An Introduction to the Season of Lent

Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday (March 18th) and ends on Holy Saturday (April 4th). The English word “Lent” comes from the Anglo–Saxon word lencten, which means “lengthen” and refers to the lengthening days of “spring.” The season is a preparation for celebrating Easter.

Historically, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by converts and then became a time for penance by all Christians. The First Sunday describes Jesus’ temptation by Satan; and the Sixth Sunday (Passion/Palm Sunday), Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his subsequent passion and death. Because Sundays are always little Easters, the penitential spirit of Lent should be tempered with joyful expectation of the Resurrection.

Holy Week is the final week of Lent, beginning with Passion/Palm Sunday (March 29th) and concluding with Holy Saturday (April 4th). The Great Three Days—sometimes called the Triduum or Pasch—from sunset Holy Thursday (April 2nd) through sunset Easter Day (April 5th) are the climax of Lent (and of the whole Christian year) and a bridge into the Easter Season. These days proclaim the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection. During these days, the community journeys with Jesus from the upper room, to the cross, to the tomb, and to the garden.

Source: ResourceUMC.org

  • Why Are There Forty Days in Lent?

    The season of Lent spans a 40-day period beginning on Ash Wednesday (March 18th) and ending the Saturday (April 4th) before Easter. Now, if you’re astute about the calendar, you realize that there are more than 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter! So why is Lent considered 40 days? It’s because the six Sundays that occur during this time don’t count. (That’s why you may hear a reference to the Sundays IN Lent, rather than the Sundays OF Lent.)

    Forty also is a very significant number in the Bible. For instance, Scripture tells us that Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness struggling with temptation. Before the flood mentioned in Genesis, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years.

    What is also significant is that most personal trainers, psychologists and coaches will tell you that it takes between 30 and 40 days (give or take a few) to “re-train” yourself in a new habit. So if you decide to eat healthier, or start exercising, or commit to any new habit/routine, it takes somewhere around 40 days to really get that routine ingrained in your life. That means when we commit to a spiritual habit for 40 days, we may actually be able to integrate that into our minds in a meaningful and significant way.

    Source: ResourceUMC.org

  • Why Should I “Do” Lent, and How Do I Start?

    Are you searching for something more? Tired of running in circles, but not really living life with direction, purpose or passion? It’s pretty easy to get caught up in the drama of classes, relationships, family, and work. Our lives are filled with distractions that take us away from living a life with Christ. We try to fill the emptiness inside us with mindless activities, meaningless chatter, stimulants, alcohol, too many activities or other irrelevant stuff. We run away from life and from God.

    Lent is a great time to “repent” — to return to God and refocus our lives to be more in line with Jesus. It’s a 40-day trial run in changing your lifestyle and letting God change your heart. You might try one of these practices for Lent:

    • FASTING: You can fast by cutting out things in your life that distract you from God. Some Christians use the whole 40 days to fast from candy, TV, soft drinks, or something else as a way to purify their bodies and lives. You might skip one meal a day and use that time to pray instead. Or you can give up some activity like worry or reality TV to spend time outside enjoying God’s creation. What do you need to let go of or “fast” from in order to focus on God? How can you simplify your life in terms of what you eat, wear or do?
    • SERVICE: Some Christians take something on for Christ. You can collect food for the needy, volunteer once a week to tutor children, or work for reform and justice in your community. You can commit to help a different stranger, coworker or friend everyday of Lent. Serving others is one way we serve God.
    • PRAYER: Christians also use Lent as a time of intentional prayer. Pray while you walk, create music or art as a prayer to God, or savor a time of quiet listening. All can be ways of becoming more in tune with God.

    How will you use your time to grow closer to God?

    Source: ResourceUMC.org

  • Top Ten Things You Can Try for the Lenten Season

    10. Try an electronic fast. Give up TV, social media, texting, tweeting, email and all things electronic for one day every week. Use the time to read and pray.

    9. Start a prayer rhythm. Each day of Lent, pray for another person.

    8. Go deeper. Take an online course as a part of your Lenten discipline.

    7. Forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it (maybe even yourself). Study a book on forgiveness, such as Forgiveness, the Passionate Journey: Nine Steps of Forgiving through Jesus’ Beatitudes by Flora Slosson Wuellner.

    6. Give up soft drinks, fast food, tea or coffee. Give the money you save to help folks in your community or in a different part of the world who are in crisis.

    5. Create a daily quiet time. Spend 10 minutes a day in silence and prayer. Read a daily devotional for the season of Lent. See how it can help you add spiritual practice to your daily life beyond Lent.

    4. Cultivate a life of gratitude. Write someone a thank-you letter each week, and be aware of how many people have helped you along the way. Learn more about the spiritual practice of gratitude.

    3. Visit Sight Psalms (www.upperroom.org/sight_psalms) and spend time in visual meditation and prayer.

    2. Volunteer one hour or more each week with a local shelter, community food bank, tutoring program, nursing home, or ministry in your church or community.

    1. Pray for others you see as you walk to and from classes or drive to and from work.

    Source: ResourceUMC.org

  • 2026 Lenten Calendar Available

    Please look for our 2026 Lenten calendar, 40 Days of Lent in the Name of Jesus, in the worship handouts on Sunday, February 15th. The Lenten calendar is also available for download by clicking on LENT 2026. The Lenten calendar is provided to you by the volunteer librarians of The Louise McDaniel Memorial Library.

  • Lenten Devotional Videos

    The season of Lent will soon be underway, and students in our church’s Youth Ministry are excited to share their Lenten devotional videos with you! Every Wednesday, from February 25th through April 1st, we will post a short devotional video created by one of our students on our Youth Ministry YouTube channel, dfumcstudents, as well as on the church’s website, duluthumc.org.
     
    We would love for you to journey with us this Lenten season by watching and sharing these videos with others. Please also be sure to subscribe to the Youth Ministry’s YouTube channel to receive notifications whenever new content is posted.

  • Pancake Supper: Tuesday, February 17th

    Dorothy L. Rainey Fellowship Hall

    Make plans to join with your family and friends and attend a FREE pancake supper on Tuesday, February 17th, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Dorothy L. Rainey Fellowship Hall. There will also be sausage, bacon, coffee, juice, milk, and water.


    Supper is FREE, but donations are appreciated! Proceeds will benefit Duluth First UMC’s Music & Worship Arts Ministry.

  • Ashes To-Go Community Outreach:

    Wednesday, February 18th

    Duluth Town Green

    Join us at the Duluth Town Green on Wednesday, February 18th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for Ashes To-Go, our Ash Wednesday community outreach. Rev. Dr. AnnaKate Rawles and Rev. David Burchett will be there to administer the imposition of ashes (or glitter ashes if you choose). There will also be coffee available.

  • Ash Wednesday Service:  February 18th

    Hinton Hall, Family Life Center

    Ash Wednesday will be observed on Wednesday, February 18th, with a short service beginning at 6 p.m. in Hinton Hall, located on the 2nd floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center. During the service ashes will be placed on foreheads as we confront our own mortality and confess our sin before God within our community of faith.
     
    PLEASE NOTE: The service will take place during our regular Wednesday evening supper format, so plan to arrive early and receive your food before the service begins. Dinner is served beginning at 5 p.m. Food service will be stopped while the Ash Wednesday service is taking place. It will resume at the conclusion of the service.

  • Wednesday Night Dinner in Hinton Hall:

    February 18th

    Hinton Hall, Sheldon Family Life Center

    Our Food Ministry staff, along with our amazing Dinner Belles and Beaus volunteers, prepare excellent meals at very reasonable prices. Enjoy fellowship around the table with family and friends.


    The menu for Wednesday, February 18th, is fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, biscuits, and dessert. For the kids – chicken tenders.


    Dinner service hours begin at 5 p.m. in Hinton Hall. PLEASE NOTE: Food service will be stopped at 6 p.m. while the Ash Wednesday service is taking place. It will resume at the conclusion of the service. To-go boxes will be available after the conclusion of the Ash Wednesday service.

    The prices for Wednesday Night Dinners are:

    • $10.00 for adults (including seniors and from 11 years up);
    • $7.00 for children 10 years and younger;
    • $30.00 for family meals (nuclear family members only – husband, wife, and their children under 18 years);
    • $7.00 for salad bar only, which includes the salad bar, a choice of baked potato or sweet potato, dessert and a drink.

    Credit/debit card payments, as well as cash and checks, are accepted.

    PLEASE NOTE: The Ash Wednesday service will take place during our regular Wednesday evening supper format, so plan to arrive early and receive your food before the service begins. Dinner is served beginning at 5 p.m. Food service will be stopped while the Ash Wednesday service is taking place. It will resume at the conclusion of the service.

  • “Taste and See” Lenten Study:

    Begins Sunday, February 22nd

    Everyone is invited to participate in Lenten study, based on the book Taste and See by Margaret Feinberg, beginning Sunday, February 22nd. The study, led by Rev. Dr. AnnaKate Rawles, will meet on Sundays, February 22nd through March 29th, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in room F145, located on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center.

    Taste and See will be a different type of Lenten study – it will be one about feasting and “discovering God among butchers, bakers, and fresh food makers.” We will discuss where we can find God and that we are all invited to “Taste and See” that God is good. We will also sample some of the dishes that the author discusses!


    The cost of the class is $20 is per person to cover the cost of the book and food samples. Childcare will be available by request. To register and for more information, please contact Rev. Dr. AnnaKate Rawles by e-mail at arawles@duluthumc.org, or call 770-476-3776, ext. 128