Keeping a Holy Lent

Looking for a Lenten discipline? Here are some resource suggestions from a few of your fellow LOC parishioners:

I. Books:

• The Lenten Journey; Notes, Prayers and Devotions for Lent and Holy Week (Olsen, Eirik, available at Light of Christ; look for the “little red book” on the Information Table)
• Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation (M.R. Mulholland Jr);
• Show Me the Way: Daily Lenten Readings (H. Nouwen)
• Lent and Easter: Wisdom from Henri Nouwen (J. Bauer);
• For Kids/Family, Good Dirt: Lent, Holy Week and Eastertide (L.F. Borgo & B. Barczi).
• Great Lent (Alexander Schmemann)
• Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter (C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton)
• Life with God (Richard Foster)
• Even Among the Rocks (Steven D. Purcell)

II. Practices (Disciplines of Engagement):

• Do something regularly that you used to love as a child–like painting or coloring.
• Meet with a spiritual director or Confessor for the Office of Reconciliation.
• Use a discipleship tool like Paul Hughes iFollow (http://www.ifollow.cc) with a friend or mentor
• Spend time with your son or daughter—for example, invest in their spiritual formation by helping them prepare for confirmation.
• Pray with specific intentions in mind for your own formation. For example, contemplate your union with Christ in both His death and resurrection, pray for the lost and to be used in helping them come to the Lord, ask the Lord how to more fully live out your baptism.
• Read scripture regularly and prayerfully (e.g. Lectio Divina); consider using the Daily Office readings. (Click here for an online version.)
• Enjoy Lent—
• Try a new ministry or new spiritual discipline (e.g. try one of the guided ways of prayer like The Examen from A New Liturgy: http://anewliturgy.com/)
• Find a new way to give to others in service, or mercy ministry (this goes well if you are giving up a distraction that opens up time in your schedule)
• Pair-up with a friend or prayer partner to try a spiritual discipline, or just to proactively encourage one another in your walk with the Lord

III. Practices (Disciplines of Abstention):

• Give up NPR Radio – drive in silence;
• Give up screen time or social networking
• Skip lunch a couple times a week and use the money you save to donate to the deacon fund or those in need;
• Give up something you use to distract yourself and use the time for prayer, or spending time with friends and family;
• Try fasting but start small (just a meal, then just a couple, etc.). Look at Wednesdays and Fridays first, which were the days when the first Christians would fast in commemoration of our Lord’s betrayal and crucifixion.

About the image

The image we are using for Lent is a modern interpretation of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales characters. It is titled “Pilgrims” and was created by sisters Anna & Elena Balbusso in 2014.