Looking for ways to deepen your relationship with God and your neighbors this Lent? Here are a few great offerings from around the Church for 2018. Most of these programs and activities are suitable for individuals and congregations alike.

Photo above by Natalie Collins on Unsplash.

Join the Good Book Club.

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The Good Book Club invites you to read the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts during Lent-Easter 2018. Episcopalians will start reading Luke on Sunday, February 11 and read a section of Luke’s Gospel every day through the season of Lent. The entire season of Easter will be devoted to daily readings from the Book of Acts.

Want to add some multimedia? ChurchNext is offering a free five-week online video course, “Luke the Liberator,” to complement the Good Book Club.

Attend a Listening Session.

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When we tell our true (and sometimes difficult) stories, and when we listen deeply to each other’s stories, we share God’s gift of relationship. We rediscover the unique ways that Holy Spirit’s work in our midst. We build the skills that help us more freely share the love of Jesus with our neighbors.

This Lent, the Diocese is hosting four listening sessions to offer you the opportunity to “tell your story” and hear others’. As our world is increasingly dominated by argument and division, our listening will center on honoring the dignity of every human being.

Meet Jesus in the Gospel of John.

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With a beautiful prayer journal, facilitation guidance for small groups (and more) from the Center for the Ministry of Teaching, and videos from the monks of the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE), Meeting Jesus is a six-week journey and reflection on the Gospel According to John.

Make a Lenten Prayer Space at Home.

Seven ways to observe Lent in 2018

image via buildfaith.org

Virginia Theological Seminary’s buildfaith.org is full of family-friendly ideas for Lent, including how to create a Lenten prayer space at home, Lent in a bag, and arts and crafts with the Lord’s Prayer.

Be Civil.

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Sick of arguing about politics on Facebook? Check out this five-week Civil Discourse Curriculum from the Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations. It’s designed to guide discussions about politics, policy and legislation AND strengthen relationships.

Are We There Yet?

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Grow Christians recommends Are We There Yet?, Forward Movement’s daily devotional for 2018. Contributors share stories from their pilgrimages, from hiking the Appalachian trail to visiting Marian shrines to bearing witness to the pain of historic lynching sites in the American South.

Writers of this year’s devotions include Dr. Catherine Meeks. Meeks, a leader of racial reconciliation efforts in the Episcopal Church, will be speaking at our Ministry Fair on May 12th.

Focus on Service with Episcopal Relief & Development.

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Episcopal Relief & Development reminds us that we meet God in our efforts to heal a hurting world. Their 2018 Lenten Meditations guide focuses on how children around the world inform our spirituality and what we can learn from their spiritual lives.

How will you be observing this Lent? Leave us a comment to share your ideas!

Showing 4 comments
  • Lesley Adams

    I will be joining the Rev. Julie Anne Cicora’s Lenten Knit-along. https://knittingthroughlent.wordpress.com/

    • Meredith Sanderson

      Lesley, this is very cool. Hopefully some other fiber artists will see your comment and join you!

  • Joell

    We are participating in “Living Well through Lent 2018: Loving with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind”. http://www.livingcompass.org. It’s a daily devotional book. We will be holding a weekly discussion group at Cavallo’s Restaurant in New Hartford, NY on Tuesday evenings from 5:30-7:00pm!

    • Meredith Sanderson

      Thank you, Joell, for sharing this invitation!

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