40 DAYS OF LENT

With Bible Passages & Commentaries from BibleGateway.com

Ash Wednesday, February 9, 2005...
is a special time to prepare yourself to celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts 40 days plus 6 Sundays.

Lent is an opportunity for spiritual renewal as you:

*

The Week of Ash Wednesday

THEME: A NEW WAY OF LIFE. 

Turn away from sin—and devote your life to God. Make a Lenten Wreath. Use nonflammable materials (such as wire). Securely place 1 white and 7 purple nondrip candles around the wreath in nonflammable candle cups. Light a purple candle for each week—and the white Christ candle on Easter Sunday. Give up a bad habit. Bad habits can hurt you and the ones you love. Pray to God for the strength to improve.

February 8 – Shrove or Fat Tuesday
Reflect on Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness. Think about changes you can make in your life!

February 9 – Ash Wednesday
Lent begins. Light the first of the Lenten wreath candles.

February 10 – Thursday
Plant seeds and bulbs. Watch them blossom to new life as Lent progresses.

February 11 – Friday
Spend time each day praying.

February 12 – Saturday
Develop your talents—they’re gifts from God.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21.

1st Full Week of Lent

THEME: FASTING. 

Deny yourself and you may have more to give to others. Make meals simpler. Use less meat and fewer processed foods. Eat out less. Make family and friends the focus of mealtime. Share your good fortune. Donate the money you save by living your life more simply to your church’s program for the needy.

February 13 – Sunday
Light 2 purple candles on your Lenten wreath. Read Romans 5:12-19.

February 14 – Monday
Use coupons. Give the money you save to a church program.

February 15 – Tuesday
Take shorter showers to save water.

February 16 – Wednesday
Do without a favorite food or beverage.

February 17 – Thursday
Get up early each day of Lent. Use the extra time to read the Bible.

February 18 – Friday
Recycle whenever you can.

February 19 – Saturday
Turn off the radio and TV. Appreciate the silence.

“One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4.

2nd Full Week of Lent

THEME: PRAYER. 

Your prayers can be a source of strength and direction. Study the Bible. Read the Bible every day for direction, inspiration, and comfort. Write your own Lenten prayer. Examine your life, and admit your faults. Write a prayer for the strength to change.

February 20 – Sunday
Light 3 purple candles on your Lenten wreath. Read Matthew 17:1-9.

February 21 – Monday
Pray for the strength to overcome problems in your own life.

February 22 – Tuesday
Join a prayer group, or help start one.

February 23 – Wednesday
Say a prayer for world peace.

February 24 – Thursday
 Invite a friend to pray with you.

February 25 – Friday
Pray for someone you know who is having a difficult time.

February 26 – Saturday
Set aside time each day to pray together as a family.

This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. 2 Timothy 1:9.

3rd Week of Lent

THEME: COMPASSION. 

Living a full Christian life means sharing your gifts with others. Simplify your life. Try to cut out material excesses. Appreciate God’s gifts. Help conserve the earth’s resources. Work for peace. Do your part to support local peace organizations. Pray for the victims of war.

February 27 – Sunday
Light 4 purple candles on your Lenten wreath. Read John 4:5-42.

February 28 – Monday
Save a dog or cat--adopt from your local shelter if possible.

March 1 – Tuesday
Visit patients in the hospital—even if you don’t know anyone there.

March 2 – Wednesday
Say a prayer for someone in prison.

March 3 – Thursday
Don’t gossip.

March 4 – Friday
“Adopt” a grandparent—share your love with a lonely older person.

March 5 – Saturday
Write a letter of thanks to someone special in your life.

And hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit…. Romans 5:5.

4th Week of Lent

THEME: FORGIVENESS. 

Bring peace into your heart—forgive and be forgiven. Share your time and talent. Ask your pastor how you can help with church projects and activities. Expand your family. Invite a child or older person to be a part of your family during the Lenten season.

March 6 – Sunday
Light 5 purple candles on your Lenten wreath. Read John 9:1-41.

March 7 – Monday
Seek forgiveness from someone you’ve hurt.

March 8 – Tuesday
Think about the many times God has forgiven you.

March 9 – Wednesday
Tell family members you love them.

March 10 – Thursday
Forgive someone who has hurt you.

March 11 – Friday
Think about better ways to resolve problems at home.

March 12 – Saturday
Spend time with family and friends sharing love and memories.

For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light. Ephesians 5:8.

5th Week of Lent

THEME: RENEWAL. 

Strengthen your faith by renewing your baptismal vows. Share your faith. Invite a friend or relative to attend special Lenten services with you. Get to know a new member. Become a special friend to a new member of your church. Help new members feel at home in your church.

March 13 – Sunday
Light 6 purple candles on your Lenten wreath. Read Romans 8:8-11.

March 14 – Monday
Take a walk—look for signs of the earth’s renewal.

March 15 – Tuesday
Ask family and friends to share memories of baptisms.

March 6 – Wednesday
 Renew an old friendship.

March 17 – Thursday
Sing your family’s favorite hymns together.

March 18 – Friday
Pray to God to strengthen your faith.

March 19– Saturday
Think of a way to become more involved in your church community.

“Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:25-26.

HOLY WEEK

THEME: LOVE. 

Share your love with others as you follow Jesus’ last days on earth. Prepare your home. Complete your spring cleaning, and decorate your home with Easter symbols to reflect your spiritual renewal. Read about Jesus’ last days: Matthew 21-21, Mark 11-15, Luke 19-23, John 12-19. Prepare a Passover meal. Jesus’ Last Supper was the Passover. Share traditional foods, such as matzo, horseradish or lamb. Read Exodus 12-14. Express your love. On Holy Thursday, Jesus washed the Apostles’ feet as an act of service and love. Read John 13:1-20. Think of ways you can express your love for others.

March 20 – Passion (Palm) Sunday
Light the 7 purple candles on your Lenten wreath. Reenact Jesus’ triumphant entry 
into Jerusalem.

March 21 – Monday
Make Easter cards to give to family and friends.

March 22 – Tuesday
Offer to help prepare your church for Easter.

March 23 – Wednesday
Share the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection with a friend.

March 24 – Holy (Maundy) Thursday
This is the day Jesus commanded the Apostles to love one another. Read John 13:34-35.

March 25 – Good Friday
Pray and reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice.

March 26 – Holy Saturday and Easter Vigil
Quietly reflect on how the Apostles grieved for Jesus.

“Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Matthew 21:9.

March 27 -- Easter Sunday

Alleluia! Rejoice, for Jesus Christ has risen! “He has been raised; he is not here.” Mark 16:6.

Celebrate with your church community. Greet the day full of thanks and praise as your faith community proclaims Jesus’ resurrection.

Celebrate at home. Let each family member help prepare your Easter meal. Light all the candles on your Lenten wreath, including the Christ candle. Invite friends and neighbors to join your celebration.

Share your joy. Discuss the meaning of Jesus’ special gift of everlasting life with someone in your faith community.

Share God’s love. Bring a special Easter basket or lily to someone who is lonely or sick.

Continue Easter all year. Think about ways you can continue to grow in Christ.

Discuss the Gospel. Read the accounts of Jesus’ resurrection: Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24:1-27, John 20:1-23.

Sooo—Enrich your Easter experience by observing Lent fully!

1991 Channing Bete Company, Inc.

Bible Passages takes from BibleGateway.com