Entering Lent

Uniting in Worship 2 (p. 573) reminds us that “Lent is a time of preparation for Easter”. It lasts 40 days plus Sundays. Sundays don’t count because that is the day when Christians celebrate Christ in fullness—life, death and resurrection. Lent ends at sunset (the beginning and end of the biblical day) on Easter Saturday.
In this time of preparation, we are encouraged through prayer, fasting and acts of generosity and compassion to reflect on the love of God for us.

Lent Event focuses that reflection by asking us to “give up” something and to donate the money we save to a significant project supported by Uniting Church Overseas Aid (UCOA). The “giving up” reminds us of what the Triune God gives up in sending, coming and being in our world in the person and work of Christ. God does all this because of God’s great love for us and desire to be in continuing relationship with us.

Perhaps you might like to include this short prayer (or collect) in your daily prayer during the season of Lent as you focus on God’s great love for the world and desire for reconciliation with the whole of creation:
Spirit God,
we pray that in this Lenten season,
by prayer, study and self-giving,
we may penetrate more deeply
into the mystery of Christ’s journey;
that, following in the way
of Christ’s cross and passion,
we may come to share
in the healing and celebration
of Christ’s resurrection
through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
for the glory of God. Amen.
This Collect is adapted from Carden, John (ed.) 1989. With All God’s People: The New Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. Geneva: WCC, 29, 37-38.