Today is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent…

In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter.

The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

And I wonder… Have you introduced your students to this significant season within the Christian calendar?

It’s quite possible that many of our students did  not grow up in a tradition that observed Lent. Or, maybe they grew up in a tradition that observed it, but nobody ever took the time to explain the significance of it… Or, it’s quite possible that our students have simply never cared about this season… up to this point.

I know that was true for me growing up… But as I’ve gotten older, I have been exposed to the richness of this season and it observance… And I have felt the need to introduce students to this significant time as well.

I think that’s a significant part of what we do in our work with college students… Introducing them to new things, significant things, that help to broaden their understanding of the body of Christ.

For the past few years our team has worked with our School of Religion, as well as a number of faculty, staff, and students, to create an online devotional to serve as a guide during the season of Lent.

You can view this year’s devotional, or download it, here.

There are so many possibilities for helping students to better connect to their faith during this season.

A season that culminates in the impossibility of all possibilities — the dead coming back to life — which ultimately has changed everything… forever!

God’s grace and peace be with you and your communities as we travel through this season of Lent.

If your ministry offers something unique for students during this season… please share about it in the comment section below.