Lent for dummies

What is Lent really all about? 

The word Lent comes from the old Anglo-Saxon word "Lencton" which originally referred to the literal lengthening of days associated with the timing of the season.  By "season", I am of course referring to one of the seven seasons of the church year, or the "Liturgical Calendar". Why do we call it the "Liturgical Calendar"? Mostly because it makes us feel smart...

or holy...sometimes both. Anyway, there are seven seasons on this calendar: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and the long season after Pentecost, creatively labeled the "Season after Pentecost", or sometimes simply called "summer". 

Of the seven seasons in the church year, two are considered "penitential" in nature, and by "penitential", I mean "less happy". Actually, the two penitential seasons of Advent and Lent are not necessarily less happy, but they can be more somber in tone due to their association with repentance and preparation. Lent allows us forty days (think Jesus in the Wilderness) to prepare our hearts for Easter by fasting, praying, and focusing a little bit more on our need for a Savior.

Some things you'll notice in Lent which simply mark the penitential nature of the season:   

• Confession of sin at the beginning of the service, and more kneeling.
• A lot of purple - traditional color of repentance, royalty, and the Minnesota Vikings.
• No "alleluias" - this from the Hebrew "hallel Yah" or "praise God" is just a little too rowdy for Lent. Actually, while it is easy to make fun of this tradition of "burying" the Alleluias until they be resurrected on Easter morn, it is a very noticeable change in the rhythm of our liturgy that can point us to the cross and remind us of what Lent really is all about. He is preparing our hearts to receive the amazing truth of His resurrection in a fresh, life-changing way if we will let Him.

Note: Next week's email blast will continue Lent for dummies

... again, please don't be insulted, unless you should be. We'll continue to have some fun looking at this season, but I still need your help. Thanks for the questions about Lent that you've already sent. Please keep sending them to info@allsaintspawleys.org. I'll answer as many as I can.

See you Sunday,

Rob