Lent 2026
Every season of the Christian Year brings with it a two-fold opportunity. First, to remember and focus on specific truths or doctrines found in Jesus’ story. Second, to engage in certain practices that immerse us in and help us experience the story with our bodies and not just our minds!
In the season of Lent this year, we have a few ways for you to engage in Lent both corporately and personally. Keep reading to learn more and get started.
1. Gather Corporately
LENTEN PRAYER
Wednesdays, February 25–April 1 • 12–12:45pm • Three Location Options
This year, we are partnering with our friends at Fellowship Denver to host Lenten Prayer in three locations across our city (see details below). Every Wednesday during Lent, we will gather at all three locations during the lunch hour to pray. Join us at a location near your home, or visit all three to pray with people from Park Church and Fellowship Denver at each.
1. Fellowship Denver North Metro
5855 Wadsworth Bypass, Building B, Arvada, CO 80003
2. Park Church
3025 W 37th Ave, Denver, CO 80211
3. Fellowship Denver South Broadway
1990 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80210
Good Friday
Friday, April 3 • 5:30 & 7pm
We'll allow the Scriptures to take us to the scene of our Lord’s betrayal, arrest, trial, crucifixion and burial, setting us up for a deep celebration of Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday.
ASH WEDNESDAY
Happened Wednesday, February 18
A service with worship, reflective prayer, and the imposition of ashes. We are reminded of our sinfulness, mortality, and the hope that is ours in Jesus.
2. Practice Personally
Lent is an opportunity to focus on spiritual disciplines, particularly as we see them in the life of Jesus. This year we're visiting the disciplines of fasting and Scripture Memorization. Let’s look at each of these:
Fasting
In fasting, we join Jesus in the wilderness as He fasted for 40 days. Fasting isn’t a spiritual discipline that comes to anyone naturally, but takes effort and intentionality. And, yet, in Matthew 6, we find that Jesus didn’t say “if” you fast, but “when” you fast. He assumes His disciples will be fasting!
With that in mind, we encourage you to create a plan that might include something like this:
- A partial fast, like cutting alcohol, sugar, or caffeine.
- A whole fast abstaining from entire meals for a period of time, be it a single meal, a couple of meals, a full day, or multiple days.
- A digital fast (some would call this digital abstinence). Technology, social media, and mindless consumption of shows can take up so much of our time. Time away from these can provide a much-needed break in order to give our attention to other things. Consider talking to others who might do this fast with you!
More on Fasting:
"'Fasting.' Just hearing the word can make us tighten up. Some of us feel guilt. Others become defensive or even angry. It’s a practice many of us have heard is probably a good thing, and yet few of us engage in it with any regularity…"
Read full blog postScripture Memorization
In memorization and meditation, we join Jesus in His deep love and value for the Scriptures as seen clearly in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). Notice His interaction with Satan as He was being tempted! What came out of His mouth? The Word of God. The incarnate Word of God seemed to so clearly rely on and live by the spoken Word of God. Lent reminds us of the centrality and need for Scripture in the life of the believer, not just as something we treasure but also as a means by which we fight against the lies of the enemy! If Jesus needed the Word, how much more do we need the same today? We must learn to ruminate over God’s Word and apply it to specific scenarios and temptations like Jesus did.
It may be easy to assume that Jesus knew these words from eternity past, but we would be missing His humanity and example for us. As a Jewish child, Jesus had to purposefully memorize and meditate on Scripture; an intentional cultivation. Lent is a chance for us to do the same.
Memorizing from James
As a church, we’re in the book of James for much of 2026. We invite everyone to join us in memorizing six sets of verses, one for each week of Lent (then more in the fall!). For those with kids or who would like to memorize a little less, we suggest prioritizing the bolded portions below.
Week One (February 22–28): James 1:2–5
[2] Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, [3] for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. [4] And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. [5] If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Week Two (March 1–7): James 1:12
[12] Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Week Three (March 8–14): James 1:17–18
[17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. [18] Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Week Four (March 15–21): James 1:19–22
[19] Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; [20] for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. [21] Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. [22] But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Week Five (March 22–28): James 1:27-2:1
[27] Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. [1] My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
Week Six (March 29–April 4): James 3:17–18
[17] But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. [18] And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.