Dryer Lent?
Lent? Stuff From Your Dryer? Not really. Read on to find out more.
By the time you read this, the Lenten season has already started. But what is Lent? Do we celebrate it? What do you know about it? How can it be beneficial to our spiritual life? Can we teach it to our children? What are some ways we can use this time in our family life? These are all good questions, and we’ll try and get some answers down on paper and then see how our Elementary Pathway classes will be learning about Lent this spring.
So, the big question first. What is Lent? Lent is a period of 40 days that helps prepare us spiritually for the most important Christian holiday—Easter. It begins on what is called Ash Wednesday and ends the Saturday before Easter Sunday. And if you are counting, it does not include any of the Sundays in that period. This year Ash Wednesday fell on February 22nd. During Lent, we think about how much Jesus gave up for us. He gave up His life so we can be freed from the power of sin and death (Philippians 2:5-11). So, as we remember Jesus’ sacrifice for all people, we choose to give up things, too. We call this fasting. Here’s the history behind it.
While you won’t find the word Lent in the Bible or even the custom of Lent, the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes is found in various passages in both the Old and New Testaments. Early Christians felt the importance of Easter called for special preparations. The first mention of a 40-day period of fasting in preparation for Easter is found in the Canons of Nicaea (AD 325). It is thought that the tradition may have grown from the early Church practice of baptismal candidates undergoing a 40-day period of fasting in preparation for their baptism at Easter. Eventually, the season evolved into a period of spiritual devotion for the whole Church. During the initial centuries, the Lenten fast was very strict but relaxed over time (learnreligions.com/what-is-lent-700774).
Today, during the six weeks of self-examination and reflection, Christians who observe Lent typically make a commitment to fast, or to give up something such as a meal, a habit, social media, chocolate, or playing video games. But it is not just the giving up of things, but what we do to replace those things we are giving up that really counts. For example, if we actually fast a meal, we can give the money it would cost us towards a charity. Or spend the time we would be eating by developing a spiritual discipline such as reading the Bible or spending time in prayer. If we fast a movie night, we might donate our time to serving in a soup kitchen. If we fast from social media, we might, in turn, spend extra time in reading the Bible, praying, and meditating in the Word. This kind of thinking helps us remember Jesus’ sacrifice and shows our love and gratitude. The goal is to develop a closer relationship with God and strengthen our faith in Him without the distractions of worldly desires.
Some might ask, why 40 days? The 40-day period of Lent is based on two times of spiritual testing in the Bible. Can you remember them? 40 years of wilderness wanderings after the exodus from Egypt and the 40 days of fasting in the wilderness by Jesus after His great Temptation (Matthew 4:1-11). There are other “40” special events in the Bible: 40 days and 40 nights of the Great Flood, the 40 days of fasting by Moses before God gave Him the 10 Commandments, 40 days of spying in the land of Canaan, Jonah’s prophecy of judgment that gave Nineveh 40 days to repent or be destroyed, and Elijah the prophet traveling for 40 days and nights to reach Mt. Horeb.
Traditionally, those who honor and abide by the historical Lent tradition include Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Lutherans, and Methodists. However, more and more other denominations are celebrating and taking up some of the practices of Lent. The importance of spiritual disciplines, whether in the Lent season or not, are important for spiritual growth. You can use Lent as a time to reflect, repent, and grow. And whether you are 80 or 8 years old, we all can benefit from preparing our hearts for Easter.
In our Elementary Pathway classes this Lenten season, we are helping our children prepare themselves for Easter as we ask the following questions, one for each week:
What will you give up this week? Jesus, the Suffering Servant
What will you give away this week? Jesus, the Giving Example
Who will you give to this week? Jesus, the Serving King
What will you give time for today? Jesus, the Perfect Example
What spiritual practice will you learn this week? Jesus, our Praying Savior
Preparing for Easter Sunday: Holy Week
There are many, many resources on the internet for devotionals for Lent, activities to do as a family to prepare your heart for Easter, weekly challenges, prayer calendars, and much more. As part of the Children’s Ministry outreach, we will be sending home many resources that your child can do with the family and as a personal growth tool. Each Sunday is a stand-alone lesson, but your child will not want to miss a single Pathway Lenten Lesson! Let’s worship together to prepare ourselves for the greatest of Christian holidays—Easter!
Because Kids Matter to God,
Shari Coelho
Children’s Ministry Director