The months of March and April are a very interesting and important period in the course of our lives. March brings with it a wide variety of weather patterns from the cold wind and snow of winter to the flower blossoms and warmer weather of spring. April brings with it a full array of the colors of creation as grass and trees begin to green and numerous flowering plans burst forth. We can experience all kinds of weather and days during these two months.
March and April also bring about our annual Season of Lent as part of the "Christian Year" traditions. We Baptists, as part of our free-church tradition, have historically not observed Lent because we felt it was too "high church" and not specifically mentioned in the Bible. In so doing we have missed an important part of our faith tradition - and in recent years, Baptists have begun to emphasize the Season of Lent as a rich and meaningful experience that places emphasis on the passion and preparation of Jesus for his mission of providing for our salvation by his crucifixion and death - and ultimately of course, his resurrection.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which this year is March 2, and continues for 40 days through what is called Holly Saturday, which is on Saturday, April 16.Easter Sunday in 2022 is on April 17. Other key days during Lent include Palm Sunday (April 10), Maundy Thursday (April 14), and Good Friday (April 15).
Lent is a time for the church, and families in the church, that can be helpful just as Advent helps prepare us for Christmas. Lent provides us with a time to strengthen our spiritual disciplines rather than focusing on the world's emphasis on Easter baskets, the Easter Bunny, and egg hunts. By discussing and studying about what Jesus experienced during this time of year more than 2,000 years ago, it can help bring about enhanced meaning of Easter and what the sacrifice of Jesus means for our salvation. Families can spend time in study, prayer, and discussion on the true meaning of this season of the year which culminates on Easter Sunday with our celebration of the Risen Christ!
As we have done in past years, we are providing devotional guides - free of charge - to our members for Lent and Easter study. The guides is titled The Wondrous Cross - Reflections on Christ's Sacrifice Drawn from the Songs and Hymns of Easter." As stated on page 3 in the introduction of the study, "The songs of the Cross give form and voice to the resounding response of our souls. As we sing them, consider them, and pray them, these songs help us enter into the meaning of Christ's sacrifice...Each article in this devotional resource draws upon a piece of music to reflect on Jesus' death and resurrection - to wrestle with difficult questions, to meditate upon key moments in Christ's passion, to delve into the mystery of salvation, and to celebrate Jesus' victory over sin and death."
We invite you to join us in this season of repentance, contemplation, study, prayer, and preparation as we once again contemplate the meaning of the passion, death, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ...and then as we prepare to celebrate and live as believers in the Risen Lord - the power of the resurrection!