Lent
2026
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Welcome to our Lent site. As we enter the Lenten Season – February 18th, we begin 40 days of repentance, reflection, and renewal, remembering Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness. This sacred season calls us to refocus our hearts on Christ and prepare for the hope and power of His resurrection.
Lent invites us into prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—a time of surrender and spiritual growth. To guide you, we have prepared a devotional booklet for this season. We also encourage you to participate in our 40-Day Chain Fast by fasting a meal, setting aside a habit, or abstaining from anything that may be drawing you away from the Lord (see the section on fasting).
Our 40-Day Chain Fast begins on Ash Wednesday and continues through April 2 (we do not fast on Sundays). I strongly encourage everyone to participate. In past years, this has been a powerful season in our church. Many have experienced God’s transforming work—relationships restored, healing in bodies and hearts, and loved ones coming to the Lord.
I encourage each of you to seek Jesus intentionally. Come before Him and ask what changes He desires to make in your life. Invite His transformation. Pray for deeper faith—not only to believe in Him, but to faithfully walk it out each day.
Let us commit together to seek Him wholeheartedly. As we fix our eyes on Jesus, He will renew and strengthen us.
In Him,
Pastor Soon
A community that
prays together
grows together
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For UPC's Lenten season to be a transformative time for its members, in nearness to God through prayer, reflection, and faithfulness.
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For God's continued grace over the Westwood community, and 99 Ranch and its employees, in the ongoing aftermath of the fatal crash.
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For the Winter Olympics to inspire stories of human kindness, the glory of God through athletic expression, and world unity in a time when it is sorely needed.
Weekly Prayer Requests
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Good health for my family, and wisdom in how to minister to them.
— Dan
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Josh (Austin's step-brother) is in the hospital for sepsis. He's been hospitalized for weeks and has undergone surgery 5 times. May Josh be healed physically and mentally and get closer to God.
For my Mom who has been weakening in her faith. May she be spiritually and mentally healed.
— Christian
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May all of our family members become precious family members of faith who are closer to the Lord and obey Him.
Reading and sharing the Word with my family every day. May the Lord guide and be with us.
I pray for a smooth recovery for my mother from back surgery.
I pray for the pending company loan and other issues. May they all proceed smoothly according to the Lord's will.
— Amy
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Sister's college admissions.
Good health for me and my loved ones.
More meaningful downtime.
More friends.— Will
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For wisdom and health during my studies.
Continued recovery for my grandmas surgery.
— Rachel
Daily Prayer Requests
Submit a prayer request
Fasting Guidelines
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The season of Lent calls us to intentionally reflect on the loving gift Christ gives with his life and his death on the cross. What shall we do in response to that gift? Will we recognize and receive it, following Christ as an offering of gratitude? God has given us grace. Let us respond in faith.
Commencing on Ash Wednesday and concluding on Holy Saturday, Lent is characterized by 40 days of fasting, prayer, and repentance as believers prepare for the celebration of Easter Sunday. There are 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday, where traditionally, the 6 Sundays are not considered to be fasting days because they are considered to be a “little Easter,” a celebration of the resurrection.
Jesus’ journey in the wilderness was the beginning of his ministry, not the end. Forty days in the desert prepared Jesus for a life of service that led to the cross. This season gives us the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Christ, preparing to love and serve. Remembering the Holy Spirit has already given us all that we need to fulfill this calling, respond to the Lord this Lent Season through your time of fasting and prayer and may God richly satisfy our hunger for him.
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The spiritual disciplines of Lent are meant to deepen your connection with God and to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. We have provided the fasting guidelines to help you go about fasting in a way that will fulfill these purposes.
What is fasting?
Abstaining from food, drink, sleep or certain habits to focus on a period of spiritual growth.
Why do we fast?
It is an expression of wholeheartedness. Joel 2:12 says, "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." In the Bible, we have different examples for why people fasted that can serve as a model for us:
To show sorrow and repentance for sin (Deuteronomy 9:18, 1 Samuel 7:6, Ezra 10:6)
To ask for something desperately desired
Protection (Ezra 8:21, 23, 31; Jeremiah 36:9, Esther 4:3)
Healing (2 Samuel 12:15-23; Psalm 35:13)
Direction (2 Chronicles 20:1-30, Acts 13:2)
How do we fast?
Fasting food
Fasting meals: Some people may choose to fast one or two meals a day, from sun up to sun down, a full day, or for several days. Make sure to drink water and be mindful of your physical exertion when you fast food.
Restricting diet: In this type of fast, the emphasis is placed on restriction of diet, rather than abstaining completely from eating (Daniel 1:15). You may choose to restrict your diet for the full 40 days or for part of the time. Often people think to give up food that they enjoy as a way to offer a meaningful sacrifice to God (ie. sweets, meat, coffee, etc.).
Liquid Fast: This type of fast is one in which the person only drinks liquids for a certain period of time.
Abstinence from habits You can choose to refrain from any craving or attachment with the intention of turning your attention to God. You can abstain from Netflix, social media, being on your computer or phone at certain times, etc.
Finally, take a moment to reflect on what God considers to be true fasting in Isaiah 58 and may the Lord lead you in fasting in a way that glorifies him and draws you closer to his heart.
Lenten Devotionals
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We prepared this devotional for the Lenten season with the hope that these reflections will enrich and deepen your spiritual journey over the next 40 days. Many of the readings are drawn from Reflections for Lent by Joyce Huggett. We have intentionally left Sundays blank to give you space to rest, reflect, and spend personal time with God in your own way.
On most days, you will find a Scripture passage along with a reflection. Occasionally, you will also find prayers and quotes from well-known figures. These are meant to serve as helpful guides, but the heart of using this devotional well is to continually ask the question, “God, what are You trying to speak to me?” We hope and pray that you will hear His voice.
May this Lenten season be a meaningful time of drawing closer to God and experiencing His presence more deeply.
