STUDY OVERVIEW

• Feb 26 - What is Lent?

• Mar 5 - Isa 58 and its Ancient Context

• Mar 12 - Fasting and Unwilling Hunger

• Mar 19 - Sabbath and Lent

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT LENT?

DISCUSSION

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR

• Advent: 4 weeks leading up to Christmas

• Christmas: 12 days ending with Epiphany

• Ordinary Time: Time in-between specified liturgical celebrations

• Lent: 40 days prior to Easter

Ash Wed

Maundy Thursday

Good Friday

Easter

• Pentecost: 50 days after Easter

• Reformation Sunday: Last Sun in Nov

LENT

• “Lent” from Middle English for Spring

• Traditionally associated with practices of fasting, penance, self-denial, introspection, confession, preparation for Easter

• Matt 4: “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished…”

The Last Temptation of Christ, Duccio di Bonensegna (1308-1311)

• appointed times of prayer during the week

• Scripture reading

• Reflection with a focus on renewal

• Fasting with a purpose

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/worship/daily-prayer/

WHAT IS FASTING?ISA 58

LENTGIVING OUT INSTEAD OF GIVING UP