--- title: "Lutheran Church Calendar: Lent and Easter" description: Lent is a time of inward reflection and repentance for our sins. Learn about Lent with these articles and free downloads. --- # Lent and Easter Watch Video × The word “Lent” comes from the old English word *lencten*. This season begins with Ash Wednesday, and runs for 40 days, until Easter. The tradition of placing ashes on the forehead on Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of a season of solemnity and reflection on Christ’s suffering for our sins. Holy Week occurs the week prior to Easter, starting with Palm Sunday and ending with Good Friday. **Colors of Lent and Easter: **The colors for Lent are purple, to remind us of our need for repentance. For Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, black is used to reminds us of our sorrow at our Savior’s suffering. On Easter, the colors are white, the color of purity, holiness, glory, and joy for our Savior’s resurrection and triumph on the cross. ### Lent and Easter Blog Posts [![Lent-Music](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/_blogs/prelude-to-postlude/2018/01/Lent-Music.jpg) ##### Featured Church Music for Lent If you’re looking for some special music to incorporate into your repertoire this season, here are some of our recently added Lenten selections to check out.  Lent December 30, 2021 ](https://blog.cph.org/worship/featured-music-for-lent?hsLang=en) [![lent-ash](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/_blogs/CPH_blog/Worship/2021/02/lent-ash.jpg) ##### Themes in the Season of Lent *To mark the first day of Lent, we’re sharing an excerpt from *Heaven on Earth* in which Arthur Just describes the theological accents in the season of Lent.* Lent February 17, 2021 ](https://blog.cph.org/worship/themes-in-the-season-of-lent?hsLang=en) [![changing-your-familys-hearts-this-lent](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/_blogs/CPH_blog/Teach/2019/03/changing-your-familys-hearts-this-lent.jpg) ##### Changing Your Family's Hearts This Lent *I love you to pieces. *It stuck in my head as something more as I started thinking about Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, a season that can help focus our attention on Christ’s call to repentance. Lent March 20, 2019 ](https://blog.cph.org/serve/a-change-of-heart?hsLang=en) [![prayers-for-holy-week](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/_blogs/CPH_blog/Read/2019/04/prayers-for-holy-week.jpg) ##### Prayers for Holy Week This Holy Week, we'll take a look at some of the actions of Jesus.  We invite you to spend some dedicated time in prayer meditating on His words and actions.  Lent April 12, 2019 ](https://blog.cph.org/read/prayers-for-holy-week?hsLang=en) [![baking-together](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/_blogs/CPH_blog/Teach/2020/03/baking-together.jpg) ##### Easter Teaching Activities for Families Easter is always a special celebration of Christ’s victory. This year is no different. Jesus still died on the cross, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven—and that’s worth celebrating.  Easter April 6, 2020 ](https://blog.cph.org/teach/easter-teaching-activities-for-families?hsLang=en) [![easter-blog](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/_education/2019/01/sunday-school-blog-posts/easter-blog.jpg) ##### Free Easter Children's Message: The Empty Egg This Easter, celebrate the best event in our history—the empty tomb! Perhaps your congregation does a special event for your children. Easter April 11, 2019 ](https://blog.cph.org/teach/free-easter-childrens-message-the-empty-egg?hsLang=en) [![Screen Shot 2020-04-03 at 9.44.17 AM](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202020-04-03%20at%209.44.17%20AM.png) ##### 6 Steps to a Comprehensive Easter Communications Plan While pastors tend to plan Lent and Easter together and some of them even do their planning with Christmas, church communicators know that Easter is the main event. Easter February 6, 2018 ](https://www.concordiatechnology.org/blog/2018/02/6-steps-to-a-comprehensive-easter-communications-plan?hsLang=en) [![VBS-Blog-4](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/VBS-Blog-4.png) ##### 4 Ways to Teach Kids about Lent How can leaders in the church help kids observe Lent? What are some developmentally appropriate activities for kids during this time of repentance? Here are four ways that you can help kids at your church observe Lent. Lent February 8, 2018 ](https://blog.cph.org/teach/4-ways-teach-kids-lent?hsLang=en) October 1, 2024 ### Free Downloads for Lent ![Childrens Activities for Lent Thumbnail](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/_education/2018/02/Lent%20Teaching%20Tools/Childrens%20Activities%20for%20Lent%20Thumbnail.png) #### Children's Activities for Lent Discover resources and activities to teach children about the Lenten season.   [![Download Activities](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/487463/0fce7aaf-0b09-465f-86d7-8e717c0edf31.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/487463/0fce7aaf-0b09-465f-86d7-8e717c0edf31) ![Lent Social Media Watercolors](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/_cph/2020/02/Lent%20Social%20Media%20Watercolors.png) #### Lent Social Media Image Downloads Post a handcrafted watercolor image on social media throughout Lent and Holy Week. [![Download Now](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/487463/196cdb9d-efc6-432d-ab87-c44c641acf2c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/487463/196cdb9d-efc6-432d-ab87-c44c641acf2c) ![07-facebook-joel-2-12](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/07-facebook-joel-2-12.jpg) #### Lent Graphics Kit for Churches Encourage reflection during Lent this year! This free graphics kit includes 7 different Bible verses you can share each week. [![Download Graphics Kit](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/487463/1f9c8db8-c87f-4527-9747-927a45b50c68.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/487463/1f9c8db8-c87f-4527-9747-927a45b50c68) ### Products for Lent and Easter [![Be Gracious to Me: Daily Devotions for Lent and Easter](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/124661.jpg) Be Gracious to Me: Daily Devotions for Lent and Easter ](https://www.cph.org/be-gracious-to-me-daily-devotions) [![Loving Jesus, Died for Me - Arch Books](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/592302.jpg) Loving Jesus, Died for Me - Arch Books ](https://www.cph.org/be-gracious-to-me-arch-books) [![155256-small](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/_books/2022/congregational-promised-treasures-lent-2023/155256-small.jpg) Promised Treasures: Daily Devotions ](https://www.cph.org/p-34544-promised-treasures-daily-devotions.aspx) ![562572-calendar](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/_books/2022/congregational-promised-treasures-lent-2023/562572-calendar.jpg) Promised Treasures: Family Calendar [![562544](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/562544.jpg) Waiting in Wonder for Easter ](https://www.cph.org/waiting-in-wonder-for-easter-family-devotions-for-holy-week) [![592274](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/Imported%20images/592274.jpg) Best-Loved Easter Stories ](https://www.cph.org/p-24743-best-loved-easter-stories.aspx) [![977940](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/_music/2022/music-digital-marketing/977940.png) Proclaim! Preludes and Harmonizations for the Hymn of the Day (Lent and Holy Week) ](https://www.cph.org/p-34905-proclaim-preludes-and-harmonizations-for-the-hymn-of-the-day-lent-and-holy-week.aspx) [![124603](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/_books/2021/congregational-witnesses-to-christ-2022-lent/124603.jpg) Witnesses to Christ: Daily Devotions ](https://www.cph.org/p-34166-witnesses-to-christ-daily-devotions.aspx) [![calendar-562568](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/_books/2021/congregational-witnesses-to-christ-2022-lent/calendar-562568.jpg) Witnesses to Christ: Family Calendar ](https://www.cph.org/p-34169-witnesses-to-christ-lent-and-easter-family-calendar-pack-of-25.aspx) [![daily-devotions](https://communication.cph.org/hs-fs/hubfs/_cph/2021/return-to-the-lord/daily-devotions.jpg?width=128&height=197&name=daily-devotions.jpg) Return to the Lord: Daily Devotions ](https://www.cph.org/p-34045-Return-to-the-Lord-Daily-Devotions-for-Lent-and-Easter.aspx?hsCtaTracking=9691acee-449d-433f-b83e-3bf5a9d39b1b%7C55c2d48e-e566-4426-ae19-0f6b88bcbda0) [![daily-devotions](https://communication.cph.org/hs-fs/hubfs/_cph/2021/return-to-the-lord/daily-devotions.jpg?width=128&height=197&name=daily-devotions.jpg) Return to the Lord: Daily Devotions (Kindle Edition) ](https://www.cph.org/p-34046-return-to-the-lord-daily-devotions-for-lent-and-easter-ebook-edition.aspx?REName=&plk=0&Lk=0&rlk=0) [![return-preaching-and-worship](https://communication.cph.org/hs-fs/hubfs/_cph/2021/return-to-the-lord/return-preaching-and-worship.jpg?width=200&height=200&name=return-preaching-and-worship.jpg) Return to the Lord Lent Preaching and Worship — Digital Edition ](https://www.cph.org/p-34639-return-to-the-lord-resources-for-lent-easter-preaching-and-worship-digital-edition.aspx?REName=&plk=0&Lk=0&rlk=0) [![Eyes on Jesus: Daily Devotions](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/_books/2019/09/congregational-resources-eyes-of-lent_easter/eyes-on-jesus-devotional.jpg) Eyes on Jesus: Daily Devotions ](https://www.cph.org/p-33590-eyes-on-jesus-daily-devotions-for-lent-and-easter.aspx) [![congregational](https://communication.cph.org/hubfs/_books/2019/09/congregational-resources-eyes-of-lent_easter/congregational.jpg) Eyes on Jesus Preaching and Worship Resource ](https://www.cph.org/p-33596-eyes-on-jesus-resources-for-lent-easter-preaching-and-worship-digital-edition.aspx) Copyright © 2023 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. ![](https://analytics.twitter.com/i/adsct?txn_id=nunt4&p_id=Twitter&tw_sale_amount=0&tw_order_quantity=0) ![](https://t.co/i/adsct?txn_id=nunt4&p_id=Twitter&tw_sale_amount=0&tw_order_quantity=0)