Show us the Way
The season of Lent reminds us to pay attention. We start Lent in the desert with Jesus, hoping to leave some of our usual distractions in that barren landscape, so Jesus can show us the way forward. This is a traditional season to practice fasting, giving up something that usually occupies our appetites or our energies. Letting those things go for a time, we hope for Jesus to show us what we need and the way to follow.
As we experience the season of Lent in weekly worship, it is also a great season to try on a more regular spiritual practice of your own. A few ideas are listed here. Lent begins this year with Ash Wednesday on February 25 and ends with Easter on April 12. As we start in the desert and head toward the cross, let's ask Jesus, "Show us the Way".
Prayer at home
Pray in colour with one of these Lenten calendars, adding a prayer on each of the 40 days of Lent.
Rooted offers a weekly devotional from 5 young theologians of colour who illuminate the Lenten scripture texts.
Lectionary Poetry - Explore the weekly scriptures through the words of poets. Sign up on the Englewood Review of Books website to receive each week's batch of poems in your inbox.
Goshen College faculty, staff, and students contribute to daily Lent (and Advent) devotionals, based on the lectionary Scriptures, that you can receive by email or read on their website.
Get creative with your fasting. The social justice publication Sojourners once created this 40 ways to live simply for 40 days of Lent. And here are 5 social justice-inspired things to give up for Lent. Consider using the season to learn deeply about one specific justice issue. Click here for resources (or download below) compiled by Steve Heinrichs, Indigenous-Settler Relations Director of Mennonite Church Canada, to help us gain greater understanding of the Wet’suwet’en & Crown Conflict.
Turn your hunger to feasting each day with these 40 ideas for keeping Lent holy.
Mix it up and do something different each day, with Sarah Bessey's 40 Simple Practices for Lent.
CommonWord at Mennonite Church Canada has many options of books to borrow or other resources to use for the season of Lent. If you're looking for a new prayer book to try this season, also check the HMC prayer room or talk to Pastor Alissa.
Prayer on the go
Take our moments and our days is a free app version of the Anabaptist Prayer Book.
Common Prayer, a liturgy for ordinary radicals, is daily prayer you can follow year-round. d365 is another daily online devotional.
Pray-as-you-go is a prayerful, musical, scriptural podcast, from the Jesuits. It's not too long (less than 15 minutes) and can set your day in the right space any time of year, including Lent.
Living Lent Daily is a daily email prayer break with Scripture and related reflections, with suggestions for further exploration. Living Lent Daily is based on Sacred Space—the trusted online prayer site by the Irish Jesuits.
Drawing Closer to Creator & Creation: An Indigenous Journey through Lent is a Lenten devotional that encourages you to take your reflection outside. There are short daily readings (from Dr. Randy Woodley) on weekly themes, with reflection questions.
Prayer with Children (and other great people)
An Illustrated Lent for Families: Reflections on Fasting includes devotionals, activity pages, and colouring pages for families to use together as they journey through Lent.
Salt Project has various Lenten resources, including 2 devotionals that are designed to be family-friendly. Pastor Alissa has purchased Breaking the Chains (family-friendly) and The Poetry of Lent (Mary Oliver) for congregational use. Look for it in the prayer room or ask her for a copy.
Lent-At-Home is a booklet of worship ideas and activities, designed with families with young children in mind and matching the worship themes from Mennonite Church Canada/USA.
Mennonite Spiritual Directors of Eastern Canada invite any groups or individuals to participate in a Lenten Guided Prayer Experience.
Follow along with the Lent Scriptures in your own way:
March 1: Show us your shelter
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11
March 8: Show us your new idea
Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17
March 15: Exodus 7:1-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42
March 22: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41
March 29: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45
April 5: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Matthew 21:1-11; Philippians 2:5-11
April 12: Easter! Show us your resurrection power and love
Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-18/Matthew 28:1-10