Lent 2021 Resources

WORSHIP
Crestview Presbyterian Church, Ash Wednesday 2021

Music for Lent and Passiontide. Updated as of May 30, 2020.  Playlist. YouTube

Worship Songs for Lent Updated as of January 13, 2021.  Playlist. YouTube

In Christ Alone.  Celtic Worship. 1/16/18

Rodney Barbour. Organ Hymn Concert. First Baptist Church, Murray, KY, August 2019.

REFLECT
Redeemer Presbyterian Church, NYC.  Lenten Devotionals, Ash Wednesday to Easter  Daily email option

Presbyterian Mission Agency Lenten Devotional 2021
The Way to Shalom: A Lenten Journey to Peace and Wholeness
See introduction and daily reflections.

READ
Read from the Gospels.  Spend time in the presence of Jesus.  Read widely from Christian Lenten literature.  For example:

The Art of Lent: A Painting a Day from Ash Wednesday to Easter.  Sister Wendy. 2017.

Lent and Easter Wisdom from Thomas Merton: Daily Scriptures and Prayers, Together with Thomas Merton's Own Words.  Thomas Merton. 2007.

TALK  
Lent Conversation Starters - 7 Symbols

WATCH
The Chosen - The Life and Ministry of Jesus.  YouTube

In All Circumstances

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Our Bible study group chose these verses from 1 Thessalonians 5 to guide us through 2021.  Attitude matters.  Appreciation matters.  Thanking God, whatever happens, matters.  These are the daily practices that keep hope, joy, and peace alive.

And a lot of tough stuff has happened of late, personally, nationally, and globally.  

In my circle, loved ones have been hospitalized, have had to move out and move in despite Covid-19 constraints, have had to become online learners rather than on-campus students, and have become remote employees with nary a co-worker in sight.  Beef up the home network and web conferencing skills! 

Nationally, the country is queuing up for promised vaccines while putting travel on hold, year 2.  Resuming normal interactions is still fraught with danger, what with the spread of Covid-19 mutations.  So many forego holding the grandbaby, visiting friends, celebrating in a restaurant, relaxing at a concert/play, or gathering at funerals and weddings.  It certainly didn't help that American government leaders were feuding over power and fencing over constitutional principles and practices, post-presidential election.  Defending a democratic nation is demanding, draining for all involved, and deadly for some.

Internationally, many are suffering.  Tanzania's leader has unilaterally rejected the Covid-19 vaccine for all its citizens.  No public health relief, only politics.  Leaders of other countries would like to protect their citizens but can't get sufficient vaccine supplies.  And the on-going 21st century crises continue to undermine civilizations:  rising seas and storms due to global warming, wars, sex-trafficking, hunger, poverty, unemployment, lack of educational opportunity.  Yes, these issues and others weigh heavily on our hearts.  

Have you heard of "forest bathing" where you walk the woods to decompress and appreciate beauty.  Since time began, Christians have bathed their lives in prayer.  If you are a fiction reader of the Mitford series by Jan Karon, perhaps you have read Bathed in Prayer:  Father Tim's Prayers, Sermons, and Reflections, 2018?  Christians go on in faith.  We endure by the power of the Holy Spirit.  We stand firm on foundational truths:  God loves us.  God is with us.  God delivers us through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.  We take comfort from the lives of saints who preceded us and struggled as we do.  As pilgrims, we give thanks in all circumstances, for life today and forevermore.

Keep Out of the Way

Have there been spiritual troublemakers in your life who wrecked havoc?  Have they nearly crushed you or chased you from church?  

One would think that living the Christian faith would be plain and straightforward.  Love God.  Love your neighbor.  Jesus simplified the Old Testament law for all of us in the gospels.  Unfortunately, "love, joy, peace" is not the church history record on file.  

Many are the tales of those damaged in the church and by church people.  Jesus Christ comes to mind, as the church was launched.  Philip Yancey, Christian author, comes to mind, in our own day.  On his website, Yancey "jokes about being in 'recovery from a toxic church.'"   In my own life, a charismatic church led me to believe I no longer needed to wear glasses, as I had been healed.  (This librarian still wears glasses.)  Controlling churches and personalities harm your health, job, relationships, finances... 

Scripture warns us about persecutors, false teachers, legalistic leaders, those who err in interpreting the meaning of the law, and those greedy for gain.  Human nature bends toward the abuse of power, in other words.  In contrast, humility characterizes the Messiah Jesus Christ.

Don't be naïve about the dangerous, misguided people within the church.  They are adept at soul-poisoning and spirit-crushing.  Set boundaries, separate from them, and remind yourself:  "the truth will set you free" John 8:32.  Spend time getting to know the mind of Christ, watch how Jesus interacts with others in the gospels, learn what he values in the New Testament. 

Here's the script that Paul sets before us in Romans 14.  

First, "Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others."  Romans 14:22

Love God.  Serve God.  Recognize that Jesus is our Lord, our Savior, and "our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free(s) us from the petty tyrannies of each other." Romans 14:9

Don't fall into the trap of trying to perform for and please the people around you.  You are always and only called to follow Jesus, full of grace and truth.

Finally, keep out of the way of those growing in the faith.  Don't become a hindrance to them, whether children or weaker believers.  

"Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is." Romans 14:13 (The Message)

Focus on proclaiming the good news which is a liberating message of forgiveness and redemption.