FERGUS FALLS — One of the most important times of the year for many churchgoers began Wednesday, with many area churches holding rare Wednesday services to celebrate the beginning of Lent.

These Ash Wednesday services marked the start of the road to Easter. For many, Lent has become a time to give something up, be it chocolate, soda or alcohol, among other things.

But for Rev. Nancy Eldredge Hess at Zion Lutheran Church, Lent has come to symbolize something else.

“I encourage people to take on something for Lent,” said Hess, who mentioned service projects and putting away money for mission trips as two examples.

Zion Lutheran will have 30-minute Wednesday services throughout Lent, according to Hess. These shorter, quiet meetings allow congregation members to reflect on what Lent means to them and are usually well-attended, Hess said.

“We generally understand it as a time to ponder the meaning of the cross,” she said. “People really seem to appreciate those here.”

Ash Wednesday is one of the bigger days of the year in the Catholic Church, according to the Rev. Alan Wielinski at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church. The church is full each year for Ash Wednesday services. This year, Our Lady of Victory congregation members are putting their efforts during Lent toward helping others in need, Wielinski said.

“This year we’re focused on ‘What we give up, we give away,’” he said.

That will come in the form of Operation Rice Bowl, where congregation members will donate food to be sent to needy people across the world. Wielinski, who just returned from a trip to Guatemala, brought pictures from the trip back to show the congregation the impact their donations can have.

“We need to put a face on the poor that we’re praying for,” Wielinski said. “These are real people we are sacrificing for.”

Like Zion Lutheran, Our Lady of Victory will have special services throughout Lent. But theirs will be on Fridays and will include worshippers moving around the Stations of the Cross, according to Wielinski.

There are 47 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. In that time, churchgoers will celebrate Lent privately, with their families and with their congregations.

The spirit of camaraderie during Lent is something to cherish, according to Hess, but it is not unique to these several weeks.

“Any time of the year they rally around meeting needs,” she said.