What is Lent?
Lent
Lent is a 40-day liturgical season that begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes at the Great Vigil of Easter. Sundays are not included in the 40-day count because every Sunday is a joyful celebration of Jesus' resurrection.
Though not biblical, Lent has long been a tradition in the Christian Church, and it is thought that the tradition of the 40 days recalls the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness, fasting and being tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11). Lent is considered a time of penance and discipline.
Lent can be a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a time for reflection and taking stock. Lent can be a time of rededication and instruction in the faith we are baptized. By observing Lent, we imitate Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness. Lent helps with the need to spend time away from the fast-paced world and look to God for spiritual growth.
How can we take advantage of Lent?
Sundays
9 am Sunday school
10 am Worship
Wednesdays
3:00 pm Bible Study
6:30 pm Mid-week Lenten Service
Evening Prayer
See you there, bring friends.
Stewardship Prayer
So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues, and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6: 2 – 4)
Spend some time in prayer about what you plan to do in the upcoming year as a faithful steward of God’s Kingdom During the time of Lent, consider some prayer time in secret which may assist in our relationship in the life of the church and God.
Eternal and gracious God, I pray to you my concerns, for I love my church, St. Mark’s, and I want to do the best I can to enhance its ministry. St. Mark’s is an extension of the love we found in your Son Jesus. May the Holy Spirit guide and assist me in stewardship towards You and St. Mark’s. In the past, I have volunteered my time by doing ____. I pray to a merciful God to help me see what I can keep doing or if there are other areas where I can give my time. I have thought of _____. In the past, I have given ______ to St. Mark’s, which financially assisted in paying for the ministries it provides. Dear Lord, through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, help me determine whether I can continue to give accordingly or possibly increase my offering. Through prayer and supplication to you, I think I may be able to give ______ to St. Mark’s.
Almighty and ever-faithful Lord, gratefully acknowledging Your mercy and humbly admitting our need, we pledge our trust in You and each other. Filled with desire, we respond to Your call for discipleship by shaping our lives and imitating Christ. As stewards, we receive Your gifts gratefully, cherish and tend them responsibly, share them in practice and love with others, and return them with an increase to the Lord. We pledge to our ongoing formation as stewards and our responsibility to call others to that endeavor. Amen.
Please consider placing the filled-out prayer in an area only you know but in a place to remind yourself of the prayer and commitment before God in secret and act accordingly throughout the year.