Ash Wednesday begins what is perhaps the Altar Guild's busiest season in the liturgical year, Lent. A meeting of the guild with the priest is one of the best ways to begin getting organized. Follow up with lists of the worship services ahead and the support each will need. A separate list should include the extra chores, cleaning brass, polishing silver and checking vestments and linens to be sure that everything is in readiness. Candle supplies need to be checked and liquid wax or a new supply of candles ordered. Knowing what is expected of them, members can volunteer for the tasks.

Palms should be ordered prior to Ash Wednesday and the florist or flower committee contacted about Easter flowers well before Easter. Today arrangements of greens are commonly substituted for flowers during Lent but some churches prefer to have the altar left bare until Easter.

The altar hangings are a significant part of this season. Traditionally purple was the color for this penitential season but today a combination of ash or beige colored fabric trimmed with oxblood and black called the Lenten array is often used. On the fourth Sunday in Lent, known as Laetare Sunday or more commonly Mothering Sunday, hangings and vestments may be changed to rose color. Palm Sunday begins Holy Week and the hangings are changed again, this time to a deep red that remains in place until the stripping of the altar on Maundy Thursday. The altar remains bare on Good Friday and during that time it should be washed and allowed to dry. The team preparing the church for Easter will put the very best hangings in place, usually white or white with gold or brocade.

A fresh Fair Linen, the least ornate available, should be placed on the altar for Ash Wednesday and its use may continue until Easter if it remains free of stains. The very best and most elaborately embroidered Fair Linen should be placed on the altar for Easter. †