Lent 2024 at LNPC : What do I love?
"You are what you love. But you may not love what you think."
"The human heart is a compass, orienting us toward some vision" of the good life. There is a relationship between what we live toward and the longings or desires that propel us in that direction..."like the magnetic power of the pole working on the existential needle of our hearts. You are what you love because you live toward what you want.”
- adapted from James K.A. Smith, You Are What You Love: The Spirituality of Habits
The longings that we direct our lives toward are learned not by memorization but through practice – what we do shapes what we love and long for. Desires are “caught” more than “taught,” learned not by propaganda but by practice. Our cultural rhythms and routines are actually rituals that shape our desire, because they implicitly train us to love a certain vision of what life is about. They are not just things we do; they do something to us. They are “heart-shaping rituals that actually shape what we love.”
This Lent, we will seek to recognize the cultural "liturgies" or habits that are mis-directing our love, and the "counter-forming liturgies" of or habits that point us toward the life of Christ and the work of God’s Spirit unfolding in the world around us.
- adapted from James K.A. Smith, You Are What You Love: The Spirituality of Habits
The longings that we direct our lives toward are learned not by memorization but through practice – what we do shapes what we love and long for. Desires are “caught” more than “taught,” learned not by propaganda but by practice. Our cultural rhythms and routines are actually rituals that shape our desire, because they implicitly train us to love a certain vision of what life is about. They are not just things we do; they do something to us. They are “heart-shaping rituals that actually shape what we love.”
This Lent, we will seek to recognize the cultural "liturgies" or habits that are mis-directing our love, and the "counter-forming liturgies" of or habits that point us toward the life of Christ and the work of God’s Spirit unfolding in the world around us.
“Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your god.” - Martin Luther
“You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” - Augustine
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23
“You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” - Augustine
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23
"COUNTER-FORMING LITURGIES" coming up...
WORSHIP SERVICES IN LENT
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE,
February 14, 7:00 pm Prayer Around the Cross Service LENT 1 - SUNDAY, FEB. 18, 10:00 AM
LENT 2 - SAT, FEB. 24, 5:00 PM (w/ Sabbath Sunday) LENT 3 - SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 10:00 AM LENT 4: SAT, MARCH 9, 5:00 PM (w/ Sabbath Sunday) LENT 5: SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 10:00 AM OTHER WAYS WE'RE
PRACTICING THE WAY OF GOD TOGETHER: 
CHURCH CHAT
Wednesdays, Feb. 21 & March 20, 7:00 - 8:30 PM discussing You Are What You Love (no need to have read it before 2/21 - will be more central to 3/20) 
BRUNCH WITH BRITTANY
Friday , March 1, 11:00 AM -12:30 PM 
CONNECTIONS
Saturday, March 9, 10 am 
FAMILY VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
Doing Good Together offers an updated list of volunteering options for families in the Twin Cities. |
LENTEN BOOK READ
All who would like to read along during Lent, we will be drawing from You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit by James K. A. Smith. (You can get it via kindle or audible too!)
We will be watching a video of the author talking through the themes, and discussing the content together at Church Chat on February 21 and March 18, (no need to have read it to join in Church Chat). WAIT, WHAT IS LENT AGAIN?
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. (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: Today, all around the world, Christians practice Lent as a time of self-reflection, repentance and fasting, to focus on God and be honest about our own and the world’s need for God. Lent prepares us to receive the good news of Easter. Read a wonderful explanation of Lent by Ruth Haley Barton here: "Lent: A Season of Returning." WANT MORE?
OTHER RESOURCES FOR ENTERING INTO LENT 
LENT 2024 PLAYLIST! On Spotify.
SACRED ORDINARY DAYS - Big COLLECTION OF RESOURCES
A wonderful, extensive collection of resources, including music playlists, podcasts and devotionals. You can sign up to receive a Daily Message, a daily email with prayer, scripture, images, and a guided reflection for visio divina that accompanies each holy day throughout Lent and Eastertide. 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
Click to be guided through an online devotion each day. Subscribe to receive a daily email with a short meditation, guiding you through a reading and reflection for each day of Lent. |
HOLY WEEK LITURGIES (PRACTICING)
PALM SUNDAY
Sunday, March 24, 10:00 am
Sunday, March 24, 10:00 am
GOOD FRIDAY TENEBRAE SERVICE
Friday, March 29, 6:30 pm
Friday, March 29, 6:30 pm
EASTER CELEBRATION OF THE RESURRECTION
with breakfast & egg hunt
Sunday, March 31, 10:00 am
with breakfast & egg hunt
Sunday, March 31, 10:00 am
