Lenten activities prepare UMs for Easter

By Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
They hope it will encourage people to remember the brutal death of Jesus and the miracle of his resurrection.
Congregations across Southwest Texas are celebrating the 40-day Lenten season—which began Ash Wednesday (Feb. 21)—with various special events. They are designed to attract people into churches to learn more about Easter.
“We basically want to raise awareness about this season of the church year,” said Carol Ann Weston, director of Christian education at First UMC, Portland. “We want to make people really think about the cross during Lent and about how much we have compared with other people.
“We’re doing things that might cause people to come to find out a little bit more about what the life of Jesus was and what it means and what the church has to offer.”
The 994-member Portland congregation focuses on how it can reach out to others during Lent, Weston said.
Lent is the liturgical season from Ash Wednesday to Easter (April 8)—about one-tenth, or a tithe, of the year. The 40 days (not counting Sundays) mirrors the time during which Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness.
Through fasting, prayer and repentance, Christians reconnect with God during Lent to step into a more abundant life.
The Portland congregation kicked off Lent with a pancake supper Feb. 20, provided by the church’s men’s fellowship and study groups, Weston said. Donations at the meal were collected for Hands for Christ. It provides home repairs for elderly and low-income people in the Gregory-Portland area.
During the supper, Weston said people had the opportunity to participate in several hands-on activities. They included decorating flower pots for Holy Week visitors, making Lenten calendars for families and constructing Lenten crosses.
The pancake supper is a tradition every year, Weston added.
Portland church leaders are challenging members and visitors during Lent to collect extra change in creative ways—such as 10 cents for every computer game they own or 25 cents if they own a dishwasher, Weston said. Worshipers are to bring that money to Easter services to be donated to Hands for Christ.
Along with the special collection, Weston said, families are encouraged to read the devotional book Count Your Blessings in Order to Bless Others.
Wesley UMC, Corpus Christi, kicked off Lent with traditional Ash Wednesday services at 12:15 and 6 p.m. The services had no music and a bare altar. Members were encouraged to focus on repentance and the imposition of ashes, said Donna Mueller, administrative assistant.
Wesley is offering a six-week Sunday school Lenten study about walking on water, Mueller said.
University UMC, San Antonio, has a full calendar for the season, said Shauna Forkenbrock, director of communications.
Members began the season with three Ash Wednesday services. The Rev. Sue White, associate pastor, led the worship and launched a Wednesday night study series based on the book Thank God It’s Friday: Encountering the Seven Last Words from the Cross by Bishop William H. Willimon. The series is to run through the season.
Senior Pastor Charles Anderson and Associate Pastor Ryan Barnett are to deliver a sermon series during Lent about the five question God will ask in Heaven, Forkenbrock said. The series is to conclude Palm Sunday.
The five questions are Did you know Jesus? Did you know about Jesus? Did you show Jesus? Did you share Jesus? and Did you share like Jesus?
Associate Pastor Denise Barker is to teach a Lenten study every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., based on the book The Kingdom of God by John Bright, Forkenbrock said.
A Women’s Lenten brunch March 3 featured special guest “Sam” Carter Gilliam, a performing artist, storyteller and educator. Gilliam teaches in the Department of Speech and Drama at Trinity University.
Forkenbrock said all Lenten activities have only one purpose: “To focus our hearts and minds on the season of Lent.”
“This is a preparatory season for Easter, and having these events gives us a singular focus,” she said.
Traditionally, Forkenbrock said, University’s Lenten activities attract a high volume of people.