What difference does a day make?
Holy Week Worship Times
Lent Kits |
24 Hour Prayer Vigil |
Lent Devotionals
24 Hour Challenges*
WEEK 1: FASTING (March 6-12)
Matthew 6:16-18 (CEB): “And when you fast, don’t put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They distort their faces so people will know they are fasting. I assure you that they have their reward. When you fast, brush your hair and wash your face. Then you won’t look like you are fasting to people, but only to your Father who is present in that secret place. Your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
Fasting is perhaps the discipline we most associate with Lent. People for generations have given up meat, or gone without other foods or necessities. Fasting is highly encouraged throughout scripture, especially by Jesus, yet something we rarely practice, or something we find odd or “too” religious. When we fast, we have the opportunity to be reminded of Jesus’ sacrifice, to focus on our faith, and to connect our physical lives with our spiritual lives.
Challenge:
For this week, you are invited to fast for a day (go without food), until dinner. Or you may choose to go an entire 24 hours without a specific food or drink. Do what is safe for you, but challenge yourself.
Kid/Family Challenge:
Give up one of your favorite foods or snacks for an entire day (or a whole week!). Whenever you want to eat that thing, pray “thank you, God, for loving me.”
Matthew 6:16-18 (CEB): “And when you fast, don’t put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They distort their faces so people will know they are fasting. I assure you that they have their reward. When you fast, brush your hair and wash your face. Then you won’t look like you are fasting to people, but only to your Father who is present in that secret place. Your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
Fasting is perhaps the discipline we most associate with Lent. People for generations have given up meat, or gone without other foods or necessities. Fasting is highly encouraged throughout scripture, especially by Jesus, yet something we rarely practice, or something we find odd or “too” religious. When we fast, we have the opportunity to be reminded of Jesus’ sacrifice, to focus on our faith, and to connect our physical lives with our spiritual lives.
Challenge:
For this week, you are invited to fast for a day (go without food), until dinner. Or you may choose to go an entire 24 hours without a specific food or drink. Do what is safe for you, but challenge yourself.
Kid/Family Challenge:
Give up one of your favorite foods or snacks for an entire day (or a whole week!). Whenever you want to eat that thing, pray “thank you, God, for loving me.”
WEEK 2: SILENCE (March 13-19)
Psalm 46:10 (NRSV): Be still, and know that I am God!...
We live in a noisy, loud and busy world. There are distractions everywhere, and because we never stop, or quiet ourselves, we may be missing the most important parts of our days, and even our lives.
Challenge:
For this week’s challenge, you are invited into silence. Find a place and a time away (try an hour) from everyone, silent all other “voices”, including your electronic devices! Be alone with God and yourself. Option: to go part or all day, even 24 hours, without TV, radio and/or cell phones.
Kid/Family Challenge:
Take a screen-time break for a day. Instead, play board games, do crafts/art, and spend time with your family or friends. Pay attention to what is going on around you.
Psalm 46:10 (NRSV): Be still, and know that I am God!...
We live in a noisy, loud and busy world. There are distractions everywhere, and because we never stop, or quiet ourselves, we may be missing the most important parts of our days, and even our lives.
Challenge:
For this week’s challenge, you are invited into silence. Find a place and a time away (try an hour) from everyone, silent all other “voices”, including your electronic devices! Be alone with God and yourself. Option: to go part or all day, even 24 hours, without TV, radio and/or cell phones.
Kid/Family Challenge:
Take a screen-time break for a day. Instead, play board games, do crafts/art, and spend time with your family or friends. Pay attention to what is going on around you.
WEEK 3: REPENTANCE (March 20-26)
1 John 1:8-9 (CEB): If we claim, “We don’t have any sin,” we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from everything we’ve done wrong.
Lent is a season when we come to terms with our humanity, meaning we are not perfect and do not live up to God’s standards. Repentance is the act of admitting that, as hard as it is, and offers us a course correction. It provides healing of our relationship with God.
Challenge:
This week’s challenge is to spend time repenting. Throughout the day, ask God to bring to mind the ways you have let God down, fallen short or hurt yourself or others. Name them and ask for grace. (Important: end the day thanking God for a fresh start and let all those things go!)
Kid/Family Challenge:
One night before bed, name all the ways that day that you messed up, disobeyed, or hurt other people. Say you’re sorry to God, and remember that God forgives it all! Then let it go and start fresh tomorrow.
1 John 1:8-9 (CEB): If we claim, “We don’t have any sin,” we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from everything we’ve done wrong.
Lent is a season when we come to terms with our humanity, meaning we are not perfect and do not live up to God’s standards. Repentance is the act of admitting that, as hard as it is, and offers us a course correction. It provides healing of our relationship with God.
Challenge:
This week’s challenge is to spend time repenting. Throughout the day, ask God to bring to mind the ways you have let God down, fallen short or hurt yourself or others. Name them and ask for grace. (Important: end the day thanking God for a fresh start and let all those things go!)
Kid/Family Challenge:
One night before bed, name all the ways that day that you messed up, disobeyed, or hurt other people. Say you’re sorry to God, and remember that God forgives it all! Then let it go and start fresh tomorrow.
WEEK 4: ALMSGIVING (Charity / Compassion) (March 27- April 2)
Proverbs 19:17 (CEB): Those who are gracious to the poor lend to the Lord, and the Lord will fully repay them.
Throughout the Old and New Testaments is evidence of God’s generosity towards us, so we are called to be generous in turn. Benevolence and charity is a tradition to remind us to consider the needs of others, no matter how much or little we have ourselves.
Challenge:
This week, intentionally decide a way in which you can care for others (give away something, find a charity to support, or spend time practically meeting needs). This can be one gesture, or choose small acts of kindness and generosity for an entire day.
Kid/Family Challenge:
Go through your toy bins, closet, or pantry and fill some bags and boxes of stuff to give away. Or take your allowance for this week and pick a cause or charity to give it to instead. Don’t forget to thank God for your blessings!
Proverbs 19:17 (CEB): Those who are gracious to the poor lend to the Lord, and the Lord will fully repay them.
Throughout the Old and New Testaments is evidence of God’s generosity towards us, so we are called to be generous in turn. Benevolence and charity is a tradition to remind us to consider the needs of others, no matter how much or little we have ourselves.
Challenge:
This week, intentionally decide a way in which you can care for others (give away something, find a charity to support, or spend time practically meeting needs). This can be one gesture, or choose small acts of kindness and generosity for an entire day.
Kid/Family Challenge:
Go through your toy bins, closet, or pantry and fill some bags and boxes of stuff to give away. Or take your allowance for this week and pick a cause or charity to give it to instead. Don’t forget to thank God for your blessings!
WEEK 5: FORGIVENESS (April 3 - 9)
Matthew 18:21-22 (CEB): Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Should I forgive as many as seven times?” Jesus said, “Not just seven times, but rather as many as seventy-seven times.”
Sin is not just against God, but one another. People hurt people. However, when we hold onto big hurts or even slights and grievances, bitterness develops. Unforgiveness hurts us more than anyone else, and left unchecked can even begin to harden us or cause us to hurt others. Instead, forgiveness is the means through which we stop that cycle. Even if we do not return to a relationship with the other, we are freed by the act of forgiveness, and it sets us right with God.
Challenge:
This week’s challenge is to take time to name where you are harboring hurt, and practice forgiving others. You may need to do it repeatedly throughout the day. (Optional: reach out to ask forgiveness where you have been in the wrong.)
Kid/Family Challenge:
One night, do a “feeling check”: Name who or what is making you mad or sad or happy. Ask God to help you forgive someone for the way they have hurt you, or to thank someone who was kind or helpful. (Make sure you say “sorry” if needed, too!)
Matthew 18:21-22 (CEB): Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Should I forgive as many as seven times?” Jesus said, “Not just seven times, but rather as many as seventy-seven times.”
Sin is not just against God, but one another. People hurt people. However, when we hold onto big hurts or even slights and grievances, bitterness develops. Unforgiveness hurts us more than anyone else, and left unchecked can even begin to harden us or cause us to hurt others. Instead, forgiveness is the means through which we stop that cycle. Even if we do not return to a relationship with the other, we are freed by the act of forgiveness, and it sets us right with God.
Challenge:
This week’s challenge is to take time to name where you are harboring hurt, and practice forgiving others. You may need to do it repeatedly throughout the day. (Optional: reach out to ask forgiveness where you have been in the wrong.)
Kid/Family Challenge:
One night, do a “feeling check”: Name who or what is making you mad or sad or happy. Ask God to help you forgive someone for the way they have hurt you, or to thank someone who was kind or helpful. (Make sure you say “sorry” if needed, too!)
WEEK 6: PRAYER (April 10-16)
Colossians 4:2 (CEB): Keep on praying and guard your prayers with thanksgiving.
Prayer is the practice that should be incorporated into all aspects of our faith, enabling the other acts of devotion. And it is also a discipline in and of itself. It is the backbone of our faith, develops our relationship with God, and it opens us up to God working in our lives.
Challenge:
This week’s challenge is to pray for a day! A few options: pray at regular intervals (i.e. on the hour every hour), naming a “thank you” and a “request”. Or regularly pray a simple prayer like Jesus, “Not my will but yours…” throughout the day.
Then at the end of the week, join the 24-hour Prayer Vigil! Sign up for a slot at worship or here: URL.
Kid/Family Challenge:
Pick one day and pray regularly. If you have a phone, set an alarm for five times. Or pray when you wake up, at every meal, and at bed. Each time, pray this prayer: “God, thank you for _____. Help _____ (me or someone else).”
Colossians 4:2 (CEB): Keep on praying and guard your prayers with thanksgiving.
Prayer is the practice that should be incorporated into all aspects of our faith, enabling the other acts of devotion. And it is also a discipline in and of itself. It is the backbone of our faith, develops our relationship with God, and it opens us up to God working in our lives.
Challenge:
This week’s challenge is to pray for a day! A few options: pray at regular intervals (i.e. on the hour every hour), naming a “thank you” and a “request”. Or regularly pray a simple prayer like Jesus, “Not my will but yours…” throughout the day.
Then at the end of the week, join the 24-hour Prayer Vigil! Sign up for a slot at worship or here: URL.
Kid/Family Challenge:
Pick one day and pray regularly. If you have a phone, set an alarm for five times. Or pray when you wake up, at every meal, and at bed. Each time, pray this prayer: “God, thank you for _____. Help _____ (me or someone else).”
Series, devotional and promotional materials used and adapted from Church of the Resurrection and Adam Hamilton: "24 Hours That Changed the World"; published December 7, 2016, sharechurch.com
*Adapted from Eric Ferris: "Lent Experience", RightNowMedia.org
*Adapted from Eric Ferris: "Lent Experience", RightNowMedia.org