Ash Wednesday March 05, 2025 Lent - Ash Wed. till April 17, 2025 Easter Sunday - April 20, 2025

The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the cornerstone of the Christian faith, symbolizing victory over sin and death. Several verses throughout the Bible illuminate the significance of this miraculous event, offering believers hope, inspiration, and assurance. Here are five powerful Bible verses that capture the essence of Christ’s resurrection:

1. Matthew 28:6: “He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

This verse from the Gospel of Matthew encapsulates the joyous proclamation of the angel at Jesus’ empty tomb. It affirms the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to rise from the dead, confirming His divine identity and the truth of His teachings.

2. 1 Corinthians 15:20: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”

In his letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul emphasizes the centrality of Christ’s resurrection to the Christian faith. He presents Jesus as the “firstfruits” of the resurrection, paving the way for believers to experience eternal life through Him.

3. John 11:25-26: “Jesus said unto her, I am the Resurrection, and the Life: He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?'”

These profound words spoken by Jesus to Martha, the sister of Lazarus, convey His authority over death and His promise of eternal life to those who place their faith in Him. They offer comfort and assurance to believers facing the reality of mortality.

4. Romans 6:4: “Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

In his letter to the Romans, Paul draws a parallel between the believer’s baptism and the resurrection of Christ. Through baptism, believers symbolically participate in Christ’s death and resurrection, experiencing spiritual rebirth and a transformed life in Him.

5. Acts 2:24: “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.”

This verse, spoken by the Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost, highlights the divine power behind Christ’s resurrection. It underscores the triumph of life over death and the fulfillment of God’s plan for redemption through His Son.

These five Bible verses offer a glimpse into the profound significance of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, inspiring believers to embrace the hope, assurance, and new life found in Him. As Christians around the world celebrate this foundational truth, may these verses serve as a reminder of the transformative power of Christ’s victory over the grave.

Ask aloud, "What is lint?" Wait for the expected answer:

a 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that many Christians observe in preparation for Easter.

Say, "No, no. I'm asking about "lint"! Hold up index card with L I N T in big letters. Give the definition:

a soft fleecy material made from linen usually by scraping. b. : fuzz consisting especially of fine ravelings and short fibers of yarn and fabric.

What is lint good for? Wait for someone to ask, "Which one, L I N T or L E N T?"

Things lint is good for:

• Use lint to soak up spills instead of paper towels
• Use a lint roller to clean up crumbs and other debris from car seats
• Use a lint roller to clean up glitter from your workspace or floor
• Use lint as a substitute for landscape fabric to prevent weeds
• Use lint as mulch for indoor and outdoor plants. It'll degrade into the soil
• As stuffing for stuffed animals, dog toys, throw pillows, or comforters
• Use lint to stuff gift boxes or packages.
• Use lint as a fire starter Use lint as an oil sponge
• Use lint as food for worms
• Use lint as bedding for small pets like hamsters, rats, or guinea pigs

I'll read that last one again: Use lint as bedding for small pets like hamsters, rats, or guinea pigs. Please tell me that none of you ever had a pet rat!

Well, now let's turn our attention back to the 'L' 'E' 'N' 'T' Lent.

Lent 2025 is the six weeks leading up to Easter. Okay, then, when is Easter? Easter is always held on a Sunday. Hence, the name Easter Sunday. Easter falls on a Sunday between 22 March and 25 April, but working out which Sunday exactly requires an astronomical calculation.

Last year, Easter fell on Sunday, March 31st for most Christians (catholics and protestants). But for orthodox churches such as those in Greece, it was on May 5th instead of March 31st.

This year, for protestants, Easter falls on April 20, 2025. And next year, Easter falls on Sunday, April 5th.

It turns out that the date of Easter is determined using a formula that combines elements of both lunar and solar calendars. Specifically, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox (approximately March 21). This method was established by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD and is known as the "Computus".

It starts on Ash Wednesday (March 5, 2025) and either ends on Maundy Thursday (April 17, 2025) or Holy Saturday (April 19, 2025), depending on the denomination.

The Gregorian calendar, used by most of the Western world, calculates Easter differently from the Julian calendar, which is used by some Orthodox Christian churches. This difference in calendars results in variations in Easter dates between Western and Orthodox traditions.

Well, okay, that takes care of when Easter is, and isn't confusing whatsoever. So now let's talk about what Easter is. Who can give a definition?

Easter, also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary.

So, now let's come back to Lent: 'L' 'E' 'N' 'T'. The Christian season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 40 days before Easter (not counting Sundays). In 2025, Ash Wednesday is March 5.

What do people do on Ash Wednesday? Many Christians attend church services on Ash Wednesday to receive ashes on their foreheads in the sign of the cross. Why? (wait for answers) ... Ashes are a symbol of penance in the Old Testament and in pagan antiquity.

In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting. In the sixth century, Christians who had committed grave faults were obliged to do public penance. On Ash Wednesday, they donned a hair shirt (which they wore for 40 days), and the local bishop blessed them and sprinkled them with ashes. Then, while others recited the Seven Penitential Psalms, the penitents were turned out of the holy place. They could not enter the church again until Maundy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter), when they received absolution.

Easter is based on the lunar cycles of the Jewish calendar. Because Easter is based on a lunar month (which is 29.5 days), the date of Easter can vary.

Easter is a “movable feast,” so it doesn’t happen on the same date from year to year. In the Gregorian calendar, it is always observed on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25. But in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, Easter can be observed anywhere between April 4th and May 8th.

What Is the Most Common Easter Date?

Over a 500-year period (from 1600 to 2099 AD), Easter will most often be celebrated on either March 31 or April 16.

What is the Most Unusual Easter Date? March 22nd.

As of today's date, Feb 9th 2025, there are 23 more days until Ash Wednesday, 24 days until the beginning of Lent, 66 days left until the end of Lent, and 69 days until Easter Sunday.

Lent is a 40-day period of reflection, repentance, and preparation for Easter. It's a time for Christians to remember Jesus's death, ask for forgiveness, and prepare to celebrate his resurrection. The 40 days of Lent are set aside to praise and worship the Lord; to read the Bible more, and to pray more. It should be a time of anticipation and reflection for Christians, as Resurrection Sunday is the most important day in all of history.