Lent at LNPC:
GRACE IN ABSENCE
Absence is a huge part of our lives. Longing, loss, unknown, impossibility, lack.
They are the absence of something, and the absence is real.
Where is God in absence? What about when God feels absent?
We expend most of our energy trying to avoid our nothingness.
We devote most of our time trying to build or uphold our own somethingness.
When boredom, despair, sadness or emptiness rise up, we distract ourselves. What do you use to distract yourself from nothingness?
What's your "go to" pacifier or diversion?
Social media? TV? Snacking? Alcohol? Solitaire? Addictive behaviors?
What do you use to check out of uncomfortable feelings?
What do you use to numb or distract yourself from absence?
"Be still and know that I am God." Ps. 46:10
This Lent, we are going into our nothingness.
We are welcoming the absence, and seeking God there.
You are invited to fast from (let go temporarily) whatever it is you use to avoid the abyss.
Turns out we have a God who goes right into our places of suffering and absence, and shares them with us. We generally avoid meeting God there.
The Lent, we are going there.
Our worship schedule and themes are:
Absence is a huge part of our lives. Longing, loss, unknown, impossibility, lack.
They are the absence of something, and the absence is real.
Where is God in absence? What about when God feels absent?
We expend most of our energy trying to avoid our nothingness.
We devote most of our time trying to build or uphold our own somethingness.
When boredom, despair, sadness or emptiness rise up, we distract ourselves. What do you use to distract yourself from nothingness?
What's your "go to" pacifier or diversion?
Social media? TV? Snacking? Alcohol? Solitaire? Addictive behaviors?
What do you use to check out of uncomfortable feelings?
What do you use to numb or distract yourself from absence?
"Be still and know that I am God." Ps. 46:10
This Lent, we are going into our nothingness.
We are welcoming the absence, and seeking God there.
You are invited to fast from (let go temporarily) whatever it is you use to avoid the abyss.
Turns out we have a God who goes right into our places of suffering and absence, and shares them with us. We generally avoid meeting God there.
The Lent, we are going there.
Our worship schedule and themes are:
- Sin. Saturday, March 9, 5:00 pm
- Injustice. Sunday, March 17, 10:30 am
- Crisis. Saturday, March 24, 5:00 pm
- Division. 5th Sunday, March 31, 9:00 - 11:00 am
- Shame. Sunday, April 7, 10:30 am
- Fear. Palm Sunday, April 14, 10:30 am
What is Lent?
Lent is the period of 40 days, (minus Sundays), beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending the Saturday before Easter.
Forty days mirrors Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness, and it does not include Sundays because they are considered 'mini-Easters' - celebrations of the resurrection every week. In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism.
Lent Today
All around the world, Christians practice Lent as a time of self-reflection, repentance and fasting. The focus is on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of themselves for others.
Lent at LNPC: "Be Still and Know I am God"
This Lent we will be practicing being still - 75 seconds at a time - breathing and being present.
Whenever our nothingness rises up, we will meet it with stillness.
You may choose to fast from something, or take up a regular practice - whatever helps you be present, even with absence.
Lent is the period of 40 days, (minus Sundays), beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending the Saturday before Easter.
Forty days mirrors Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness, and it does not include Sundays because they are considered 'mini-Easters' - celebrations of the resurrection every week. In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism.
Lent Today
All around the world, Christians practice Lent as a time of self-reflection, repentance and fasting. The focus is on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of themselves for others.
Lent at LNPC: "Be Still and Know I am God"
This Lent we will be practicing being still - 75 seconds at a time - breathing and being present.
Whenever our nothingness rises up, we will meet it with stillness.
You may choose to fast from something, or take up a regular practice - whatever helps you be present, even with absence.
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SCHEDULE OF GATHERINGS & EVENTS
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
Wednesday, March 6, 2019, 6:30 pm 
LENTEN EVENING PRAYER
2nd & 4th Saturdays in Lent, 5:00 pm March 9th & 24th A quiet service of reflection and personal prayer stations for all ages. Find out more. 
PRAYER FOR THE NATION
Friday mornings of Lent March 8, 15, 22, 29 & April 5 & 12 9:30 - 10 am Holy Week with LNPC
PALM SUNDAY WORSHIP,
Sunday, April 14, 10:30 am Adult Ed & Sunday school, 9 am 
GOOD FRIDAY TENEBRAE SERVICE
Friday, April 19 7:00 pm LNPC's traditional Tenebrae service with communion, contrasting the seven last words of Christ with the seven words of creation. 
EASTER CELEBRATION OF THE RESURRECTION,
Sunday, April 21, 10:30 am Continental Breakfast and kids egg hunt at 9:30 am |
RESOURCES FOR ENTERING INTO LENT
Printable Lent Family Journal
Wonderful weekly family experiences to engage Lent in creative and practical ways. From flamecreativekids.blogspot.co.uk Daily Online Lent Reading & Meditation
Subscribe to receive a daily email with a short meditation, guiding you through a reading and reflection for each day of Lent. Photo-a-Day Challenge - BustedHalo
Lent is a great time to notice and be present. If you'd like a practice of noticing and sharing, why not a photo-a-day challenge?
40 Days Toward Love
A family or individual prayer practice with lots of action ideas - drawing from LNPC's Prayer for the Nation practice. (We will be doing a version of this during Lent that lets you pray for one person/need per week, but if you'd like a daily practice, or a complete set of 80 prayer hearts, this is a great resource) |
