While Lent seems to be all about fasting and self-denial, giving something up for Lent might not be the best choice. The purpose of Lent is not to prove our own strength, but to draw closer to God through Jesus. That’s why this year’s Lenten program isn’t about giving up so much as taking on. Take a look now at Lent: 20 + 1 + 15
20: Minutes a day in prayer
A relationship with anyone requires communication, and a relationship with God is no different. The first step in our Lenten plan is to intentionally spend time in God’s presence by devoting 20 minutes a day to this task. While that may not sound like a lot of time, even those of us who have been intentional about prayer for a while can find 20 minutes to be a burden if we don’t plan it out. Sitting quietly with eyes closed for 20 minutes probably won’t do it. Try using a devotional book or the daily office. Use the five different types of prayer (Praise, Petition, Thanksgiving, Confession, Offering). Write down prayer requests. Read a Bible passage slowly. All these tools give you an object for your attention and keep your prayer from turning into a conversation with yourself. Use them while listening to what they might have to say. Growing in prayer can happen.
1: Hour in corporate worship a week
It’s not a lot of time, but somehow we find it difficult to fit into our week. Make a point this Lent of simply showing up—the priority of Sunday morning is both an important witness to our culture which expects us to worship ourselves, our jobs or sports, and it is the only way to stay on track. If a relationship with God matters, weekly worship has to be included.
5: Hours in service throughout the whole season
Sounds like volunteer hours, but service is so much more. Whatever we do for someone else not expecting a return is service. These are hours spent on another. You might use your service time online, learning about an issue so that you can use your knowledge to make changes. Of course, you do have to do something with that knowledge! You might call someone who is lonely, or offer free babysitting for an afternoon. Or you can always volunteer—there’s lots to do at Trinity, Interfaith Community Services or other community projects. Five hours to make a difference!
That’s all it takes: 20 + 1 + 15 = Holy Lent!
But one more thing—you might want to share! We will have opportunities on Sundays to share prayer requests and insights (things you might have discovered in your 20 minutes of daily prayer). We will also have an opportunity at the end of the service to celebrate the places of service we plan to enter in the week ahead. All this will be available on the First Sunday of Lent; stay tuned!