Lent is a season of preparation leading up to Easter. It is the forty days plus the six Sundays before Easter. For centuries, it has been observed as a special time of self examination and penitence. Lent is a time for concentration on fundamental values and priorities, and is not a time for self punishment.

If you have found yourself away from church and wondered about giving it another try, Lent is the perfect time. For centuries, Lent has offered a chance to try the fellowship of the Church one more time. In fact, Lent developed as a way to receive people back into church. If you are questioning your own faith and wondering what you believe, this could be the perfect time to come back to church.

Throughout Lent, the worship services of the church take on a simpler tone, appropriate to this season. Crosses showing the risen Christ are veiled. The word "Alleluia" is not used in the words of the liturgy or hymns. These practices help the worshipping community to mark this season of renewal as a special time in the Church year.

Observing Lent

The custom is to mark the season of Lent by giving up some things and taking on others. Both can serve to mark the season as a holy time of preparation. Some examples of things people give up for Lent include sweets, meat for all or some meals, and alcohol. In most cases, giving up something for Lent can be made more meaningful by using the money or time for another purpose. For example, meal times on fast days could be spent in prayer. Another example is that if you give up meat during Lent, the extra money that would go to meat dishes can be given to a group, such as Episcopal Relief and Development, which works to address worldwide needs such as hunger and disaster relief. Some things added during Lent are daily Bible reading, fasting on Fridays, times of prayer, or taking a course of study related in some way to spirituality.

Note that the season of Lent is forty days plus the six Sundays. This is because all Sundays throughout the year are celebrations of Jesus’ resurrection (think of them as 'mini Easters') and are always an appropriate day to lessen the restrictions of Lent. So that if you have, for example, given up chocolate for Lent, you could indulge in a weekly candy bar on Sunday.

Lent is also an especially appropriate time for the sacrament of confession. While confession to a priest is not required to receive God’s forgiveness, it can be a meaningful rite of reconciliation to God.

Special Opportunities During Lent

At St. Anne's, we offer a few unique ways to help members observe the beauty and holiness of Lent:

• Lenten Prayer Partners. In the weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday, members are invited to sign up as a Lenten Prayer Partner. Just before Lent begins, participants are matched anonymously with their prayer partners, for whom they agree to pray and support throughout all of Lent. Most participants take time to send a little card or token to their prayer partners each week. On Easter Sunday, the identities of the Lenten Prayer Partners are revealed as a small gift is exchanged.
• Episcopal 101 Classes. In the early days of the Church, Lent was used to teach new converts about Christianity in order to prepare them for baptism. We continue that tradition here at St. Anne's, but our classes are open to all who wish to have a refresher course in what we believe, why we believe it, and how we put it into practice. The priest is the primary teacher for this course, which takes place for two hours each week during the five weeks of Lent. This year's classes are 4-6 p.m., Feb. 28-Mar. 28. Please contact the church office if you plan to attend.
• Community Lenten Luncheon Series. The Tifton Community Lenten Lunch Series, held at 12:00-1:00 p.m. at the Leroy Rogers Community Center, is a community-wide series designed to bring Tifton Christians together from across denominational lines. Each Wednesday is hosted by a different church with a light lunch consisting of soup and sandwiches followed by a brief devotional led by the pastor of the sponsoring church. The cost of lunch is $2.00. 

Shrove Tuesday - Feb. 16, 2010

This is actually the day before Lent begins. The day is named for the "shriving" or confessing that was traditional on this day before beginning Lent. This day is also known as Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday," because it was a time for eating the things from which one would abstain during Lent. Pancake suppers are traditional as they were a way of using up some of the ingredients not needed during Lent such as butter and sugar. St. Anne's annual pancake supper is typically hosted by our youth group and, the proceeds benefit their ministry and year-round activities. Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper is held in the Parish Hall at 6:00 p.m.

Ash Wednesday - Feb. 17, 2010

The first day of Lent is marked with a special liturgy. The theme for the day, though not for all of Lent, is that we stand as sinners condemned to die, but for God’s grace. This is symbolized by the imposition of ashes in the shape of a cross on the forehead, with the words, "You are dust and to dust you shall return." In the Old Testament, ashes were a sign of penitence (feeling regretful at offenses) and mourning. At St. Anne's, we offer the Ash Wednesday service at 6 p.m. in the main sanctuary.

Ash Wednesday is one of two days of special observance (the other being Good Friday) for which fasting is recommended. While this usually refers going without food for the entire day, this practice is not practical for all persons, including, but not limited to, diabetics. Use your own discretion in determining how you can best observe this day. 

Refreshment Sunday - Mar. 14, 2010

The fourth Sunday of Lent has long been observed as a day for completely relaxing the disciplines of Lent. It is also known as Mothering Sunday as this was the first Mother’s Day and a traditional time for remembering your mother.

HOLY WEEK

Holy Week is the week preceding Easter and is perhaps the most moving and deeply spiritual time one can experience here at St. Anne's. It is a very full week for us. To see a list of services and their descriptions, click here.

Portions of the content above are from the website of King of Peace Episcopal Church, one of our sister churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. Special thanks to Fr. Frank Logue.