The Lent
season is
upon us.
During ordinary times, one traditionally gives up something for Lent like sweets, video games, or drinking alcohol. While Lent last 40 days [if you do not count Sundays] honoring the homage to Jesus’ 40 days spent fasting in the desert in preparation for his ministry on Earth.
While in this current pandemic time, many feel that they have given up a lot for a year. Some will yell, “Give up more?”
Ordinary times are not this year
For this Lenten season, instead of giving up something, how about doing things going beyond your norm like taking on something. Such as:
You can join UCRP Lenten series “Sitting with God: A Lenten Celebration of Contemplative Prayer”
Sorry - March 9th is canceled due to technical issues.
Join us each Wednesday in Lent [March 9-Apr 13] as we explore the joys, the depths and the blessings of Contemplative Prayer. If you have ever been curious about Contemplative prayer and meditation, or if you sometimes find yourself seeking more peace, and rest in your hectic day to day life, we hope you will attend. Beginning March 9th at 7 pm. To be led by Duffy Poindexter, a long-time friend and member of UCRP, now living in South Carolina.
Join Zoom meeting - NOTE NEW ZOOM INFORMATION
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84466512655Meeting ID: 844 6651 2655
Phone in from Chicago is: +1 312 626 6799 USReaching out to those separated by the pandemic.
Call or text a person who you have not seen in person at church or work. It is the reaching out in the act of kindness.Read an hour a day.
Reading Facebook or Twitter does not count. The Bible or a Christian theme is a good start, but not required. It is allowing your imagination to wander and enjoying the stillness. *Add regular exercise into your daily routine into your daily routine.
Instead of that snack, exercise or go for a walk and enjoy the fresh sunny cold air.*Practice a Sabbath.
It does not have to be on Sunday. It is to put away your work. Turn off your phone and other electronic devices. Stop and breathe In the stillness, and feel God’s presence in your rest. *Give a dollar a day to something worthwhile.
That is a total of $40.00 – only $6.00 a week [remember we are not counting Sundays for these 40 day]. A dollar can buy a hamburger at Mickey D’s for a homeless person, or a cup of coffee for a co-worker. In other words, use that dollar every day for someone else.*Spend a block of time daily with your significant other or your kids.
Spend real time together with someone you love. Commit to an hour every single day. Have a conversation. Go for a walk. Play a game and laugh together. And do not get cute and call this an hour of Netflix with the family. Do something meaningful. Spend memorable time with someone important.
If you are single, sub in your roommate or a close friend, or go through your contacts and call up an old friend you haven’t talked to for way too long. Reply to that email you’ve been staring at in your inbox for weeks.
If this means rearranging your schedule so you actually have time together with your family, good! If it means deleting a show off the DVR queue, that’s ok! Maybe you will have to give up another habit, a worse one, to replace it with positive time. If you have not noticed yet, that’s happening on all of these. *Doing social justices causes online or in-person.
Volunteer at Care for Real is a pop-up pantry that gives out quality foods to those requesting it. To volunteer, click here.
Volunteer at the Rogers Park Community Response Team where there are number of groups [Church Clarity, the Alderwoman's office, the United Methodist Northern Illinois conference] to make ourselves available for whatever response is needed while balancing keeping our congregation and particularly our most vulnerable folks, safe. Click here for more information.
Volunteer by provide housing relief, Click here for more information.
Another thing one can do at home for Lent is set up Lenten Candles. We have done this at UCRP worship.
Originally, the 7 Lenten Candles are placed in a circle - 4 purple, 1 pink, 1 red, and 1 white candle in the middle of the ring.
On the first Sunday of Lent or Ash Wednesday, all the candles are lit, and on that first Sunday, one candle is extinguished. Each Sunday a candles is extinguished until the only candle remaining lit is the white center candle.
The weekly extinguishing of each candle one by one, enhances that long, soon-to-be dark journey. When the last candle is extinguished and the darkness seems to be all-consuming, worshipers will feel the darkness of the soul at the time of Christ’s crucifixion.
UCRP did it a little differently. We lit a candle in our cross design each Sunday in Lent symbolizing Christ’s actions and teachings enriching God’s people. At the end of Palm Sunday and Good Friday, all the flames will be extinguished bringing the darkness of Christ’s crucifixion.
The purple candles symbolize the weeks of Lent.
The pink candle is the midpoint of Lent - Laetare Sunday. Laetare means "Rejoice" in Latin. This is where the Church lightens the mood a little, and the priest may wear rose vestments. The change in color provides worshippers with encouragement to continue their spiritual journey - especially prayer and fasting. Quite simply, the church recognized that people needed a break from sorrow. The fourth Sunday was considered a day of relaxation from the normal rigors of Lent. It was a day of hope with Easter within sight. Traditionally, weddings, which were otherwise banned during Lent, could be performed on this day.
The red candle is for Palm Sunday. It is not uncommon for the minister to wear red stole on Pentecost and Palm Sunday. The color symbolizes martyr’s blood for Palm Sunday [also fire, for Pentecost]. Many churches that use blue for Advent, now usually use red on Good Friday, instead of the traditional black.
Such like what Advent Candles bring to our worship, the beauty and symbolism of these Lenten Candles will add meaning and dimension to your Lenten worship as the congregation is reminded each Sunday of being one step closer in the journey to the cross.
It is during this time to feel God in the stillness of Lent. While the COVID-19 pandemic has made us not be physically together – something against our will - we can still choose how we want God in our lives. Find God in the peace and stillness that you choose – not by the pandemic’s choosing.
* Some ideas from “This Lent, Give Something Up By Taking Something On” by Brandon Anderson, Feb 14, 2018.