What is Lent and why does it last forty days?

Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, meaning “lengthen” and refers to the lengthening days of spring. The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry.

Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by new converts and then became a time of penance by all Christians.

Today, Christians focus on relationship with God, growing as disciples and extending ourselves, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of ourselves for others.

Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a "mini-Easter." This is why you will see the designation "Sunday in Lent" rather than "Sunday of Lent" in the naming of these Sundays. On each Lord's Day in Lent, while Lenten fasts continue, the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.

This content was produced by Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications.

Scripture lessons for February 22 - Palm Sunday

Starting February 22, Pastor Charles will offer a Lenten sermon series that will use each day of Holy Week as the focus of his sermons. We will begin the series with   lessons from John 12:12-15 and Mark 11:1-11 and the events of Palm Sunday.

The series will conclude on March 29 with Good Friday. 

Transfiguration Sunday / Imposition of Ashes today

The scene is set

The season of Lent approaches

Imposition of Ashes

Kraig K. is today's reader

Our journey together

We observed Transfiguration of the Lord Sunday this morning and included the Imposition of Ashes (we're not having an Ash Wednesday service). Copies of the Lenten Devotional were distributed as well.

Joys

+Bob S. gave out boxes of Valentine’s chocolates to each person at church today.

+The congregation thanks God for Bob S.’ generous spirit.

+Sid T.’s jokes today.

+Laughter in church – carbonated holiness – is celebrated.

+This year’s Lenten devotionals are being distributed today.

+Rita W. thanks God for the beautiful warmer weather we are enjoying today.

+Bob and Gloria S. talked with someone in town who commented on how lovely is the sight of battery-operated lit candles in the church windows at night.

+Sandy D.’s grandson Ethan made the President’s List for his great grades at the Albert Lea Riverland Community College.

+Donna D. celebrates her great grandson Nash’s phenomenal sports achievements.

+Donna D. thanks God for the arrival of baby Charlotte Ann in the family.

+Nancy and Roy B. thank God for their son Rory and his wife’s wedding anniversary celebration.

+Pastor Charles thanks God for Kraig and Korla S. faithful service in changing the paraments for today’s worship.

+Cheryl and Mike R. thank God for the fun time they had at their twin four-year-old grandsons’ birthday party.

+Korla S. celebrates the new floral decorations in the sanctuary.

+Korla S. thanks God for Kraig S.’ successful surgery last week. They were so impressed that his surgeon prayed for Kraig before his procedure.

+Korla S. thanks God for her cousin Jessica’s recovery after having a new heart and lung transplant surgery.

+The congregation is thankful for Kraig S.’ service as Scripture reader and Bob S.’ service as usher this morning.

+The congregation is thankful for the music ministry of our beloved pianist/organist, Renae H.!

Concerns:

+Praying for Pat R.’s husband Craig who is in the hospital, dealing with medical treatments. Also, praying for Pat to have the strength to provide Craig the support he needs.

+Praying for the family and friends of Pauline Perleberg who died February 11.

+Praying for family and friends of Lydia Mittag who died February 12. A memorial service will be held Thursday, February 19, at 2:00 p.m. at Bayview Funeral Home in Albert Lea. Visitation will be held Wednesday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and for an hour prior to the service.

+Praying for the family and friends of Arlynn Anderson who died February 13. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 20 at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Myrtle. A visitation will be held an hour prior to the service at the church. 

+Praying for the family and friends of Arletta Woods who died January 27. Shelley G. is her daughter. Her funeral service is scheduled for this Saturday, February 21 at the First Lutheran Church in Glenville. Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m. Service begins at 11:00 a.m. Renae H. will serve as pianist.

A Valentines Day Prayer

"Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints, it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth. Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things."

– 1 Corinthains 13:4-7 (CEB)

Lord, because love is patient…

Help me to be slow to judge, but quick to listen. Hesitant to criticize, but eager to encourage, remembering your endless patience with me.

Because love is kind…

Help my words to be gentle and my actions to be thoughtful. Remind me to smile and to say "Please" and "Thank You" because those little things still mean so much.

Because love does not envy or boast, and it is not proud…

Help me have a heart that is humble and sees the good in others. May I celebrate and appreciate all that I have and all that I am, as well as doing the same for those around me.

Because love is not rude or self-seeking…

Help me to speak words that are easy on the ear and on the heart. When I’m tempted to get wrapped up in my own little world, remind me there’s a great big world out there full of needs and hurts.

Because love is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs…

Help me to forgive others as you have forgiven me. When I want to hold onto a grudge, gently help me release it so I can reach out with a hand of love instead.

Because love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth…

Help me stand up for what is right and good. May I defend the defenseless, and help the helpless. Show me how I can make a difference.

Because love always protects and always trusts…

Help me to be a refuge for those around me. When the world outside is harsh and cold, may my heart be a place of acceptance and warmth.

Finally, because love always perseveres…

Help my heart continually beat with love for You and others. Thank you for this day when we celebrate love, and for showing us what that word really means. Amen.

Author Unknown

The Theme for the Lenten Devotional

The theme for this year’s Lenten devotional is the Psalms and shared for your use during the season of Lent.

Starting on Transfiguration Sunday (February 16) and continuing through Easter Sunday (April 5) a reading from one of the Psalms will be shared each day. If you want to read the entire Psalter, two additional Psalms are also given each day so that come Easter, all 150 Psalms will have been read.

 

Reading the Psalms can be challenging as they cover the gamut of human emotions and of our engagement with God during the peaks and valleys of life. But I do encourage you to stay the course and make this time of reading the Psalms a look into just how we may be present with God throughout our life and how God may be present with us.

 

In the days and weeks to come, take a moment from your day and consider, “What do the Psalms have to say to me today?”

Every blessing,

Pastor Charles

Wednesday with the Wesleys

And first let us inquire, What is salvation? The salvation which is here spoken of is not what is frequently understood by that word, the going to heaven, eternal happiness. It is not the soul’s going to paradise, termed by our Lord, ‘Abraham’s bosom’. It is not a blessing which lies on the other side death, or (as we usually speak) in the other world. The very words of the text itself put this beyond all question. ‘Ye are saved.’ It is not something at a distance: it is a present thing, a blessing which, through the free mercy of God, ye are now in possession of. Nay, the words may be rendered, and that with equal propriety, ‘Ye have been saved.’ So that the salvation which is here spoken of might be extended to the entire work of God, from the first dawning of grace in the soul till it is consummated in glory.

~ John Wesley (Sermon 43: “The Scripture Way of Salvation”)

Today in Methodist History

What influences does God use to shape us into the people we become?

Our family of origin certainly plays a part, as do experiences with other adults. Events at school and friendships at church sometimes leave a lasting impression. A move to a new community, a national tragedy, and a host of other factors may contribute to our understandings of who we are and what our place is in the world.

For the most part, these events subtly form us. Other times a single event can be so profound that we remember it for the rest of our lives.

The fire at John Wesley's family home when he was just five years old was such an event for him. And likely impacted the way Wesley would lead the movement that was to become The United Methodist Church. 

Read more at this link.