Lent at First Lutheran Church of Venice

A season of returning, renewing, and resting in God’s grace.

Lent is a sacred forty-day journey that invites us to slow down, reflect deeply, and draw nearer to God. Rooted in the life of Jesus, particularly his time in the wilderness, Lent calls us into prayer, repentance, generosity, and trust. It is not a season of shame, but of grace; not a burden, but an invitation. Through worship, scripture, music, and community, we walk together toward the cross and ultimately toward the joy of Easter morning.

Whether you have observed Lent for many years or are encountering this season for the first time, you are warmly welcomed here. Come with your questions, your weariness, your hope, and your longing, and know that you are met with God’s mercy every step of the way.

What Is Lent?

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and continues through Holy Saturday, preparing our hearts for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Easter. Traditionally, Lent is a season marked by prayer, fasting, generosity, and reflection. In the Lutheran tradition, Lent centers not on earning God’s favor, but on receiving God’s grace more fully — returning again and again to the promise that we are saved by grace through faith.

Ashes placed on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday remind us of our humanity: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Yet those ashes are placed in the shape of a cross, reminding us that even in our frailty, we belong to Christ. Lent is honest about our brokenness, but even more honest about God’s steadfast love.

Holy Week: Walking with Christ to the Cross

Holy Week is the heart of the Christian year. It is a sacred time when we walk closely with Jesus through his final days, from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, to his last meal with his disciples, to the sorrow of the cross, and finally to the joy of the resurrection. Each service invites us deeper into the story of God’s love made visible in Christ.