Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, meaning “lengthen” and refers to the lengthening days of spring. The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry.
Lent is a time of repentance, fasting, and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by new converts and then became a time of penance by all Christians. Today, Christians focus on relationship with God, growing as disciples and extending ourselves, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of ourselves for others.
Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter” and the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.
LENTEN WORSHIP SERIES
February 5-March 26 2023
Our eight-week Lenten worship series “The Chosen” is based on the first season of the popular series “The Chosen.” The series begins on February 5, the first Sunday of Lent, and ends on Sunday, March 26. Click HERE for a complete worship series schedule.
Lenten Prayer Lambs
The Lenten Prayer Lamb ministry for Children’s House Pediatric Rehabilitation hospital began at FUMC Allen in 2002. From 2002 through 2020, our FUMC Allen congregation donated brand new stuffed lambs every Lenten season, and they have been received as a comfort for Christian and non-Christian children alike.
Because the lamb is such a universal symbol of comfort and kindness, these gifts bring great joy to all children. Several of these patients are non verbal at any time during their treatment, and the lamb serves as a powerful tool of communicating compassion and care for them and bestowing kindness. Many of our little ones will take their lamb in their wheelchair to their day-long physical, occupational, speech and feeding therapies to help them feel stronger and tackle the harder tasks.
Lambs can be purchased directly from Amazon using THIS LINK. This is the hospital’s preference since it ensures the lambs have been sanitized. These orders will be shipped directly to the hospital. You can purchase a lamb via a QR code at this table, donate funds at Missions Cafe, or use our Giving Portal to contribute a designated for the purchase of lambs. To access that link, click HERE and select “Lenten Lambs” from the drop-down menu.
We will have prayer/ affirmation cards available in the atrium every Sunday through Lent. You’ll be able to share a prayer or affirmation for hospitalized children. These cards will be delivered to the children when they receive their lambs.
Register your child for First Kids Egg Drop
Your child will be visited by honorary Easter Bunnies who will drop candy-filled eggs on your front lawn for each registered child.
You do not need to be home at the time of the drop.
Registration is open from March 8 through March 26. Eggs will be delivered on April 1. Click HERE to learn more.
HOPE IN JOY PRAYER VIGIL
Sign up today for the North Texas Conference’s “Hope In Joy” Prayer Vigil. Our goal is to unite United Methodist Christians all over North Texas as we pray for Easter joy! Register today for a 30-minute time slot at bit.ly/hopeinjoy.
PALM SUNDAY BAKE SALE
The United Women In Faith need bakers to donate their gifts of baked goods and sweets to the annual Palm Sunday Bake Sale on Sunday April 2. Baked goods will be accepted at the church on Saturday April 1 between 1:00pm and 4:00pm in the FUMC Allen Atrium.