Christian traditions converging

Across the America today you can find local newspaper articles on churches in sacrament-oriented denominations celebrating Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent.

More in the realm of news, however, is that churches in other denominations are, too:

Lent is not typically observed in evangelical churches.

“Easter is huge in evangelical churches,” but they do not observe “Lent as Lent,” noted the Rev. Sam Shaw of Hope Church in Tupelo, Mo., according to the Daily Journal.

Still, “Easter must have preparation,” Shaw said. And some non-liturgical churches are embracing Lenten disciplines.

“There is a trend … toward more sacramental forms and it is not surprising to see the recovery of imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday,” said the Rev. Daniel K. Dunlap, vice president of Houston Graduate School of Theology and a liturgy expert, according to the Houston Chronicle.

The Rev. Jeremy Rutledge, pastor of Covenant Baptist Church in Houston, said he will administer ashes at a service Wednesday night, as reported by the local Chronicle.

Most Baptists do not observe Lent. Many of them prepare for Easter by contemplating on the Word rather than through ritual, said the Rev. Kermit McGregor of Calvary Baptist Church in Missouri, as reported by the Daily Journal.

Read it here in the Christian Post.

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