Lent – a 40 days period begins on Ash Wednesday. It is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter – resurrection of Jesus Christ. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. During this period many people engage in fasting and practice moderation or self-denial in order to focus on repentance and consecrating oneself to God.
Why 40 days?
40 is a significant number in Jewish-Christian scripture:
· In Genesis, the flood which destroyed the earth was brought about by 40 days and nights of rain.
· The Hebrews spent 40 years in the wilderness before reaching the land promised to them by God.
· Moses fasted for 40 days before receiving the ten commandments on Mount Sinai.
· Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness in preparation for his ministry.
Most Christians regard Jesus' time in the wilderness as the key event for the duration of Lent.
Focus during Lent
Global
The World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Water Network invites all to use the season of Lent to reflect on God’s gift of water. Since 2008, the WCC– through its “Seven Weeks for Water” campaign – has been providing weekly theological reflections and other resources on water for the seven weeks of Lent and for World Water Day on 22 March (which always falls during the Lenten period). This year’s reflections and resources can be found at https://www.oikoumene.org/what-we-do/ecumenical-water-network#seven-weeks-for-water
While water has a strong spiritual significance in the Christian tradition as a gift of God, around the entire globe, human misuse and pollution threaten this essential resource, and billions lack any access to clean water.
Church voices have joined the chorus demanding respect for indigenous peoples’ rights and eco-justice in connection with Standing Rock, a location at the heart of the struggle against the proposed path of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) in North Dakota, USA. Photo: Steven D. Martin/NCCCUSA/WCC
National
Recommending a Lent Study titled ‘The Poet’s Gospel’ at https://ctbi.org.uk/lent-study-2021/ Bob Fyffe, General Secretary of Churches Together in Britain & Ireland (CTBI) comments this year CTBI has partnered with John Alan Davis and his family to produce The Poet’s Gospel – introduction to chosen sections, and is making the sound files available along with a hardcopy book and an e-book in order to engage with this journey. Each week can be read as a stand-alone unit whilst listening to the sound file as an introduction or, if you prefer, on a personal basis to read through the whole publication and listen to the sound files. This alone will make a fascinating Lenten pilgrimage. Bob Fyffe concluded “Some may find this approach somewhat unorthodox, but I believe in these unorthodox and strange times this gospel version, written as poetry, speaks to a situation, and is spoken in the style that many will feel able to engage with. We hope that however you use it, in Lent or across a longer time, this resource will bring you some comfort and reassurance.”
Local
Churches observe Lent in the 21st century as a time for prayer, penance and sacrifice reflecting Jesus' time in deprivation and in the wilderness. Each Christian denomination nationally announces a Lent focus and provides resources and reflections as listed below.
The Church of England
https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/livelent-2021-church-resources-gods-story-our-story
The Roman Catholic Church in Great Britain
https://cafod.org.uk/Pray/Lent-prayers
The Methodist Church of Great Britain
https://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/worship/lent-and-easter/lent-and-easter-resources/
The United Reformed Church in the UK
The Baptist Union of Great Britain
https://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/369370/Lent_resources.aspx
Baptist churches are also being encouraged to take part in the Living Lent initiative (https://livinglent.org/) offered by the Joint Public Issues Team (http://www.jointpublicissues.org.uk/).
Locally, Churches of different denominations, Pentecostal Churches and Christians either follow their denominational resources or choose their own Lent focus depending on their respective spiritual journeys, using resources form the list above or beyond, whichever they may find helpful and inspirational.
