This season of Epiphany (I see! or, Aha!) has been a good one at Edgemont. We have seen an encouraging burst of energy among our ministry teams and committees. Our Administrative Council has been working with us toward better communication and greater ministry effort, with a still tight budget. More people are engaged in leadership. We are looking for new ways to be in service in our community. We have donated significant sums to the relief effort in Haiti, to the Good Neighbor fund, and you continue to support the church well with your tithes, gifts and offerings. Thank you for your faithfulness!
On Ash Wednesday, February 17th, we will to pass from the season of Epiphany to Lent. Lent is the season of 40 days (not counting Sundays) before Easter. It’s purpose is to prepare us for the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Having seen Jesus, what does that mean for our lives?Richard Garland writes, “I am not fond of Lent. There is for me a burdensome quality to a season that begins with ashes and ends with a tomb. It has for me the heavy feel of dark duty. So, I tend to approach Lent with an attitude that I need to do something, or give something up. By the end of Lent I have often been exhausted and aching for some decadent "death by chocolate" dessert. But I need Lent. I need the disciplines that we associate with the season. I need the insights those disciplines typically reveal. I need the transforming power of the Spirit that the insight calls forth.”
“What are you giving up for Lent?” may be a question you have heard before. Some choose to give up one particular thing for Lent; caffeine, or chocolate, or meat on Fridays. Prayer, repentance, alms giving and fasting are traditional practices during this season, and can be lived out in a variety of ways.
For me, Easter is always more powerful and joyful the times I have given particular personal attention,
self examination and reflection called for during Lent. Did you take Lent seriously last year?
I want to offer you a chance to have a deep and meaningful Lent and Easter this year. Let me suggest two things: that you give up one, and take on one thing for these forty days. It would be fun to have some friends giving up the same thing, to give yourself an partner in encouragement. Below are some suggestions, but you could choose something else. But let’s try “let one go, take one on,” and see what happens.
TO LET GO:
Abstain from Consumption during Lent (of the consumer kind). Lot of folks have seen the YouTube videos from The Advent Conspiracy here (all links open in a new window). What if we focus on something similar. We would choose not to make any purchases with the exception of Food, Shelter and essential transportation (gas, repairs). Maybe if you want a little wiggle room we could say “choose one category in addition to these three” to spend from, but no others. The extra categories might be travel/vacation, entertainment, clothing, or... (others?)
Or, give up eating out for Lent. Contribute the money saved (based on your last 50 days of spending) for UMCOR Haiti relief (link), digging wells for clean water (link), our missionaries in Bolivia – John and Suzanne Funk, World Hunger (link or link), or The One Campaign to end poverty (link) (among many others).
Try giving up something that diverts your focus from being faithful. If booze makes you mean-spirited and uncharitable toward others, give it up to see if you can develop a more generous spirit toward what you see as the failings of people around you. If playing video games means you no longer spend Saturdays at the food bank, give it up for Lent so you can rededicate some of your time to the needs of your community. Others: television, daily latte, junk food, etc.
TO TAKE ON:
For the 50 days of Lent, take on a private prayer discipline. I'd recommend about fifteen minutes, but do just five minutes if that is all you can stand. Here are several suggested resources - both online and in print. All of them are great, but I really want to encourage you to try number 5 or 6.
very easy – 5 minutes
1. The Upper Room: in print, online, or by email. The publishers of the Upper Room provide a web edition of their daily devotional booklets. Read today’s Upper Room Devotional.
2. I’ve recently found www.d365.org, a daily online devotional series. It is created and produced by Passport Inc. (This is what I’m using right now.)3. MethodX is an online guide to various ways of prayer, tailored to your spiritual “type.” It was created for “20-30 somethings,” but is great for anyone.
4. Read the book of Psalms for 5 minutes. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes frightful, always an honest expression of the heart before God. In about the middle of your Bible, or here.
moderate – 10 to 20 minutes
5. 24 Hours That Changed the World - 40 Days of Reflection by Adam Hamilton, will accompany the sermon series Pastor Eric is preaching during Lent. This book will help us to pause, reflect, dig deeper, and emerge changed forever. Each brief devotion includes Scripture, reflection on the events of Jesus’ final day, stories, and prayer. (fifteen copies on had at $8, or order here)6. When You Pray: Daily Practices for Prayerful Living, Ruben Job. An excellent tool for daily prayer time. In an upcoming sermon series we will encourage our congregation, leaders, team members, small groups, families and individuals to use this resource in their prayer time. (Three on hand for $10, or order here)
other recommended devotional books for everyone:
7. A Clearing Season, by Sarah Parsons, here8. Listening at Golgotha, Peter Storey, here
9. The Road to Emmaus : Companions for the Journey through Lent, Helen Julian, here10. Prayers from the Heart, Richard Foster (link)
11. Seeking the Kingdom: Devotions for the Daily Journey of Faith, Richard Foster (link)12. A Year with God: Living Out the Spiritual Disciplines, Richard Foster (link)
13. A Spiritual Formation Workbook - Revised edition: Small Group Resources for Nurturing Christian Growth, James Bryan Smith (link)
recommended for the serious readers:
14. Knowing Christ Today: Why We Can Trust Spiritual Knowledge, Dallas Willard (link)other resources:15. The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives, Dallas Willard (link)
Devo’Zine: Published bi-monthly by Upper Room Ministries, Devo’Zine is geared towards youth. It is written by teenagers and by adults to help develop a lifelong practice of spending time with God and of reflecting on what God is doing in their lives. (here)
Pockets: For children, 6 - 12 years, Pockets is a 48-page devotional magazine for children published by The Upper Room. Published 11 times per year, the magazine includes a scripture calendar, stories, computer activities. A fun way to get your children started with devotionals. (here)
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