During the season of Lent, Trinity Lutheran Church would like to invite you to join us at special Wednesday evening worship services, starting at 7:30 pm. In 2009 the season of Lent begins on 25th February (Ash Wednesday) and concludes on 12th April (Easter Sunday). 

Lent and Ash Wednesday: why do we have them?

Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, is a period of forty days (excluding the Sundays) leading up to Easter.

The season has two origins: the fast that leads into Easter (Holy Week) and a time of preparation for baptisms, which were celebrated at the Easter Vigil (the rest of Lent). Forty days is the same length as Jesus' (Luke 4:2), Moses' (Deut 9:9) and Elijah's (1 Kings 19:8) fasts. Violet is the colour for the season, symbolising that it is a time for repentance, fasting and meditation on Jesus death. The Lord is near to those who call on him: O come, let us worship him. As another mark of restraint, the Hellelujahs are omitted from various responses during Lent. The name comes from an old word for spring, which is when Lent occurs in the Northern Hemisphere. 

One of a series on the church year, © Emmaus Educational 2000