Atlanta Christian Church to start Lenten Season

Atlanta Christian Church will host an Ash Wednesday service to start the Lent Season. (Photo taken from Atlanta Christian Church’s website)

Atlanta Christian Church will host Ash Wednesday Service to begin the Lenten Season on Wednesday, Feb. 22, at its Sanctuary.

The church’s website announced they would have music, prayer, readings, and a short reflection during the morning service. They added that they would have the imposition of the ashers, but it would be optional.

Start of Lenten Season

According to the same website, lent is a 40-day season when the church enters the “wilderness” of life in preparation for the forthcoming Easter event. They noted that the season symbolizes their willingness to recognize their humanity and boundaries.

In addition, they stated that the season is a moment for them to reflect on the condition of their souls that allow God’s grace and mercy to exist in them again. The church explained that it is the time of the “fast” of withholding the too-familiar things.

Moreover, they emphasized that the Lenten Season is the chance to follow Jesus through some of his most pressing and challenging experiences. Besides, it is about observing His journey to the cross as resurrection awaits.

Atlanta Chrisitan Church stressed that lent is the difficult road to new life.

Activities for the Lent Season

The church provides its members with the Lenten Devotional Readings on the same website. They posted that it would be weekly reading materials for those who want to join the activity.

As further mentioned, the church would open the sanctuary for self-guided prayer every morning throughout the season. They explained that members could access the prayer guides in the front lobby to lead them through their time with purpose and focus.

The website noted that the morning prayer would start from March 1 to April 5 every Wednesday morning. They added that members could participate between 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

The church highlighted that they would provide complimentary coffee for everyone throughout the activity.

More importantly, the church would hold a Good Friday service to close the Lenten season on April 07. They explained that the members would enjoy music, readings, prayer, and a short realization of the death and burial of Jesus.

About Ash Wednesday

The Britannica website revealed that Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent in Western Christianity. They noted that it occurs six and a half weeks before Easter, between Feb. 04 and March 11, depending on the date of Easter.

According to them, it is a magnificent reminder that humans need reconciliation with God. They explained that it marks the start of the anguish Lenten season. Most churches practice this day with ashes and fasting.

On the other hand, they pointed out that Eastern Orthodox churches start Lent on Clean Monday and do not practice Ash Wednesday.

More importantly, they stated that the Lenten celebration's duration differs, but it usually started six weeks before Easter in the early Christian church. They mentioned that this gives Believers only 36 days of fasting, which does not include Sundays.

The website noted that they added four days of fasting before the first Sunday in Lent to make it 40 days of fasting.

As stated on the website, the changes happened in the 7th century to imitate Jesus Christ’s fasting in the desert.