Ideas for Lent
I'm sure most everyone knows that tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. I thought these were a couple of good articles on Lent from Christianity Today:
- Lent for the Non-Liturgical
- Leader's Insight: Making Good Friday Better - How an abandoned worship practice helped our church recapture the imagination.
What are any of the rest of you doing? Any ideas you'd be willing to share?
posted by dan at 3:28 PM
7 Comments:
I can't speak for my church as I haven't heard anything specific (and I am not the pastor!), but I tend to create my own experience for Lent that's modified from a couple of sources.
I plan to use the reading plan from Mars Hill Bible Church (available at http://www.marshill.org/lent07/weeklyReading.php), but rather than read them all at once, I'm going to split it up morning, lunch time, end of work day and just before bed. There's also a church near me that usually puts up a simple labyrinth path during Holy Week, so I try to get in there every morning to start the day.
So, there you have it ... at least from a personal devotional time perspective ...
Thanks for sharing, Tammie. It's nice to know someone else is doing something. :)
Hi Dan,
I know this is really late, but from my growing interest in the "Ancient/Future Church," I'm using a classic Lenten approach: imposition of ashes on Ash Wed. (which my congregation seemed to appreciate), a more subdued Sun. Worship service, and a "gradual" personal fast (no desserts in the first week to a "Daniel fast" by Holy Week). I use a devotional guide and reading plan published by the Fellowship of St. James (from Touchstone mag). When I asked my family what we should do as a family, my son suggested that we get back to regular family devotions (I was thrilled to hear that!), and so we use my devotional guide in the evening. Granted, it is definitely more liturgical than what we're used to, but that enhances our experience more than constrict it.
Ben
Thanks for sharing, Ben. These sound like good ideas. I've been going to try the ashes for a couple years, but I don't have any experience and haven't seen a lot of info on it.
I responded to this post a couple of weeks ago but I couldn't sign in. So before Christmas arrive I will try again.
Last year we had a simple meal on Maundy Thursday and concluded with the washing of feet and communion.
Two years ago we used a program from Group called Journey to the Cross. There are several stations to visit each using simple materials, pine bark for the wooden cross, etc. I will use it again in the future but this year besides a Lenten series on the Lamb we will not have anything out of the ordinary.
Lew,
Thanks for responding. I tried to check out the 'Journey to the Cross' thing and didn't find much about it. It sounds interesting though. How did it go over for you?
Dan, As I reviewed my notes I realized I may have given the wrong name. In my notes I called it "The road to the Cross"-a journey from the upper room to the cross. I would be glad to send you a copy of the program and my notes if you would like. mcog@nb.net
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