What is Lent?

Lent refers to the forty days leading up to Easter. The broad historic Christian tradition has set aside Lent as a time for self-examination, spiritual renewal, and growth. In many churches, it is seen as a time for fasting and abstinence, for alms-giving and acts of mercy, for repentance and prayer.

Lent is set aside as a special time to remember that Jesus’ call to discipleship speaks to the smallest details of our daily lives. Remembering our commitment to follow Jesus leads us toward the joyful celebration of Easter Sunday, a time when we celebrate the resurrection and participate in the new life symbolized through our Easter baptism service. Baptism is an important Biblical sign and Sacrament associated with this season:
 

“Lent invites us to make our hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ passion and celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. ...As a period of preparation, Lent has historically included the instruction of persons for baptism and profession of faith on Easter Sunday; the calling back of those who have become estranged from the church; and efforts by all Christians to deepen their piety, devotion, and readiness to mark the death and resurrection of their Savior. As such, the primary focus of the season is to explore and deepen a 'baptismal spirituality' that centers on our union with Christ rather than to function only as an extended meditation on Christ’s suffering and death.” The Worship Sourcebook

Resources for Lent

Scripture Readings

• Weekly Bible readings from the Revised Common Lectionary

Reflections on Lent

• 2025 CCD Lenten read: Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep by Tish Harrison Warren | An exploration of human vulnerability, suffering, and God's seeming absence, framed around a nighttime prayer of Compline.
• Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster | An exploration of the "classic disciplines" or central spiritual practices of the Christian faith
• On the Incarnation of the Word by St. Athanasius | A classic work of theology on why God chose to approach his fallen people in human form
• Reflecting the Glory: Meditations for Living in Christ's Life in the World by N.T. Wright | A devotional of brief meditations
• Reliving the Passion by Walter Wangerin | A forty-day devotional retelling of the Passion story
• "Yes and No: Lent and the Reformed Faith Today" by Jon Witvliet
• "Ash Wednesday Evangelism" by Lauren Winner

Music

• Rise O Buried Lord by Green Carpet Players (Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music)
• Songs for Lent by New York Hymns (Bandcamp)
• Songs for the Supper by Cardiphonia Music (Bandcamp, Spotify, Amazon Music)
• Songs of Longing, Vol. 2 by Christ Church East Bay (Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music)
• St. Matthew Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music)

Spiritual Formation

Memoir

• A Severe Mercy - Sheldon Vanauken
• The Undertaking - Thomas Lynch

Nonfiction

Fiction

Lenten Poetry Anthologies

• The Word in the Wilderness - Malcolm Guite
• Between Midnight and Dawn - Sarah Arthur