The season of Lent has begun.  Here at Atonement Lutheran Church our  WELCA group has been sponsoring a Reverse Lenten Calendar the last few years and will continue to do so during this Lenten season.

The season of Lent is a 40-day period and is symbolic of significant Biblical events including:

• Jesus' 40 days of fasting and temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).

• Moses spending 40 days on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28).

• Elijah's 40-day journey to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8).

• The 40 days of rain during the Great Flood (Genesis 7:12).

• The Israelites' 40 years of wandering in the desert (Numbers 14:33).

“The origins of Lent seem to be rooted in Christians giving up food or money in order to emulate Christ’s obedience to the Father.  Three main ways people engage in Lent are through fasting (abstaining from something to focus on God, prayer, and almsgiving (giving to charity).”

The Reverse Lenten Calendar focuses on ‘giving’ as opposed to ‘giving up’!  Again, our Atonement WELCA group is sponsoring the calendar to support the Sunrise of Pasco County Domestic & Sexual Abuse Center.  Participants are asked to put one item of need in a basket or box each day during Lent.  Deliver to the church any time during Lent as there are collection boxes available now in Friendship Hall.  The collection will conclude at Easter.  The items will be delivered to Sunrise the week after Easter.

Sunrise of Pasco County Domestic & Sexual Abuse Center has been so appreciated of our collected items in the past.  WELCA will welcome your participation.  Suggested items are below……  Thank you.