Lent at Chatham

WHAT IS LENT?

 

For centuries, Christians from many traditions have observed the season of Lent, modeled after Jesus’ 40-day fast in the wilderness. This is is a time of repentance and rediscovery of God’s grace.


Lent is an opportunity for both personal and communal renewal and growth. Individual believers are encouraged to withdraw into the wilderness with Jesus by taking on a temporary limitation and adding spiritual practices to foster a deeper communion with God. It is a chance to take stock of your spiritual condition in light of the gospel and to seek a greater influence of the Holy Spirit. Corporately, it is a time of preparation for remembering Christ’s suffering and death during Holy Week and celebrating his victorious resurrection at Easter.



WHEN IS LENT?

 

Our observation of the 2025 Lent season begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5 and ends on Easter Sunday morning, April 20.


HOW WILL WE OBSERVE LENT AT CHATHAM?

 

‣ Wednesday Morning Prayer, 6:30 a.m.

Beginning on Ash Wednesday, we will gather to pray each Wednesday during Lent and into Holy Week for an hour starting at 6:30 a.m. We will meet in the Learning Center's Hospitality Space.

‣ Friday Lenten Prayer Nights, 7 p.m.
During this season, we will set aside most Friday nights to join in prayer with a special emphasis on confession, repentance and intercession. Watch the calendar for specific dates and details. We will meet in the Worship Center.


‣ Pray for the Lou Prayer Walk - Saturday, March 15 at 10 a.m.
This morning, we will prayer walk in neighborhoods and business areas near Chatham as we participate in Pray for the Lou, a regional event with opportunities to unite in prayer with other St. Louis area churches and believers. Learn more on our Pray for the Lou page.


‣ Women's Conference - March 28-29
"Remember Your Joy," Chatham's Women's Conference for 2025, takes place during this Lenten season at the end of March. Learn more and register on our Women's Conference page.


‣ Our Battle / Lenten Prayer Night - Friday, April 4 at 6:30 p.m.
Tonight, Chatham will host a special time of prayer with believers from churches across the area as we worship together and ask the Lord to move in our community. Learn more about Our Battle on our Special Prayer page.

‣ Sunday Formation Class, 9 a.m.

During our regular Chatham Formation Class time, we'll have a special class on "Understanding the Atonement." We'll consider the question of why Jesus died and rose again, taking a look at several theories to see which views are supported by Scripture. These biblical teachings will allow us to look at the gospel from different angles and marvel at its diamond-like beauty. Class will meet in the Fellowship Room upstairs.

 

‣ Sunday Sermon Series, 10:30 a.m.
Throughout our Lenten sermon series, "The Cross-Shaped Life," we'll ask some of our deepest and most painful questions regarding common struggles, including shame, anxiety, fear, anger, loneliness, pain and despair, applying the heart of the gospel—Jesus' death on the cross—to our troubled and confused hearts.


‣ Holy Week
Our Holy Week services will include Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.


LENTEN SCHEDULE

  • Ash Wednesday, March 5 - Morning Prayer, 6:30 a.m.
  • Friday, March 7 - Lenten Prayer Night, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, March 9 - Formation Class, 9 a.m. / Worship, 10:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday, March 12 - Morning Prayer, 6:30 a.m.
  • Friday, March 14 - Lenten Prayer Night, 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, March 15 - Pray for the Lou Prayer Walk, 10 a.m.
  • Sunday, March 16 - Formation Class, 9 a.m. / Worship, 10:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday, March 19 - Morning Prayer, 6:30 a.m.
  • Friday, March 21 - Lenten Prayer Night + EFCA Q&A, 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, March 23 - Formation Class, 9 a.m. / Worship, 10:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday, March 26 - Morning Prayer, 6:30 a.m.
  • Friday, March 28-29 - Women's Conference
  • Sunday, March 30 - Formation Class, 9 a.m. / Worship, 10:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday, April 2 - Morning Prayer, 6:30 a.m.
  • Friday, April 4 - Our Battle Prayer Night, 6:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 6 - Formation Class, 9 a.m. / Worship, 10:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday, April 9 - Morning Prayer, 6:30 a.m.
  • Friday, April 11 - Lenten Prayer Night Men's Gathering, 7 p.m.


HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

  • Palm Sunday, April 13 - Formation Class, 9 a.m. / Worship, 10:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday, April 16 - Morning Prayer, 6:30 a.m.
  • Good Friday, April 18 - Worship, 7 p.m.
  • Easter Sunday, April 20 - Worship, 10:30 a.m.



WHAT SHOULD I DO DURING LENT?

 

It is critical to keep in mind that the point of Lent is not to observe rituals or take part in programs. The goal is to pursue a deeper relationship with God. The main question is: What will help you get closer to the Lord? Consider the following three areas:


‣ GIVE IN. Commit to additional spiritual disciplines. You can do something with your family or as a small group, or participate in special prayer meetings at church. You can follow a daily Lenten devotional; increase your Bible reading time; add confession, singing, intercession, or some other kind of prayer to your regular time with God; or go on prayer walks. Consider focusing on a particular area of growth like humility or gracious speech.

‣ GIVE UP. Commit to the biblical discipline of fasting. In its most basic and common form, fasting is total abstinence from food. Fasting should never become a means of manipulating God into giving us what we want, like a hunger strike. Instead, it is an expression of our humility and dependence on God. If your health allows, consider fasting every Wednesday or Friday during Lent (intentionally skipping one, two or all three meals that day). Remember to stay hydrated. You can also do a partial fast by giving up certain things that exert an influence over you or seem particularly important. Consider fasting from T.V., social media, video games, or other forms of entertainment; coffee, soda, or other stimulants; meat or sweets; alcohol; sex or sleep. Partial fasts sharpen our spiritual appetite and make us more aware of God’s presence and power.


‣ GIVE AWAY. Commit to generous giving of your money, time, and energy for the benefit of others. Consider giving financially to missions, benevolence, someone in need, or the church. Look for opportunities to serve someone by giving them your time or using your skills for their good. We'll have special opportunities to give during this season.


Additionally, to help us remember that our sacrifices and disciplines are a response to Christ’s finished work on our behalf, you can use Sundays as feast days to relax your Lenten commitments.



WHAT RESOURCES CAN I USE?


Daily Devotional:
This year, we are encouraging the use of John Piper's "Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die" (Wheaton: Crossway, 2006), which is available in print or as a free download. Limited copies of this book will be available at Chatham.

On Lent:
‣ Aaron Damiani, "The Good of Giving Up: Discovering the Freedom of Lent" (Chicago: Moody, 2017)


On Fasting:
‣ John Piper, "A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer" (Wheaton: Crossway, 1997)

On Media Fasting:
‣ Sarah Gregor, "Going Dark for More of His Light: Prepping for a 40 Day Social Media Fast" article, miniministry.com

Additional Devotional Options:

‣ Our Lenten devotional, "Meditations In the Book of Isaiah," is available to download or read online.


‣ Gospel in Life offers a free 40-Day Lenten devotional.

‣ Nancy Guthrie, ed. "Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross: Experiencing the Passion and Power of Easter" (Wheaton: Crossway, 2009)

‣ Henri Nouwen, "Show Me the Way: Daily Lenten Readings" (New York: Crossroad, 1992)

‣ Paul Tripp, "Journey to the Cross: A 40-Day Lenten Devotional" (Wheaton: Crossway, 2021)