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“Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt the Lord’s name together.”  Psalm 34:3

This Wednesday, Feb. 25, is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent spans 40 days (corresponding to the 40 days Jesus fasted in the desert in preparation for his ministry and the 40 years Israel journeyed through the wilderness towards the land) ending with the celebration of Easter.

Lent is a time when we become more deliberate in how we express our faith. The practice of giving something up for Lent was meant to be an extension of deliberate fasting: certain days were fast days and other days required avoiding specific foods (such as no red meat on Fridays). In the colonial period, some Congregational ministers called for their church members to “take up something for Lent” as a way to differentiate themselves from Catholicism and other European Protestants.

For many years, I have followed the practice of taking something up for Lent that would help strengthen my walk of faith. Through the years I have added things to my life during the season of Lent like more specific time in daily prayer, spending more time in scripture, studying old testament theology books, more time walking (it is warmer in Florida in Feb. and March), writing encouraging notes and cards to friends, and journaling. Some of the things I took up during Lent became part of a larger commitment of change in my life.

There are many things you could take up this Lent. You could start your Lenten journey with the Ash Wednesday worship this Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 7:30. Lenten devotional materials will be available in the narthex and garden room for you to use in personal family devotion times. The women’s Tuesday morning Bible study will begin a Lenten study on Tuesday, March 3. There is the Women’s Tea on Saturday, Feb. 28 and Lenten Soup and Seminars on Wednesdays, March 11 and 18. The final week of Lent, Holy Week will have opportunities to continue the journey of Lent with a Maundy Thursday meal on April 9 and a Good Friday Tenebrae service on April 10 at the Lutheran church

“Informed prayer leads to powerul action.”--World Day of Prayer Motto

On Friday, March 6 at 10:00 a.m., five area churches will host a World Day of Prayer Service at St. James the Less, 550 Sunset Ridge Road, Northfield. participating churches are Episcopal Church of St James the Less, Lutheran Church of the Acension, St. Philip the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, Willow Creek North Shore, and Northfield Community Church. After the service there will be coffee and cookies, and a slide show of life in Papua New Guinea.

World Day of Prayer began many years ago. The first organized day of prayer held nationally was in Canada on January 9, 1920. In the United States, the first organized day of prayer held nationally was on February 20, 1920. Now, people representing the 170 countries who celebrate World Day of Prayer gather to worship on the first Friday in March, showing unity through the body of Christ with many cultures , races and faith traditions.