Lenten Resources

Enrich your Lenten season with deeper understanding and spiritual practices from these resources.

Easter should never sneak up on us.

Have you heard of Lent, but are wondering what it’s all about and why it’s important? Or maybe you’ve participated in it before but just need a refresher on its significance? Our Dean Dan Alger explains here a bit about Lent and how we can intentionally live into this season of reflection, repentance, and preparation for the celebration of Easter Sunday.

Keep scrolling for some more FAQs and plenty of resources to help you enter fully into a holy Lent.

The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. We will have two services on February 14th at 12pm and 6pm.

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”

— Psalm 103:13-14

 Lenten FAQs

What is the church calendar and why do we follow it? How does Lent fit into it?

As a church body, we center our life around the story and life of Jesus Christ. He doesn’t leave us to our own devices, but rather is our gracious Lord over all things—including our time! As such, we live out our days in step with the calendar of his church, which follows the story of his life through birth, life, baptism, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension. The calendar contains rhythms of preparation and celebration, and Lent is one of the seasons of preparation, falling the 40 days before Easter.

What’s all this about giving up something for Lent?

You may have heard of the idea of a Lenten discipline, or obligation—”giving something up for Lent.” This isn't meant to be a practice of legalism or self-flagellation, but one of love and sacrifice. It is meant to be done in order to more closely focus on the true need we have for our Savior and on all the sufferings he chose to undergo for us, that we might be fully reunited with him.

Since the earliest centuries of Christianity, the church has encouraged the “giving up” of or fasting from something during this season—in our modern day this can be things like drinking coffee, listening to music, or watching TV. The church has also encouraged the taking on of a special discipline, like studying the Scriptures deeper, having a longer time of prayer in the morning, or giving more to those in need (find some resources below). So, we take this time to join our Lord in giving up ourselves and giving of ourselves that we might not only remember, but also enter into his suffering and death as we prepare to enter into his glorious resurrection as well.

What looks different on Sunday mornings during Lent? What about communion?

While Sundays are always days of celebration, this celebration is more subdued during Lent as we purposefully wait and prepare for Jesus’s resurrection on Easter morning. Our colors are darker, our songs may be in minor keys, and our “Alleluias” are held back. One of the most noticeably different aspects of Sunday morning is the celebration of communion. Normally we celebrate it versus populum, or with the priest facing towards the people, to emphasize God’s nearness. But during Lent, we celebrate it ad orientum, or toward the east, with the table pushed up against the wall and the priest’s back to the people. As the priest leads the people in the Eucharistic prayers, a different aspect of the Gospel is emphasized: that God is utterly holy and it is only through his grace given to us in Christ which we can enter into his presence.

You can hear more in the videos below, and check out this podcast from the ACNA’s church planting initiative, Always Forward, at 22:43 for a discussion of celebrating communion ad orientum.

 

Live out Lent.

  • Study: Lectio Divina

    Devoting time to study the Scripture deeply is considered one of the pillars of Lent. Lectio Divina, meaning “divine reading,” is a meditative way of studying and praying through God’s word, slowly and quietly, seeking to hear his voice.

    Practice lectio

  • Prayer: Daily Examen

    The Daily Examen has existed as a devotional practice for nearly 500 years. It is a prayer which helps focus the pray-er in reflection on their day (or any period of time they choose) and in asking God to enter in with grace.

    Pray the examen

  • Almsgiving: Refugee Ministry

    “Alms” has a long translation history through Old English, Late Latin, and back to the Greek word for “mercy.” Giving to those in need is considered another major pillar of Lent—as we give up, we also give out in compassion. So, this season especially we invite you to give to our Refugee Ministry.

    Give to the Refugee Ministry

  • Confession

    We are encouraged as believers to confess our sins to one another. This can be a particularly meaningful experience during Lent as we consider the death which our sin has wrought and prepare to celebrate the life which Jesus has won. As Anglicans, we don’t believe that you need to individually confess to a priest, but you are welcome to, and you can schedule a time below.

    Learn more and schedule

  • Spiritual Direction

    During spiritual direction, a director walks alongside you in your journey with the Lord, praying for the Holy Spirit’s presence and inviting you to share where the Spirit is stirring. If you’d like to learn more about spirtual direction, the link below will connect you to our pastoral care team.

    Schedule spiritual direction

 More Resources

  • Lenten Sermons

    Maybe this Lent you’re taking on listening to the truth of God spoken out loud. We have our Lenten sermons from past years available for you here.

    Listen to a sermon

  • Lenten Playlist

    We’ve curated a playlist of songs with themes of penitence, godly sorrow, and deliverance for you to enter into this time along to.

    Listen to the music

  • Lectio Divina w/ Kids

    Lectio Divina can be practiced by anyone of any age as a way to meditate on the Scriptures and listen for God’s voice. We have a great resource for you here on welcoming kids into this practice.

    Look at the Lectio Resource

  • Lenten Blog Posts

    If you’d like to learn during this time, we have posts of Lenten poetry, on lamenting racism, on the importance of grieving, and more for you to read.

    Check out a blog post

  • Children's Library Catalogue

    Our Redeemer Kids library is stocked for the season! Make sure to stop by the Grove to see what’s available!

  • Matthew 25 Resources

    Matthew 25 is the ACNA Initiative for Justice and Mercy Contending for Shalom. They’re compiling some beautiful Lenten resources, telling the stories of the least of these through 40 days of Anglican-informed, inspiring, beautiful, and theologically-robust engagement pieces. You can sign up for their Lenten newsletter to receive them!

    Sign up for the M25 Devotionals

  • Sacred Ordinary Days Resources

    We’re thankful for the resources Sacred Ordinary Days creates and curates for walking with Jesus through the church calendar year, including what they’ve put together for Lent.

    Find more resources

  • Anglican Compass: Rookie Guide to Lent

    Anglican Compass publishes resources to help people navigate the waters of Anglicanism with clarity and charity. Check out their guide to Lent here.

    Check out the guide