Lent is a season dedicated to repentance, fasting, and preparing for Easter. The 40 days of Lent provide a chance to strengthen your faith, focus on personal reflection, and open the door to spiritual growth. It’s also a time to invite others along as you strive to observe a meaningful and holy Lent.
If you are a United Methodist preparing your heart for Lent, you can focus on spiritual disciplines that help deepen your relationship with God and align your heart with Christ’s journey to the cross. Here are some meaningful ways to prepare:
Set aside daily time for prayer, asking God to reveal areas in your life that need growth and transformation. Use the Psalms, the Lord’s Prayer, or personal prayers to focus on repentance, gratitude, and renewal. Consider using a devotional guide specifically for Lent.
Give up something that distracts you from God, whether it’s a certain food, social media, or a habit that takes up too much of your time. Instead of traditional fasting, consider a positive fast, such as fasting from negativity or complaining.
Read passages about Jesus’ journey to the cross, such as Isaiah 53, Matthew 4:1-11 (Jesus’ temptation), and Luke 22-23. Participate in a Lenten Bible study, either personally or with the church.
Follow John Wesley’s example of works of mercy by serving others, volunteer at a food pantry, visit the sick, or help a neighbor in need. Make a commitment to give generously, whether financially or through acts of kindness.
Take time to examine your heart and confess any sins that separate you from God. Seek reconciliation in relationships where there may be conflict or division.
Attend Ash Wednesday services and weekly worship to focus on the themes of Lent. Join a small group or Lenten study to grow with others in faith.
Keep a gratitude journal to reflect on God’s blessings even in a season of repentance. Find joy in the journey, knowing that Lent leads to the celebration of Easter.
Kassidy Terry is a certified candidate in the United Methodist Church, discerning a call toward ordained ministry as a Deacon. A native of Bibb County, Alabama, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Services Administration from Auburn University and is currently pursuing her Master of Divinity at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. Kassidy serves as the Director of Contemporary Worship and Pastoral Administrative Assistant at Dauphin Way United Methodist Church, where her work is shaped by both creativity and care for the life of the church. She also serves as an intern with the University of South Alabama Wesley Foundation and sits on its Board of Directors. In addition, she is an active volunteer in Dauphin Way UMC’s student ministry, serving as a small group leader and mentor.
Kassidy is passionate about making the gospel accessible to all, trusting that the good news takes root most deeply when it is shared through creative and engaging mediums. As a poet and theologian, she weaves language and theology together to create devotional resources for worship and small group settings.
Jack has been the pastor at Gadsden Street United Methodist Church since July 2021. This upcoming summer, he is projected to begin serving as the campus pastor for the Trinity United Methodist Church campus in Hoover, a branch of Trinity United Methodist in Homewood. His wife, Cheryl, is also a United Methodist clergyperson serving at Bright Bridge Ministries in Pensacola. In ministry for over 20 years, Jack has served at churches throughout Alabama and Florida and was the Campus Minister at Birmingham Southern College. He grew up in Dadeville, AL where he graduated from high school and learned to ski on Lake Martin. He got a Bachelor of Arts at Auburn University and a Masters of Divinity at Emory. Cheryl and Jack have been married since 2008 and are parents to Macy, Desmond, and their black lab, Scout.
Jack loves Jesus, trees, video games, and seeing people embrace their faith and become something new. His purpose in life is to reveal the good so everyone can answer their call from God.
Dr. Jason Borders is a Professor of Religion at Huntingdon College. He earned his Ph.D. from the London School of Theology, Brunel University, in March 2004. Dr. Borders believes his career at Huntingdon is fundamentally a ministry of the Church. In fact, Dr. Borders is an Ordained Elder in the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. He and his family are members of First United Methodist Church in Montgomery, where he serves as Theologian in Residence. Born in Tupelo, Miss., and growing up as the son of a United Methodist pastor in the Mississippi Conference.
Dr. Borders enjoys helping, enabling, and encouraging students as they begin the process of discerning their life’s calling. And last, but certainly not least, Dr. Borders is the husband of Margaret Borders, whose specialty is medical technology. They have two children, Caleb and Leah Grace. Their first grandchild, Luke Borders, was born in January. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, gardening, beekeeping, and even a little banjo playing.
Rev. Davis is a life-long United Methodist and native of Luverne, AL. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University and a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. She is currently serving as the Director of Connectional Ministries and Assistant to the Bishop for the Alabama-West Florida Conference. In her role as Director of Connectional Ministries, she helps to steward the vision of the annual conference making sure that the resources of the conference are used for our missional priorities. Before her service in the conference office, she served on staff at Woodland United Methodist Church in Pike Rd. She also served in campus ministry at the Troy University Wesley Foundation for eight years. Following her time in campus ministry, she served the Trinity-Wallsboro charge for three years. She is the mother to her 20-year-old son, Will, who is a Junior at Auburn University.
Rev. Davis is passionate about life-long learning, discipleship processes in the local church, and spiritual formation. She is a recent graduate of the Two Year Academy for Spiritual Formation through the Upper Room. She enjoys traveling, playing the guitar, surf fishing, and hanging out with her dog, Princess Leia. Her current favorite spiritual discipline is centering prayer.
Christina has always had a heart for God and accepted the calling into ministry when she was 19 years old. Christina graduated from Millsaps College in 2007 and then earned her Masters of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 2010. After seminary, she was appointed to Trinity UMC in Fort Walton Beach, FL as the Associate Pastor for six years and then was the Pastor at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Gulf Breeze Florida for eight years before returning to Trinity as the Senior Pastor in 2024. Christina is married to Jonathan Shaver and has two wonderful boys, James and George. The Shaver household is never quiet and the biggest blessing in Christina’s life is her family.
Christina enjoys, walking, reading, helping her kids play piano and planning cruises in her free time. Christina lives by the scripture in John 16:33: “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world,” because she knows that God’s love is bigger than any hurt, grief or obstacle. She says, “I hope you will join us for this Lenten journey as we gather together to break bread and to hear God’s word proclaimed.”
Dauphin Way United Methodist Church