What did your churches do as far as formation opportunities for Lent?
We used The Way of Transforming Discipleship for our special lenten study. It went well, but I wouldn't do this for Sunday School.
Also, we experimented with a Lenten Journal. Our pastor and I put together texts for each day along with reflection questions and space for writing. I gave some simple instructions for a 20 minute centering prayer/lectio divina exercise on the Lukan text. This was all made into a booklet and passed out on Ash Wednesday. It was also available online as a blog as well. I was surprised at how much of a hit the booklet was. I thought people would see it and think, "You mean I have to DO SOMETHING??" But instead, many folks followed it religiously and found it to be a very meaningful part of their Lenten journey. Among other things, this reinforces to me that self-agency (doing someone on your own vs. something being spoon-fed to you) is the best means of learning and formation.
I think with each year that goes by, Advent and Lent become more and more meaningful to our congregation. I was encouraged to hear reflection from a deacon of ours who is a relatively new Christian who said, "I love Lent so much, it just makes the resurrection that much more powerful in my life--but I had no idea that it wasn't a universal Baptist thing and that we didn't invent it!"
Thursday, April 19, 2007
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I really like the idea of the Lenten journal. We've done something similar during the Advent season at our church. We invited members of the congregation to write a brief summary, interpretation, story that applied to the lectionary readings surrounding advent. Everyone loved it! It was a wonderful way to include the congregation in preparing for the coming Christ child.
For me there is always a tension in celebrating Lent as a wonderful ritual and yet, challenging myself and the congregation to think about it in new and refreshing ways. Perhaps the Lenten journal is a way to involve others.
On Wednesday nights with a small Bible study group, we used the BCE curriculum for Global Baptists, "Eyeing Easter, Walking Through Lent". There was something wonderful and inspiring to use a resource that other Global Baptists had contributed to and were using in their own congregations all around the world.
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