Modern practice of Lent is changing to include more social activism and Latino influence

"It's very personal for me. More of an inward reflection of me than an outward expression of fasting or giving things up," he said. "I have found that more rewarding than fasting."

Rev. Seddon said this will be his first Lent as an ordained priest, so he anticipates his focus will be more in helping others find meaning in Lent than on what he will be doing personally.

For Rev. Seddon, a former archaeologist and anthropologist, much of that meaning will come in simply performing the communal and personal rituals of Lent, such giving up a habit, forgoing a favorite food, praying more often or volunteering at a local soup kitchen.

"These Lenten practices are extremely important. It’s not just a bunch of strange magic that we do," he said. "It is an expression of our deepest beliefs that informs those beliefs in a constantly reiterative manner."