LENT IS A REFLECTIVE SEASON roughly corresponding to Jesus’ 40
days in the wilderness where He endures the temptations of the Devil
as He prepares Himself for the following years of ministry, the cross
and the hope of resurrection

LENT’S 40 DAYS IS A SEASON OF SELF KNOWING that begins by counting
the days backward (excluding Sundays) from the day marking
Jesus’ resurrection. Lent is a time marked by a pensiveness where we
consider life, where we allow ourselves to become aware of the load
we carry, the depth of God’s love and the relief of the Savior.

LENT IS AN ANCIENT RHYTHM OF INTENTIONAL SPIRITUAL FOCUS.
Unlike many other days and seasons on the church calendar, Lent
finds its origin and some form of practice in the earliest days of the
life of the church. We call these early days the “apostolic age,” when
even then the church was listening to the Spirit and asking, “How do
we best live knowing and loving like Jesus?”

BY THE FOURTH CENTURY, THERE WERE wide spread commonalities
in lenten experiences. Still, there is no question that the practice and
the length of days observed for Lent morphed as time and tradition set
in as the church continued to find its own diverse expression as it
spread across geography and history. The discussion of meaningful
practice and observation continues today from the East to the West,
now here with the iLent project as we have provided reflections for
every day including the Sundays. In this way we have honored the
tension that it is Lent, it is also the Lord’s Day.

TODAY AROUND THE WORLD, THIS SACRED RHYTHM through Lent
continues in varied ways, not only in mainline “liturgical” churches
with ancient roots, but is also experiencing is a strong resurgence in
“free” churches. Many people today are seeking deeper more personal
meaning in their spiritual journeys and desire to know Jesus better.
Many are finding an enlivened adventure of the Spirit along the
Lenten path