Lent
The Season of Lent (from the old English word lencten "Springtide", the time of year when the days begin to lengthen) consists of the forty-day period which begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes at the Great Vigil of Easter. Sundays are not included in this count because every Sunday is a joyful celebration of Jesus' resurrection.
The forty-day time frame is a recurring theme which represents spiritual discipline, devotion, and preparation in the Bible. It rained for 40 days during the Great Flood (Genesis 7); Moses stayed on Mt. Sinai 40 days when he received the Ten Commandments from God (Exodus 24:18); Israel wandered for 40 years in the wilderness after leaving Egypt (Deuteronomy 8:2); Elijah traveled 40 days before he reached the cave in Mt. Horeb where he beheld the "Still Small Voice" of God (I Kings 19); and Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness praying and fasting before beginning his ministry (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13).
Lent is a time of preparation before the Easter Celebration. During this period Christians are called to remember the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ and His purpose in coming to earth - to redeem humankind for our sinful nature by his suffering and death on the Cross. For this reason Christians rededicate themselves to prayer, abstinence from foods (fasting) or festivities, and almsgiving (charity) during this period. In this small way our faith is tested even as Jesus' faith was tested.
Because of Lent's penitential nature, the worship service tends to be more solemn and contemplative. The "Alleluias" normally sung as part of the liturgy are omitted, and more time is allotted to silent prayer and periods of remembrance. Purple, a sign of solemnity and somberness, is the liturgical color of the season.
Emmanuel, like many other ELCA congregations, holds special mid-week worship services and promote other devotional activities to help our members concentrate on the Lenten disciplines.
Some material Adapted from "What is Lent?", ELCA web site
“Beneath the cross of Jesus I long to take my stand;
The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land.”
Hymn #107, Lutheran Book of Worship