Lenten Experience Guide

What exactly is Lent? And why do we practice it?

Lent is a 40-day journey leading to Holy Week and Easter. For believers, this journey is focused on an intentional purpose to come to closer to Jesus. It's a time to press into various practices and listen to where God is leading and what he is doing in your heart.

| Four Minutes for 40 Days |

Lent is a dedicated time of saying yes to God. Each day we encourage you to P.R.A.Y.

Pause | Light a candle and center yourself

Reflect | Read the scripture for that day and reflect

Ask | What is God inviting me into? What truth can I marinate in?

Yield | Close in prayer surrendering to the Spirit's leading.

| Communion |

On the night before he was arrested, Jesus gathered around the table with his disciples. He did what Jesus always does – he took the old celebration of Passover (practiced by the people of God as a remembrance of their rescue out of slavery in Egypt) and made it new – breathing fresh meaning and symbolism into this breaking of bread and drinking of wine.

Communion is about remembering.

Remembering the cross and what Jesus did for us.

Remembering our brokenness.

Remembering the intensity of his love and all that it means for us.

When Jesus shared his Last Supper, it was around the table with friends.There is something special about sharing this practice together. Jesus knew we would need one another to keep these remembrances center of our hearts and at the forefront of our minds.

Within these next 40 days, we encourage you to gather at a table at least twice to experience communion with your family, friends, small groups, and/or neighbors. Together, let's remember Jesus' journey to the cross and remind one another of his unconditional love for us.

Engaging with Kids During Lent

Additional Resources

You can pick up a Lenten Experience Guide on Sunday mornings, or print your own.

If you would rather engage digitally, you're in the right place!

The Practices

Each practice can be used intentionally to bring you into the presence of God. You can use a different practice each day, a couple throughout the week, or just one.

Lectio Divina

This is not studying the Bible for knowledge, but for intimacy with God. It’s a mix of reading and praying – sitting in His presence with a reflective heart and no expectations other than dedicated time hearing what He wants to whisper to your soul.

Here is one of several ways to read in Lectio Divina; you’ll read the passage four times, and you can take some time in silence and/or prayer in between each reading...

Read | Read slowly and allow the story Jesus is telling to come alive. Be open to hearing from the Holy Spirit.

Meditate | Focus on a part of the passage you are drawn to, repeat it to yourself a couple of times, turning it over and over in your mind. What word or phrase is impressed on you?

Pray | Spend time praying from what the Scripture and the Holy Spirit has surfaced in you. What are you feeling? What might you need to confess? What do you want to ask for yourself or others?

Contemplate | Rest quietly in the words of Jesus. Take as much time in His presence as you are able. Let the words of Scripture move from your mind to your heart.

Fasting

For many, participating in Lent means fasting from something. Fasting means to give up something that is enjoyable, not as a punishment, but instead to pay more attention to God and make space to hear from Him.

A way to ‘empty us so that the Lord may fill us.’ - Thomas McKenzie

You may also choose to fast from harmful or negative things to intentionally make room for His good. Fasting from things that bring comfort, things that are unnecessary or things that are distracting and numbing can be a great way to remind us, many times a day, to go to God for His comfort and allow Him to have space to work.

Listening Prayer

Listening prayer slows us down. It is a shift from much of the praying we often do – talking and asking. Getting truly quiet and open enough to listen can be a challenge, but these quiet and still moments with God soften our hearts. As we just sit in His presence, we begin to notice and hear things we otherwise would miss.

Quiet | Take a few deep breaths, clear your mind of distraction. This will be hard at first, but every time your mind wanders, gently refocus. It will get easier the more you practice.

Listen | Ask Him to be with you. Tell Him that you intend to listen for anything He may want to say. Then do just that, sit quietly and listen. Start with just a couple of minutes and work your way up to longer periods of time as you get better at just being with Him.

Reflect | Take note of anything you feel that God impressed upon you during your listening. Maybe it was a Scripture or a song or a challenge to act. Are the things you hear Him saying consistent with His word?

This practice can also be done in a group setting or in conjunction with reading a passage from the Bible. Sit in the quiet and listen individually, then you can read and reflect together.

Visio Divina

Visio Divina (or divine seeing) is the practice of prayerfully inviting God to speak to your heart as you look at an image. Creativity is a gift from God, and we can use works of art to encounter Him. It can be done by yourself or with others, and is great to do with kids!

Find an image | You can use an image or real piece of any kind of art. Find some parable specific images on our Pulpit Rock Visio Divina Pinterest board. Ask the Lord to speak to you.

Focus small | Look at the image and let your eyes stay with the first thing you notice. Keep your focus on that small part for about a minute or so.

Focus on the whole | Now look at the entire image. Take your time and look at every part.

Reflect | How do you feel looking at the image? What does the image stir up in you? If you had to describe the image in a sentence or two what would you say? If you were in the image, where would you place yourself? Do you get a glimpse of the sacred from this image? What might God be saying to you through this image?

Pray | Finish with a prayer. If desired, keep the image in a place you can see it throughout the day. You can journal or practice your own creativity with the image and what He shows you as inspiration.

Additional Resources

Images

Books

On the Blog...

Lent | Reflection

Easter: I AM The Vine

By Caitlin Garrett | March 27, 2024

Praying this Holy Week is filled with meaningful moments for you. Please join us for our Good Friday walk-through opening at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary. Easter services will be held at regular times. I AM We are studying the 7 statements Jesus makes in John beginning with this phrase – ‘I am’. The best way to get to know…

Read More

Lent | Reflection

I Am: The way, the truth, and the life.

By Caitlin Garrett | March 22, 2024

Good morning, We are just a few days out from Holy Week and coming to the end of our Lent experience. You will receive one more email next Thursday as you prepare to go into Good Friday and the weekend before Easter. I AM We are studying the 7 statements Jesus makes in John beginning with this phrase – ‘I…

Read More

Lent | Reflection

I Am: The Resurrection & Life

By Caitlin Garrett | March 15, 2024

Good snowy afternoon, The past few weeks in this season have been an intentional time of focus on the true picture of Jesus. As we get ever closer to Holy Week, we pray that this resource is awakening you to Jesus in fresh ways. If you are just joining us or are wondering what Lent is all about, scroll to…

Read More

Lent | Reflection

I AM: The Good Shepherd

By Caitlin Garrett | March 6, 2024

Good morning, Thank you so very much for engaging with our Lent resources during this season. If you would like to share how it’s been going for you, please do! If you are just joining us or are wondering what Lent is all about, scroll to the bottom of this email. I AM We are studying the 7 statements Jesus makes…

Read More

Lent | Reflection

I AM: The Gate

By Caitlin | February 29, 2024

Hello church, Very glad you are with us for week three of our Lenten journey. If you would like to share how it’s been going for you, please do! If you are just joining us or are wondering what Lent is all about, scroll to the bottom of this email. I AM We are studying the 7 statements Jesus makes in…

Read More

Lent | Reflection

I AM: The Light of the World

By Caitlin Garrett | February 23, 2024

Welcome to week two of our Lenten journey. I am praying for you as you continue your heart’s preparation. If you are just joining us or are wondering what Lent is all about, scroll to the bottom of this email. I AM We are studying the 7 statements Jesus makes in John beginning with this phrase – ‘I am’. The…

Read More

Lent | Reflection

I AM: The Bread of Life

By Caitlin Garrett | February 16, 2024

What is Lent? The season of Lent is the 40 days leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection three days later and a time to prepare our hearts. This season has been observed by Christians all over the world for over 1,000 years. The purpose of participating and engaging in this time of preparation is to come…

Read More

Lent

Reflections on the Eucharist

By Preston Goff | February 15, 2024

In the main hallway of our house hangs a print of a painting by a Ukrainian artist named Ivanka Demchuck. It’s titled “The Road to Emmaus”, and it characterizes a scene from the story of its namesake. Nearing the very end of the Gospel of Luke, two disciples were walking together on the road to Emmaus when Jesus Himself approached…

Read More

Lent

The Practice of Visio Divina

By Caitlin Garrett & Hannah Eads | March 24, 2022

For those who have never tried anything like this before, we want to help walk you through the practice of Visio Divina.

Read More

Lent

The Practice of Parable Reading

By Caitlin Garrett | March 22, 2022

Experiencing the words of Jesus in the fashion that He spoke them and discussing with others can show us things we haven’t seen before.

Read More

1

2

Next »