Easter is quite early this year, which means that Lent starts in February.

Historically, the period of Lent gave people the chance to reflect on life. It was 40 days (to reflect the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness being tested) in which candidates for baptism would prepare themselves and the whole Christian community would engage in study and self-examination.

These days we don’t have quite such a focus on baptism at Easter: it has become a year-round thing, but we still use Lent as a time to study and reflect.

The season begins with Ash Wednesday, when ash is used in the shape of a cross on the forehead to remind us that Lent is a penitential season. It is a time when worship is supposed to be simpler.

We stop using the Gloria; flowers are no longer used in church. It is probably from this “giving up” of certain features of church worship that the idea of giving something up for Lent has developed.

This year, Lent covers some of the time in which I have to complete and submit my final portfolio for curacy in order to be signed off. After that, roughly coinciding with Easter, I have to look at where my next post might be.

So, in many ways, this Lent will be a time of preparation and self-examination for me. Is there something in your life that you could use Lent as a time to reflect on or prepare for?

Perhaps, like me, there is an important change or move on the horizon for you. Perhaps you just want to spend a bit more time studying something that you enjoy or that matters to you.

Maybe you’ve started to think about baptism or confirmation. We will be having a confirmation service in our benefice in May and running preparation sessions for this, so if you think you might want to be baptised or confirmed do speak to me.

Whatever you choose to do this Lent, I pray that it will be a rewarding time for you.

Richard Turk, Assistant Curate Reepham and Wensum Valley Team Churches