Lent is the season of the church year where we annually devote our lives more fully to introspection, to self-examination, to repentence, to sacrifice. We put away our "alleluias" into an alleluia box until Easter and our joy is tempered by the recognition of our sin and of Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

    Lent lasts forty days, reminding us of the preparation time when the Israelites wandered forty years in the wilderness and of Jesus' forty days of temptation and prayer in the wilderness. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, culminates with Holy Week that includes the crucifixion, and ends when the joyous light of Easter Morning breaks into the darkness of Holy Week.

    Traditionally Christians have chosen Lent as a time to make a special sacrifice to help us remember the sacrifice of Jesus. Special offerings, alms, or the giving up of a personally enjoyable activity are frequent Christian choices during Lent. One person may give up hamburgers during Lent, another student might give to the poor half their allowance, another individual might watch no TV during Lent. Lent is a time to remember sacrifice.

    At Salem, even our live flowers are set aside for this season. Our chancel is adorned with beautiful, but pensive, dried flowers -- until Easter!