The Seasons of the Church
Lent is a season of preparation for the celebration of Easter. The word Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon lencten, which means “spring,” the time of the lengthening of days. At first, Lent was a time to prepare new believers for baptism on Easter. They were taught the gospel message and the Lord’s Prayer. People prayed and fasted. Eventually, Lent became a time of reflection and self-examination for all Christians.
In our busy, secular world, Lent can be a time of renewal; a time to remember Jesus – to walk with Him in study, prayer, and service to others, and to engage in personal and corporate worship.