SUNDAYS    ...and more
February 17- April 3, 2021
PRAYING
Do you struggle with prayer? Do you wonder if you’re doing it ‘right’? Have you ever wanted to ask someone how to pray? You are not alone. Even though the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, many feel embarrassed to ask a question that seems so elementary. In this podcast episode (click "Learn More" below), the Rev. Adam Weber, a United Methodist pastor and author of Talking with God: What to Say When You Don't Know How to Pray, shares how his understanding of prayer changed over the years and offers tips and advice to help us have better conversations with God. He even touches on how to think about the times when God doesn't answer our prayers in the way we would like.
FASTING
There is a strong biblical basis for fasting, particularly during the 40 days of Lent leading to the celebration of Easter. Jesus, as part of his spiritual preparation, went into the wilderness and fasted 40 days and 40 nights, according to the Gospels. Fasting has been a part of Methodism from its early beginnings. John Wesley considered fasting an important part of a Christian's life and he fasted weekly. To Wesley, fasting was an important way to express sorrow for sin and penitence for overindulgence in eating and drinking. He believed it allowed more time for prayer and was more meaningful if combined with giving to the poor. Wesley did advise caution against extreme fasting and against fasting for those in fragile health.
SERVING
When asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus answered with two: “You must love the Lord your God” and “You must love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Matthew 22:34-40). Following Jesus's call, founder of the early Methodist movement John Wesley taught us to grow in our faith by “doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all” (General Rules). United Methodists around the world are active in our local communities, and through our global connection of congregations and agencies, we participate in ministries thousands of miles from where we live.
   WHAT IS LENT AND WHY DOES IT LAST 40 DAYS?

Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, meaning “lengthen” and refers to the lengthening days of spring. The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry.

Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by new converts and then became a time of penance by all Christians. Today, Christians focus on relationship with God, growing as disciples and extending ourselves, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of ourselves for others.
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Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a "mini-Easter." This is why you will see the designation "Sunday in Lent" rather than "Sunday of Lent" in the naming of these Sundays. On each Lord's Day in Lent, while Lenten fasts continue, the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.
 This content was produced by Ask The UMC,
​a ministry of United Methodist Communications.