Lent

[tielan]

Any of the Christians on my f-list observing (celebrating) Lent? If so, what are you giving up/doing for it?

I don't usually, but I think it might be a good year to start. Not necessarily fasting, or even giving up something, but perhaps taking time to do something, to form a habit.

Thoughts?

Comments

[muccamukk]

One year I did lectio devina every morning before breakfast. That was quite nice. Might try that again this year. I think I still have the book.

[tielan]

I'm finding the ABM Lent app (Android) to be very helpful for readings and reflections. It's Australian, and so far I've enjoyed their perspectives on the readings - readings which I know, but which I've never looked at from those angles.

[beatrice_otter]

Me, I'm preaching a lot! I know that's not what you were asking, but it's what's happening.

[tielan]

I imagine that preaching a lot does mean you need to take in a lot of bible reading/thoughts. Where do you go for your resources?

[beatrice_otter]

Well, a lot of them are various commentaries and other books I have from seminary.

But online, the two main resources I use are workingpreacher.org and textweek.com, both of which are based on the Revised Common Lectionary. If you're not familiar with it, the RCL is a three-year cycle of Bible readings that a lot of liturgical churches (and some others) use. Catholics, Lutherans, Episcopalians, some Methodists, even some Baptists--so we all use the same readings on the same day, which means there's a large market for resources on those readings. There are four readings for each Sunday and holy day: a general Old Testament reading, a Psalm, a general New Testament reading, and a Gospel. We read all of them in worship, but I usually only preach on one of them. (For things like Wednesday services, we're on our own.)

Working Preacher is put out by Luther Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They have a commentary in English on each RCL reading each week, plus one on the Gospel in Spanish, plus a podcast from three seminary professors talking about the readings and how to preach them, plus a Dear Working Preacher blog on the themes of the day. It's really helpful.

textweek.com is your one-stop-shop for resources. For every day (and every reading assigned to any day) it has a whole page with links to ANYTHING EVER POSTED ON THE WEB HAVING TO DO WITH THAT DAY. Commentaries, blog posts, sermons, pictures, multimedia, music, prayers, ANYTHING. It's all right there, neatly indexed.

[deird1]

I'm repeating a Lenten fast from a few years ago, and giving up "unnecessary spending".

I'm also considering doing a "generous act" every day. Or possibly doing a daily (liturgical) prayer (difficult, given my current schedule, but I used to manage it, and I'd like to get back into a routine).

[tielan]

I think half the trouble is putting a priority on the reading/reflection - which is the trouble I have in my regular quiet time/prayer life. Life is so full of Busy that it's easy to put it aside and put it aside and put it aside.

I've got an app for Lent reading, and it's being quite helpful to read the passage they outline and then think about the perspectives they put forward.

[beatrice_otter]

If you can tie a daily prayer or scripture reading to your regular daily activity, that makes it easier. Like, if you're praying twice a day, put a post-it on your bathroom mirror to remind you and tie it to brushing your teeth.