Welcome
Why We Observe Lent
Lent is a forty-day season of prayer, repentance, and spiritual renewal leading up to Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday and continues (excluding Sundays) until Holy Week. The number forty recalls significant biblical seasons of testing and preparation—such as the forty days that Jesus Christ spent fasting in the wilderness. For Christians, Lent is not about gloomy religion; it is about making room in our hearts for Christ through self-examination, confession, fasting, generous giving, and deeper prayer.
The history of Lent reaches back to the early centuries of the Church. By the fourth century, Christians were observing a set period of fasting and preparation before Easter, especially for new believers preparing for baptism. The timing of Easter itself was discussed at the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325, which helped bring greater unity to Christian practice. Over time, Lent became a regular and meaningful season in the life of the Church across many traditions.
As Methodists, we value disciplined spiritual growth. John Wesley emphasized practices such as prayer, fasting, searching the Scriptures, and acts of mercy as “means of grace”—ways God shapes our hearts. Observing Lent fits naturally with this heritage. It invites us to examine our lives, turn away from sin, and renew our love for God and neighbor. For an independent Methodist church in North Carolina, Lent offers a faithful rhythm that connects us with the historic Church while deepening our personal walk with Christ.
Ultimately, Lent prepares us for joy. The season moves us from repentance to resurrection, from reflection to celebration. As we walk through these forty days together—worshiping, praying, and serving—we look ahead with hope to Easter morning, when we rejoice in the victory of Christ over sin and death. Lent helps us slow down, refocus, and remember that the cross leads to an empty tomb and new life.
