Enrich your Sense of Belonging to God
Dear Saint Paul’s,
As we prepare to enter this holy season of Lent, I wanted to provide you with a brief roadmap of our corporate observance in Lent. This year it is our deep hope that you will engage with our Lenten Forum series “Deep Hunger. Sacred Meals. Nourishing Belonging.”
Each week will feature a wonderful speaker who will present on the intersection of hunger, sacred meals, and belonging. The final week will feature an instructed Eucharist that will aim to answer questions you might have about what we do and why we do them in the Eucharist.
During the Sunday liturgies in Lent, there will be a sermon series on the Lord’s prayer. When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, he taught them this prayer.
Each week, the preacher will speak to a different stanza of this most foundational prayer.
Week 1: Our Father.
Week 2: Give us this day.
Week 3: Forgive us.
Week 4: Lead us not.
Week 5: For thine is the kingdom.
Throughout Lent there will also be devotional resources for all ages available on the table at the bottom of the steps outside of Tucker Hall. This will include ‘Bread of Life” Lenten materials, which highlight how Jesus feeds our bodies and souls. This series ties into our Lenten Forum series “Deep Hunger. Sacred Meals. Nourishing Belonging.”
Wishing you a spiritually renewing and holy Lent,
T.J.+
Forums in Lent: Deep Hunger. Sacred Meals. Nourishing Belonging.
During the five Sundays of Lent, our Forums will explore how the human activity of breaking bread together in mundane and sacred ways feeds us at all levels of being, strengthening our bonds and sense of belonging in ways that affect the depth and the whole of us.
Lent Beyond Sunday Mornings
Resources from Kate Bowler
Kate Bowler is a NY Times bestselling author and associate professor at Duke Divinity School. For Lent, she is offering several selections of daily devotionals along with study questions for individuals or groups. She also offers an email subscription to receive a daily Lenten email.
Bread of Life from Illustrated Ministry
Throughout Lent there will also be devotional resources for all ages available on the table at the bottom of the steps outside of Tucker Hall. This will include “Bread of Life” Lenten materials, which are available to download below. These resources tie into our Lenten Forum series: Deep Hunger. Sacred Meals. Nourishing Belonging. They are especially appropriate for families and highlight how Jesus feeds our bodies and souls.
Bread of Life: Lent for Families
These devotions are designed for families with children, youth, and adults of all ages. Feel free to adapt the content and questions to fit your family’s needs, and remember, you don’t need to complete every activity to have a meaningful experience. We encourage you to explore the material, decide what works best for your family, and find time each week to gather for a devotion.
Bread of Life: Lenten Spiral
Beginning on Ash Wednesday, each day offers a simple activity for your family to complete together. We understand that life can get busy, so these activities are short and sincere, keeping the focus on quality family time. Spirals, a naturally occurring pattern, appear when things are in a state of growth and expansion. These spirals can be followed inward and outward, serving as a guide to mark one’s personal and spiritual growth through the transformative journey of Lent.
40-Day “Love Builds Up” Family Challenge
Beginning on Ash Wednesday, each day offers a simple activity for your family to complete together. We understand that life can get busy, so these activities are short and sincere, keeping the focus on quality family time. Spirals, a naturally occurring pattern, appear when things are in a state of growth and expansion. These spirals can be followed inward and outward, serving as a guide to mark one’s personal and spiritual growth through the transformative journey of Lent.
Bread of Life: Lenten Devotional
This resource invites you to come and nourish your soul with the bread of life. Spend time each week reading the scripture and reflection. Ponder the provided questions or discuss them with someone in your home or your community. We hope this resource will be a simple invitation into the Lenten season and help create a memorable and meaningful Lent and Easter.
Rooted in Love: Lent Reflections on the Life of Christ
Rooted in Love is an exceptionally helpful Lent book, offering a rich array of biblical insight and spiritual guidance that Christians of all traditions will warmly welcome and appreciate. Full of practical encouragement and hope, it will help you draw closer to God during Lent and to live a more Christ-like life.
Rooted in Love: Lent Reflections on the Life of Christ (2020), Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally.
In the Midst
“In the Midst” meets us where we are: in this world marked by our mess, fear, despair, violence, and death. Can it be true that God is here, in our experience of pain and grief? Join the Brothers of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist in this five-part exploration of the invitation that waits in even the hardest, messiest parts of life.
Weekly meditations to read, hear, or watch. Resources of reflection prompts, questions, and practices. For individuals or groups. You can also sign up to receive a weekly text message reminder.