Thursday, March 2
2017 Readings
for the Season of Lent
Draw
“Draw me after you; let us run.” Song of Solomon 1:4
LORD, we would come to Thee,
but do Thou come to us.
Draw us and we will run after Thee.
March 1 – April 15, 2017
Charles Spurgeon, 19th century
Scripture Sentences with Selected Readings
Compiled by Kevin W. Greene, West End Presbyterian Church
Richmond, VA, www.wepc.org; Register for a daily email
devotional at www.lentreading.wordpress.com / follow on
Twitter @KevinWepc.
The Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday, and it lasts until
the Saturday before Easter Day. The last week of Lent is called
Passion Week, which includes both Maundy Thursday (the
institution of the Lord’s Supper) and Good Friday (the crucifixion
of our Lord). Reminiscent of Jesus’ fasting for forty days in the
wilderness, the Lenten season lasts forty days, not counting
Sundays. Lent is a time to ask God to confront our own
mortality and sinfulness; to ask Him to show us our need for
grace; to grow in repentance; and, to reflect on the amazing
truth of the Church’s participation in the death and resurrection
of Jesus Christ.
For this year, our readings focus on prayer as a means of
grace, and the God who hears our prayers. The Scripture
readings show us the depth of our sin and the enormity of our
Father’s love for sinners, and the written prayers are drawn
from Christians over the past twenty centuries. The written
prayers are meant to complement the Scriptural witness and
encourage us to approach God in Christ. This guide also
includes, “The Meaning of Lent,” which is a great orientation to
the purpose of this season.
May you be amazed at the grace of God as you approach our
Heavenly Father in these times of reflection. May we all be
conformed more and more to the likeness of Jesus Christ.
Ash Wednesday, March 1
Remove & Give
“I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart
of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26
O Lord, who has mercy upon all, take away from me my sins,
and mercifully kindle in me the fire of Thy Holy Spirit.
Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh,
a heart to love and adore You, a heart to delight in You,
to follow and enjoy You, for Christ's sake. Amen.
Friday, March 3
Contain
“Will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest
heaven cannot contain you.” I Kings 8:27
O Lord, the house of my soul is narrow;
enlarge it that You may enter in.
It is ruinous, O repair it! It displeases Your sight. I confess it, I know.
But who shall cleanse it? To whom shall I cry but to You?
Cleanse me from my secret faults, O Lord,
and spare Your servant from strange sins.
Augustine of Hippo, 5th century
Saturday, March 4
Never Die
“Everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.
Do you believe this?” John 11:26
You said, O my Christ,
“Whoever believes in Me shall live and never die.”
If then, faith in You saves the lost, then save me….
O Lord, from now on let me love You
as intensely as I have loved sin.”
John Chrysostom, 4th century
First Sunday in Lent, March 5
Preserve
“You are a hiding place for me; You preserve me from trouble.”
Psalm 32:7
O God, Who wilt consume at the last day
the heavens and the earth
with all the creatures they contain,
to show to all mankind
that nothing subsists save Thee…
O God, Who wilt destroy all these vain idols
and all these fatal objects of our passions!
I praise Thee, my God,
and I will bless Thee all the days of my life.
Blaise Pascal, 17th century
Ambrose of Milan, 4th century
2017 Readings and Prayers for the Season of Lent
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Monday, March 6
Spirit
“…The Spirit of wisdom and understanding…counsel and might…knowledge
and the fear of the LORD.” Isaiah 11:2
Give me, O Lord, I beseech Thee,
firm faith, unwavering hope, perfect charity.
Pour into my heart the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and spiritual strength,
the Spirit of knowledge and true godliness,
and the Spirit of Thy holy fear.
Light eternal, shine in my heart.
Power eternal, deliver me from evil.
Wisdom eternal, scatter the darkness of my ignorance.
Might eternal, pity me.
Friday, March 10
Hold Fast
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He
who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23
Preserve us in a true and undefiled faith
so that we may hold fast
to that which we professed when we were baptized
in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
that we may have Thee for our Father,
that we may abide in Thy Son
and in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
Hilary of Poitiers, 4th century
Alcuin of York, 8th century
Saturday, March 11
Tuesday, March 7
Except
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me.” John 14:6
O Lord Jesus Christ,
You have said that You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Suffer us not to stray from You, who are the Way;
nor to distrust You, who are the Truth;
nor to rest in anything other than You, who are the Life.
Number
“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
Psalm 90:12
Here dies another day
During which I have had eyes, ears, hands,
And the great world around me;
And with tomorrow begins another.
Why am I allowed two?
G.K. Chesterton, 20th century
Desiderius Erasmus, 16th century
Second Sunday in Lent, March 12
Wednesday, March 8
Taste
“Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so
that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9
You came to taste death,
yet You were the Life and had come to bring it to the dead.
If God Himself be for me, I may a host defy,
For when I pray, before me my foes confounded fly.
If Christ, the Head, befriend me, if God be my support,
The mischief they intend me shall quickly come to naught.
Paul Gerhardt, 17th century
Gregory the Great, 6th century
Thursday, March 9
First
“We love because he first loved us.” I John 4:19
You have loved us first, O God, alas!
We speak of it in terms of history
as if You have only loved us first but a single time,
rather than that without ceasing
You have loved us first many times
and every day and our whole life through.
Søren Kierkegaard, 19th century
For
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
Monday, March 13
Create
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10
We are not satisfied with pardoned sin,
We pray, “Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.”
Save us, we pray, from ordinary religion;
give us the peculiar grace of a peculiar people.
May we abide in Christ,
may we live near to God.
Charles Spurgeon, 19th century
2017 Readings and Prayers for the Season of Lent
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Tuesday, March 14
Workmanship
“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which
God prepared beforehand.” Ephesians 2:10
Saturday, March 18
You humble the pride of the proud;
You destroy the plans of nations;
You exalt the humble and humble the exalted;
You make rich and make poor;
You kill and make alive.
It is not you that shapes God
it is God that shapes you.
If you are the work of God
await the hand of the artist
who does all things in due season.
Irenaeus of Lyon,
Wednesday, March 15
2nd
Clement of Alexandria, 2nd century
century
Kill & Make Alive
“See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god beside Me; I kill and I
make alive; I wound and I heal.” Deuteronomy 32:39
Thus, while His death my sin displays in all its blackest hue,
Such is the mystery of grace, it seals my pardon too.
With pleasing grief and mournful joy, my spirit is now filled;
That I should such a Life destroy, yet live by Him I killed.
John Newton, 18th century
Thursday, March 16
Who
“Who is a God like you?” Micah 7:18
God Gave
“God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
II Timothy 1:7
Lord and Master of my life,
keep from me the spirit of indifference and discouragement,
lust of power and idle chatter.
Instead, grant to me, Your servant,
the Spirit of wholeness of being, humble-mindedness,
patience, and love.
Third Sunday in Lent, March 19
Well
“You shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.” Psalm 128:2
From a wandering nomad You created your family; (Abraham)
for a burdened people You raised up a leader; (Moses)
for a confused nation You chose a king; (David)
for a rebellious crowd You sent your prophets.
In these last days You have sent us Your Son, Your perfect image,
bringing Your Kingdom, revealing Your will, dying, rising, reigning,
remaking Your people for Yourself.
Through Him You have poured out Your Holy Spirit,
filling us with light and life
.
Kenyan Liturgy
Monday, March 20
What Is It
“They said to one another, ‘What is it?’…And Moses said to them, ‘It is
the bread that the LORD has given you to eat’.” Exodus 16:15
No Power
Gracious and holy Father,
give me wisdom to perceive You,
intelligence to fathom You,
patience to wait for You,
eyes to behold You,
a heart to meditate upon You,
and a life to proclaim You,
through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.
“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such
the second death has no power.” Revelation 20:6
Benedict of Nursia, 6th century
Ephraim of Syria, 4th century
Friday, March 17
This: were we led all that way for
Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly
We had evidence and no doubt. I had seen birth and death,
But had thought they were different; this Birth was
Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.
We returned to our places, these Kingdoms,
But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation,
With an alien people clutching their gods.
I should be glad of another death.
T.S. Eliot, 20th century
Tuesday, March 21
For You
“This is my body, which is given for you.” Luke 22:19
You give to Your faithful people without counting the cost,
and You promise even greater things in the future.
Indeed, nothing is greater than Yourself,
and You have given Yourself to mankind on the Cross…
I pray You will give Yourself to me.
Columbanus, 7th century
2017 Readings and Prayers for the Season of Lent
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Wednesday, March 22
Two Evils
“My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain
of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that
can hold no water.” Jeremiah 2:13
I have sinned and perverted that which was right,
and it profited me nothing.
And what shall I say now?
Without plea, without excuse,
I am self-condemned. I have destroyed my own self.
O Lord, righteousness belongs to You,
but in me there is only confusion.
You are just in bringing sentence upon me.
And now, Lord, what is my hope? Is it not You, Lord?
Truly my hope is in You, if I have hope left,
if Your loving-kindness will abound in the face of all my sins.
Saturday, March 25
Humble
“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who
humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:14
Almighty, eternal Son of God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Thou
who art the eternal Word and Image of the father, our Mediator and
Redeemer, who died for us and rose again, with all my heart I give
Thee thanks, for Thou didst take upon Thyself the nature of a man and
became my Deliverer, didst suffer physical pain, didst die and arise
again. And now Thou art pleading for me. I beseech Thee, look
graciously upon me and have mercy, for I am alone and in need. I
beseech Thee, look graciously upon me and have mercy, for I am
alone and in need. Through Thy Holy Spirit increase in me the light of
faith, help me to overcome my weakness; guide, protect and make me
pure. In Thee do I put my trust, O Lord; let me never be ashamed.
Philipp Melanchthon, 16th century
Lancelot Andrews, 17th century
Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 26
Thursday, March 23
Dwell
“I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and
lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of
the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15
You make Your home, O God,
with those who are of a humble and contrite spirit
and who love Your Word.
Take my weakness into Your strength,
my ignorance into Your wisdom,
my changefulness into Your constancy.
F.B. Meyer, 19th century
Neighbor
“But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my
neighbor?’” Luke 10:29
Show Your mercy to me and gladden my heart.
I am like the man on the way to Jericho
who was overtaken by robbers, wounded, and left for dead:
O Good Samaritan, come to my aid.
I am like the sheep that went astray:
O Good Shepherd, seek me out and bring me home
in accord with Your will.
Let me dwell in Your house all the days of my life
and praise You forever and ever.
Jerome, 4th century
Friday, March 24
Woe
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light
and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”
Isaiah 5:20
O God, early in the morning I cry to You.
Help me to pray and to concentrate my thoughts on You:
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness, but with You there is light;
I am lonely, but You do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with You there is help;
I am restless, but with You there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with You there is patience;
I do not understand Your ways, but You know the way for me…
Restore me to liberty, and enable me to live now
That I may answer before You and before me.
Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised.
Monday, March 27
Scales
“Something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight.
Then he rose and was baptized…he proclaimed Jesus in the
synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God’.” Acts 9:18,20
May God the Father who made us bless us;
May God the Son send His healing among us;
May God the Holy Spirit move within us
And give us eyes to see with, ears to hear with,
and hands that Your work might be done.
May we walk and preach the Word of God to all.
Dominic of Caleruega, 13th century
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 20th century
2017 Readings and Prayers for the Season of Lent
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Tuesday, March 28
Magnify
“You have seen many things, but you pay no attention…It pleased the LORD
for the sake of His righteousness to make His law great and glorious.” Isaiah
42:20-21
Friday, March 31
Wrath Came
“The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to
be judged, and for rewarding your servants…and for destroying the
destroyers of the earth.” Revelation 11:18
Grant, Almighty God, that as You shine on us by Your Word,
we may not be blind at midnight, nor willfully seek darkness,
and thus lull our minds asleep.
But may we be roused daily by Your words,
and may we stir up ourselves more and more to fear Your Name
and thus present ourselves and all our pursuits, as a sacrifice to You,
that You may peaceably rule, and perpetually dwell in us,
until You gather us to Your Kingdom,
where there is reserved for us eternal rest and glory
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Stir up Your power, O Lord,
and with great might come among us;
and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins,
let Your bountiful grace and mercy
speedily help and deliver us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with You and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory now and forever.
Amen.
Thomas Cranmer, 16th century
John Calvin, 16th century
Wednesday, March 29
Opened
“‘According to your faith be it done to you.’ And their eyes were opened.”
Matthew 9:29-30
These are Thy glorious works, Parent of Good,
Almighty, Thine this universal frame,
Thus wondrous frame: Thyself how wondrous then!
Unspeakable, who sit’st above the Heav’ns
To us invisible, or dimly seen
In these Thy lowest works: yet these declare
They goodness beyond thought, and pow’r divine.
John Milton, 17th century
Saturday, April 1
Soon
“But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot forth your branches and
yield your fruit to my people Israel, for they will soon come home.”
Ezekiel 36:8
Come and make all things new;
Build up this ruined earth;
Restore our faded Paradise,
Creation’s second birth.
Come, and begin Thy reign
Of everlasting peace;
Come, take the kingdom to Thyself,
Great King of Righteousness.
Horatius Bonar, 19th century
Thursday, March 30
Why
“I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked…turn back, turn back from
your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?”
Ezekiel 33:11
O Lord, I cannot plead my love of Thee:
I plead Thy Love of me;
The shallow conduit
hails the unfathomed sea.
Christina Rossetti, 19th century
Fifth Sunday in Lent, April 2
Forgiveness
“If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But
with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.” Psalm 130:3-4
I struck the board, and cried, "No more;
I will abroad!
What? shall I ever sigh and pine?
My lines and life are free, free as the road,
Loose as the wind, as large as store…”
But as I raved and grew more fierce and wild
At every word,
Methought I heard one calling, Child!
And I replied, My Lord.
George Herbert, 17th century
2017 Readings and Prayers for the Season of Lent
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Monday, April 3
Comforted
“They…were not a little comforted.” Acts 20:7-12
Father,
give perfection to beginners,
understanding to the little ones,
and help to those who are running their course.
Give sorrow to the negligent,
fervour to the lukewarm,
and a good consummation to the perfect.
Friday, April 7
Partakers
“I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace.”
Philippians 1:7
O God, You gave us the grace to carry the sword of Your Kingdom of
peace; and You made us messengers of peace in a world of strife, and
messengers of strife in a world of false peace: make strong our hand,
make clear our voice, give us humility with firmness and insight with
passion, that we may fight, not to conquer, but to redeem.
Gregory Vlastos, 20th century
Irenaeus of Lyon, 2nd century
Tuesday, April 4
Heal
“Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved.
“Jeremiah 17:14
Heal our passions, cure our diseases,
help us out of our difficulties, make our lives peaceful,
Send us the illumination of the Spirit.
Inflame us with the desire of Thy Son.
Render us pleasing to Him, so that we may enjoy happiness with Him,
seeing Thee resplendent with Thy Son’s glory,
rejoicing forever, keeping feast in the Church
with those who worthily celebrate Him
who worked our salvation through Thee,
Christ the Son of God, and our God.
To Him be glory and majesty,
with the uncreated Father
and the all-holy and life-giving Spirit,
now and forever, through the endless ages of eternity.
Amen.
John of Damascus, 8th century
Wednesday, April 5
Living
“He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” Matthew 22:32
May it be the real I who speaks.
May it be the real Thou that I speak to.
C.S. Lewis, 20th century
Saturday, April 8
Dread Warrior
“But the LORD is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors
will stumble; they will not overcome me.” Jeremiah 20:11
By Your first coming, make us righteous;
At Your second coming, set us free.
Anonymous, 10th century
Palm Sunday, April 9
Stones
“I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
Luke 19:40
Lord God: You are Three and You are One,
You are Goodness, all Goodness,
You are the highest Good, Lord God, living and true.
You are Love and Charity, You are Wisdom,
You are Humility, You are Patience,
You are Beauty, You are Sweetness,
You are Safety, You are Rest, You are Joy,
You are our Hope and our Delight,
You are Justice, You are Moderation
You are all our Wealth and Riches overflowing.
You are Perfect, You are Gentleness,
You are our Shelter, our Guard and our Defender,
You are Strength, You are Refreshment,
You are our Future You are our Faith. You are our Love,
You are our complete Consolation,
You are our Life everlasting, great and wonderful Lord,
all powerful God, merciful Savior! Amen.
Francis of Assisi, 13th century
Thursday, April 6
Everlasting
“I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from
doing good to them.” Jeremiah 32:40
Lord Jesus,
You are my righteousness,
I am Your sin.
You took on You what was mine;
yet set on me what was Yours.
You became what You were not,
that I might become what I was not.
Martin Luther, 16th century
Monday, April 10
Overturned
“And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to
drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he
overturned the tables of the money-changers.” Mark 11:15
Holy Spirit, powerful Consoler,
sacred Bond of the Father and the Son,
Hope of the afflicted,
descend into my heart
and establish in it Your loving dominion.
Enkindle in my tepid soul the fire of Your Love.
Augustine of Hippo, 4th century
2017 Readings and Prayers for the Season of Lent
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Tuesday, April 11
Near
“You know that he is near, at the very gates.” Mark 13:29
Saturday, April 15
Tomb
“The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw
the tomb and how his body was laid.” Luke 23:55
O my God, teach my heart where and how to seek You,
where and how to find You.
You are my God and You are my all and I have never seen You.
You have made me and remade me…
Let me seek You in my desire,
let me desire You in my seeking.
Let me find You by loving You,
let me love You when I find You.
Batter my heart, three-personed God, for You
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise and stand, o’er throw me; and bend
Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
John Donne, 17th century
Anselm of Canterbury, 11th century
Easter Sunday, April 16
Wednesday, April 12
Conceal
“Oh…that you would conceal me until your wrath be past, that you would
appoint me a set time, and remember me!” Job 14:13
Of what unmeasurable love
Art Thou possest, who, when Thou couldst not die,
Wert fain to take our flesh and curse,
And for our sakes in Person sinne reprove ;
That by destroying that which ty’d Thy purse,
Thou mightst make way for liberalitie!
George Herbert, 17th century
Victory
“Death is swallowed up in victory…Thanks be to God, who gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:54,57
Let no one fear death,
for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.
He destroyed Hell when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh….
Hell took a Body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hell, where is thy victory?
John Chrysostom, 4th century
Maundy Thursday, April 13
Poured Out
“Take; this is my body…This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured
out for many.” Mark 14:22,24
The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak;
They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne;
But to our wounds only God's wounds can speak,
And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.
Edward Shillito, 20th century
Good Friday, April 14
His Last
“Jesus cried with a loud voice…‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken
me?’…And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.” Mark 15:34,37
And couldst Thou be delighted
With creatures such as we,
Who, when we saw Thee, slighted
And nail’d Thee to a tree?
Unfathomable wonder,
And mystery divine!
The Voice that speaks in thunder,
Says, “Sinner, I am thine!
John Newton, 18th century
2017 Readings and Prayers for the Season of Lent
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The Meaning of Lent
adapted from “On Keeping A Holy Lent”
Craig R. Higgins, Trinity Presbyterian Church (PCA), Rye, NY
People from different religious backgrounds have very different reactions to
the season of Lent. Some grow up in churches where Lent is observed, but
with little to no real explanation. Whether observed as a time of strict
austerity or merely as a time of forgoing a few simple pleasures, Lent may
seem like an empty, meaningless ritual in such cases. On the other hand,
some grow up in church traditions where Lent is not observed at all. These
folks may think of Lenten observance as, at best, a hollow custom, or, at
worst, quite foreign to authentic Christianity. As a matter of fact, many who
grew up in the church have the same question as those who didn’t: “What is
Lent, anyway?”
What is Lent, Anyway?
Lent’s origin is hidden in the early centuries of church history, but we do
know that it originated as a time of preparation for Easter. From the church’s
earliest days, the resurrection of Christ was celebrated not only each week
(on Sunday, the Lord’s Day), but also in a special festival of the resurrection.
This festival we call Easter Day, and it is celebrated as the Sunday of
Sundays!
Lent, as a season of preparation, is traditionally focused on repentance.
Speaking biblically, to repent means to make a change in our attitudes,
words, and lifestyles. As 16th century reformer Martin Luther taught, the
Christian life in its totality is a life of repentance. Beginning when we first
trust Christ, and continuing throughout our lives, we are more and more
turning away from sin and self-centeredness and more and more turning to
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Even though a repentant spirit should
mark all we do, it is still appropriate that certain times be set aside for a
particular focus on repentance.
In much the same way, we celebrate the resurrection of Christ each Sunday,
but especially at Easter; and while we should always thank God for the
Incarnation, we especially celebrate it at Christmas. These periodic
reminders keep us from becoming forgetful and imbalanced. The church
has traditionally done this at the Lenten season (and, to a lesser extent, in
the pre-Christmas season of Advent). Lent, therefore, is a time for focusing
on the heart, a time for asking questions about our spiritual health:



What are my characteristic sins, and how can I pray for change?
What idols have captured my imagination so that my love for the
living God has grown cold?
In what ways is my devotion to Christ and His church less than
wholehearted?
The Lenten season is the spiritual equivalent of an annual physical exam; it’s
a time to take stock of our lives, our hearts. Keeping Lent, however, is
potentially dangerous, precisely because of this focus on the heart. After all,
it is much easier to read a book on prayer than to spend time leisurely
speaking with our heavenly Father. It is much easier to fast from certain
foods than it is to turn from idols of the heart. It is much easier to write a
check than to spend time in ministries of mercy.
Consequently, Lent is easily trivialized. The point of Lent is not to give up
chocolate; it’s to give up sin! Even with this warning, however, we need to
beware of going from one extreme to the other. Yes, it is possible to
completely externalize your Lenten observance that you end up trivializing it.
Yet we need to remember that we are not purely spiritual beings. God
created humans as physical beings; we are psychosomatic creatures, a
2017 Readings and Prayers for the Season of Lent
“nexus of body and soul.” What we do physically has an effect on us
spiritually—and we neglect this principle to our peril.
For example, it is unquestionably true that our attitude in prayer is more
important than our posture in prayer. However, sometimes being in a
physical posture of humility—kneeling in prayer—helps us get in the
right frame of mind. It shouldn’t surprise us in the least that there is a
connection between the physical and spiritual; it simply reflects how
God created us. That’s why, at the center of Christian worship, God
gave us the sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper— simple
physical rites involving water, bread, and wine, but rites that
communicate to us the most profound of spiritual realities.
That’s also why, in the pages of Scripture and throughout the history of
the church, we find many physical acts and postures designed to help
us worship, to help us pray, to help us in our spiritual growth. The list
could be quite long, such as standing for prayer and praise, the laying
on of hands, anointing the sick with oil, bowing one’s head and closing
one’s eyes for prayer. Recognizing this God-created link between the
physical and the spiritual, the Lenten season has historically included a
physical element, specifically fasting and other acts of self-denial. We’ll
deal with these more fully below.
Should We Observe Lent?
I am sometimes asked why churches should observe Lent at all. Well, I
certainly agree that of all the seasons of the church year Lent is the
most-often trivialized. Consequently, many churches (including some
Presbyterian churches) do not observe the season. There are,
however, two good reasons for keeping this tradition:
First, this is a wise tradition. Realizing that repentance should
characterize the totality of the Christian life, we should see the practical
wisdom in setting aside time especially for this purpose. Just as a
baseball player may work at staying in shape year round but still give
special attention to conditioning before the start of spring training, so
we may find great spiritual benefits in setting aside a few weeks to give
special attention to the state of our souls.
Second, it is right that we honor the traditional wisdom of the church,
and Lent is a tradition that the church has observed for centuries.
Inasmuch as the Holy Spirit has been present throughout church
history, guiding God’s people into an ever-increasing awareness of
biblical truth, we believe that it is foolhardy to disregard history and
constantly to try to “reinvent the wheel.” We dishonor our spiritual
ancestors when we casually disregard their wisdom.
Are Christians required to observe Lent? Strictly speaking, no;
Presbyterians have long emphasized that our consciences are bound
to Scripture alone, and there is no biblical mandate to celebrate Lent.
But countless generations of Christians have found this a helpful tool.
When is Lent?
The Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts until the
Saturday before Easter Day. The last week of Lent is called Holy
Week, which includes both Maundy Thursday (commemorating the
institution of the Eucharist) and Good Friday (commemorating the
crucifixion of our Lord). Reminiscent of Jesus’ fasting for forty days in
the wilderness, the Lenten season, not counting Sundays, lasts forty
days. Sundays are not included because the Lord’s Day, according to
church tradition, is never a fast day but always a feast day—a
celebration of the resurrection! Therefore, during Lent the Lord’s Days
are listed as Sundays in Lent, not Sundays of Lent.
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How Can I Keep Lent?
Traditionally, the Lenten season is observed in four basic (and often
overlapping) ways:
1.) Self-Examination
As we’ve discussed, this is central to the traditional Lenten observance. Use
this time to ask yourself some hard questions about your spiritual life, your
spiritual maturity. The following questions taken from Outgrowing the
Ingrown Church, by Jack Miller, are a great place to start:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Is God working in your life?
Have you been repenting of your sin lately?
Are you building your life on Christ’s free justification or are you
insecure and guilt-ridden?
Have you done anything simply because you love Jesus?
Have you stopped anything simply because you love Jesus?
If you’re married, ask your spouse to give you his or her evaluation of your
spiritual health. Many Christians have a Christian friend, or a small group of
fellow believers, who provide an opportunity for spiritual inquiry. If you don’t
have these kinds of relationship, Lent might be a good time to initiate one.
Parents—especially fathers—could use Lent as time to spend more time
with their children individually, trying to understand their particular spiritual
struggles and providing them encouragement.
With all this emphasis on self-examination, however, it is crucial to keep your
focus the Gospel: All of us are more sinful and helpless than we would’ve
ever dared admit, yet in Christ we are more accepted and forgiven than we
would’ve ever dared hope. Be careful that your self-examination is centered
on this Good News. There is always the danger of falling into morbid
introspection, which can lead to despair over your own spiritual health and to
a harsh legalism toward others.
2.) Self-Denial
The Lenten season traditionally is also a time for acts of self-discipline and
self-denial, a time to remind ourselves that we do not live by bread alone.
Self-denial helps us remember what is so beautifully signified in the
Eucharist—that Jesus is the true bread of life, our only source of strength
and sustenance.
The two major fast days of the traditional church year—Ash Wednesday and
Good Friday—both occur during the Lenten season. Traditionally, the other
days of Lent—except Sundays, of course —are marked by other acts of selfdenial. Some common examples would be giving up one meal a day or
giving up a particular food. Self-denial, however, doesn’t always involve what
we eat; some people may work on other habits, seeking to better use their
time. (I’ve known some people to fast from watching too much television!)
For families in this dangerously frenetic culture, Lent would certainly be an
appropriate time to cut back on the seemingly-endless flow of activities and
spend time worshipping, praying, and learning together.
Since fasting is so unfamiliar to many in our culture, it is wise to consult with
a pastor or other spiritual leader before making any decisions in this area.
(Some people, of course—such as expectant or nursing mothers, the sick,
and those on special diets—should not fast.) Before you begin fasting, I
would recommend that you look at what the Scriptures say about the
practice (see especially Matthew 6), and perhaps get some guidance from
good books on the subject. And again, remember that there is nothing
magical in these spiritual disciplines; they are tools to help you grow closer
to Christ.
2017 Readings and Prayers for the Season of Lent
3.) Acts of Compassion
The Lenten season is a particularly appropriate time to ask God to fill
you with compassion for the poor and oppressed and to put this into
practice in concrete ways. This can take many practical forms. For
example, there are Christians who give up one meal a day as a Lenten
discipline, and then give the money they’ve saved by doing so to the
poor. Many churches—including West End Presbyterian Church—have
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday offerings for ministries of mercy, so
money saved during Lent could be given at that time. There are many
ways in which families can practice compassion during Lent. In your
neighborhood, there may be a poor family you could help (with or
without drawing attention to yourselves). Or maybe you know an older
person who lives alone who could use some help around the house—
or would simply like having a friend. Some families save their loose
change or forgo some simple expenditures, then give the money to the
poor. Lent can be an excellent opportunity to teach our children the
value of compassion.
4.) Using the Means of Grace
Finally, the Lenten season is a time for renewing our focus on the
means of grace—a focus that all-too-easily fades when not given
adequate attention. Historically, the church has said there are three
means of grace—three instruments through which God helps us grow
to be more and more like Christ: the Scriptures, prayer, and the
sacraments. If regular times of prayer and Bible study have never been
a part of your life (or if they once were but have become less so), then
Lent is a wonderful opportunity to begin these life-changing practices.
The Lenten season would also be a good time to get involved in a Bible
study group—a practice that generations of Christians have
commended as key to their spiritual growth. And if your family doesn’t
have a time of worship together, Lent is a great time to start—and then
keep going the rest of the year! In our individualistic culture, it is all too
easy to lose sight of the fact that Christianity is a communal faith, that
the center of Christian life is not private religious devotion but corporate
worship, gathering with fellow believers to sing, pray, and receive Holy
Communion. There are many today who identify themselves as
Christians but for whom the church is peripheral and tangential. If this
sounds like you, then use this Lenten season to commit yourself to the
community of God’s people. If you are a follower of Christ and yet have
never been baptized, then make every effort to be baptized as soon as
possible. If you have been baptized, remember that in baptism you
were incorporated into a community, the family of God, and that you
are to join in the family meal, the Lord’s Supper. And parents, the
Lenten season is a wonderful time to help your children realize that the
church is their family, that worship is their first duty and greatest joy.
And if your children understand the Gospel, then this season could be
a wonderful time to take the steps toward having them admitted to the
Lord’s Table. As Lent begins this year, our prayer for you is that this
would be a truly blessed season, a time of genuine and significant
spiritual growth for you and for your family.
Lord God, eternal and almighty Father, we praise You for the death
and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have
received forgiveness and eternal life. Grant us the grace to observe
Lent by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and selfdenial; and by reading and meditating on your holy Word. Grant that
we may remember that though we are dust, and to dust we shall return,
that we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection
of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
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Lent and Easter 2017
Worship & Spiritual Formation
West End Presbyterian Church
9008 Quioccasin Road, Richmond, VA 23229
www.wepc.org / 804.741.6562
Lenten Service of Worship and Communion
6:30pm, Ash Wednesday March 1
He remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103:14
Lent, a tradition from the early centuries of church history, is a
season of preparation preceding the celebration of Easter
focused on repentance. Speaking biblically, to repent means to
make a change in our attitudes, words, and lifestyles. As 16th
century reformer Martin Luther taught, the Christian life in its
totality is a life of repentance. Beginning when we first trust
Christ, and continuing throughout our lives, we are more and
more turning away from sin and self-centeredness and more
and more turning to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This
communion service will be an opportunity to worship God in
light of the grace He gives His people to repent and trust Christ
alone for our hope and salvation.
Children are welcome, and a nursery will be provided.
An offering will be taken for the WEPC Deacon’s Fund.
Sunday Evening Communion Services
6:00pm, March 5, 12, 19 & 26
In remembrance of me.
I Corinthians 11:24
These simple communion services are opportunities to grow in
God’s grace, remembering our life in Jesus Christ.
Children are welcome, and a nursery will be provided (WEPC Chapel).
Personal Retreat
8:30am -12:30pm, Saturday March 4
Be still, and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10
At Roslyn Retreat Center, Richmond. Time alone in prayer &
reflection, punctuated by times of corporate prayer, Scripture
reading, and some sharing of what the Lord is teaching
us. Expect it to be a quiet time. Registration is $15; contact
Kevin Greene, [email protected].
Lenten Hymn Sing
6:00pm, Sunday, April 2
Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 96:2
Join with us in lifting up traditional hymns of the faith that focus
on Christ's death and resurrection.
No nursery will be provided; all ages and experience welcome
(WEPC Chapel).
Maundy Thursday Communion Service
7:00pm, April 13
Take. Eat.
Matthew 26:26
This service commemorates the night Jesus Christ instituted
the Lord’s Supper, washed the disciples’ feet, prayed in the
garden of Gethsemane, and was betrayed, arrested, and taken
away for trial. Called Maundy Thursday, (from mandatum, the
Latin origin of “mandate”) it refers to Christ’s mandate to serve
one another, which He demonstrated by the washing of
feet. We gather to worship, to remember His work on the
cross, to celebrate communion, and to respond to Christ’s
mandate to serve each other.
No nursery provided; Children are welcome.
An offering will be taken for the WEPC Deacon’s Fund.
Good Friday Communion Service
7:00pm, April 14
It is finished.
John 19:30
We encourage individuals and families to use this day to pray
and reflect on the significance of Christ’s life, death and
resurrection. This service of corporate prayer, Scripture
reading, confession, and celebration of our Lord's death helps
us to consider and respond to the crucifixion and atonement of
Jesus Christ for us.
No nursery provided; Children are welcome.
An offering will be taken for the WEPC Deacon’s Fund.
Easter Sunday
9:00 and 10:30am, April 16
O death, where is your victory?
I Corinthians 15:55
Jesus Christ is risen! Please join us for our regular Sunday
schedule of Worship, Children and Youth Sunday School, First
Service Coffee, and Nurseries.
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