Lent

===== Methodist Churches =====
The historic Methodist homilies regarding the [[Sermon on the Mount]] stress the importance of the Lenten fast, which begins on Ash Wednesday.<ref name="AbrahamKirby2009">{{cite book|last1=Abraham|first1=William J.|last2=Kirby|first2=James E.|title=The Oxford Handbook of Methodist Studies|year=2009|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-160743-1|pages=257–}}</ref> The [[United Methodist Church]] therefore states that:
{{blockquote|There is a strong biblical base for fasting, particularly during the 40 days of Lent leading to the celebration of Easter. Jesus, as part of his spiritual preparation, went into the wilderness and fasted 40 days and 40 nights, according to the Gospels.<ref name="UMCFasting2017">{{cite web|url=http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/what-does-the-united-methodist-church-say-about-fasting|title=What does The United Methodist Church say about fasting?|publisher=The United Methodist Church|language=en|access-date=1 March 2017}}</ref>}}
[[Good Friday]], which is towards the end of the Lenten season, is traditionally an important day of communal fasting for Methodists.<ref name="RipleyDana1883">{{cite book|last1=Ripley|first1=George|last2=Dana|first2=Charles Anderson|title=The American Cyclopaedia: A Popular Dictionary for General Knowledge|url=https://archive.org/details/americancyclopa06danagoog|year=1883|publisher=D. Appleton and Company|language=en |page=[https://archive.org/details/americancyclopa06danagoog/page/n108 101]|quote=The Protestant Episcopal, Lutheran, and Reformed churches, as well as many Methodists, observe the day by fasting and special services.}}</ref> Rev. Jacqui King, the minister of Nu Faith Community United Methodist Church in Houston explained the philosophy of fasting during Lent as "I'm not skipping a meal because in place of that meal I'm actually dining with God."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.umc.org/resources/lent-a-time-to-fast-and-pray|title=Lent: A Time to Fast and Pray|last=Chavez|first=Kathrin|year=2010|publisher=The United Methodist Church|language=en|access-date=1 March 2017}}</ref>

The United Methodist Church teaches, in reference to one's [[Lenten sacrifice]], that "On each Lord's Day in Lent, while Lenten fasts continue, the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection."<ref>{{cite web |title=What is Lent and why does it last forty days? |url=https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-what-is-lent-and-why-does-it-last-forty-days |publisher=[[The United Methodist Church]] |access-date=8 March 2021 |language=English}}</ref>