish and
Christian worship, the Imposition of Ashes can be a powerful nonverbal and experiential
way of participating in the call to repentance and reconciliation. This practice is the
historic focus of Ash Wednesday observance and gave the day its name. It is traditional
to save the palm branches from the previous Passion/Palm Sunday service and burn
them ahead of time to produce the ashes for the service.
Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday
and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes form the Anglo-Saxon work lecten, which means
“spring.” The season is a preparation for celebrating Easter. Historically, Lent began a
period of fasting and preparation for baptism by converts and then became a time for
penance by all Christians.
The First Sunday describes Jesus' temptation by Satan, and the Sixth Sunday
(Passion/Palm Sunday),Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem and his subsequent
passion and death. Because Sundays are always little Easters, the penitential spirit of
Lent should be tempered with joyful expectation of the Resurrection.
Information Regarding the Service of Worship for Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday emphasizes a dual encounter: we confront out own mortality and confess
our sins before God within the community of faith. The form and content of the service
focus on the dual themes of sin and death in the light of God's redeeming love in Jesus
Christ.
Depending upon circumstances, this service may be held early in the morning, before the
work and school day begin; an noontime, perhaps observing fast with the deletion of the
regular noon meal; or early in the evening perhaps following a shared sacrificial meal
of bread and water.
The visual environment should be solemn and stark. Purple is the most traditional color
throughout Lent; but on Ash Wednesday gray, with its suggestion of ashes, is especially
appropriate. Dark earth colors or any somber hues are also appropriate. Rough, coarse
textures such as burlap – sackcloth and ashes – suggest the character of the day and
season.
The use of ashes as a sign of mortality and repentance has a long history in Jewish and
Christian worship, the Imposition of Ashes can be a powerful nonverbal and experiential
way of participating in the call to repentance and reconciliation. This practice is the
historic focus of Ash Wednesday observance and gave the day its name. It is traditional
to save the palm branches from the previous Passion/Palm Sunday service and burn
them ahead of time to produce the ashes for the service.
Taken from The United Methodist Book of Worship, Fourteenth Printing, 2003, Nashville, The UnitedMethodist Publishing House. Pgs 320-321.
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