Journey to the Heart of Lent
Welcome to our Lenten Devotional. March 3-5, teens from all over Massachusetts gathered at the Craigville Retreat Center and spent the weekend thinking deeply about how we can all become more loving people. They formed 6 working groups – one for each week of Lent – and each group focused on a particular kind of love.
Through music, written reflections, recipes, art, spiritual practices, prayers, suggestions for contemplation, and calls to action, we hope to challenge and inspire you to practice loving in new and deeper ways.
We invite you to join us as we explore ways to better love ourselves, our families, our neighbors, our enemies, our earth, and ultimately our God.
May we journey together into the heart of Lent, that we might emerge this Easter with a renewed commitment to love one another as Jesus has loved us.
This week we focus on learning to love God.
Learning to Love God
April 16
Easter Sunday
HE IS RISEN!!!
Learning to Love God
April 15
The day after Jesus was crucified, the world seemed unbalanced…like the edges of the ice.
Learning to Love God
April 14
This psalm reminds us of the gruesome story of the crucifixion of Jesus. I wonder what it must have been like to be a person in the crowd watching this horrible thing happen to someone who loved him. I wonder how Jesus’ mother felt. I wonder how the soldiers felt? How do you feel today knowing what Jesus did for you? I wonder…
Psalm 22:1-21
To the leader: according to The Deer of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
and by night, but find no rest.
Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
In you our ancestors trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
To you they cried, and were saved;
in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.
But I am a worm, and not human;
scorned by others, and despised by the people.
All who see me mock at me;
they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
‘Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver—
let him rescue the one in whom he delights!’
Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
you kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
On you I was cast from my birth,
and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
Many bulls encircle me,
strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
they open wide their mouths at me,
like a ravening and roaring lion.
I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
my mouth* is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
For dogs are all around me;
a company of evildoers encircles me.
My hands and feet have shriveled;*
I can count all my bones.
They stare and gloat over me;
they divide my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.
But you, O Lord, do not be far away!
O my help, come quickly to my aid!
Deliver my soul from the sword,
my life* from the power of the dog!
Save me from the mouth of the lion!
I wonder…
Learning to Love God
April 13
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
Contemplate Jesus’ words as you watch the attached video of Beth Moore.
Learning to Love God
April 12
My Silent Knowing by Liquid Mind
~Meditation music
Have you ever tried meditation? It’s an opportunity to center yourself in the present moment. Allow yourself to feel the calm and the relaxation. Don’t worry if it’s difficult. Your mind may wander, but that’s ok. Just lovingly accept the thoughts that enter. You can repeat the following words to help center yourself. As you slowly inhale, you can say, “Perfect Love.” As you exhale, you can say, “Cast our fear.” Another example is to inhale and say, “Be Still.” Exhale saying, “And know.” Inhale: “That I.” Exhale: “Am God.” Keep practicing. Allow yourself to feel the peace. Allow yourself to feel God.
Learning to Love God
April 11
What benefits have you found from working with a team versus working alone?
How does it feel knowing you can count on your teammates?
Even when you may think you are alone, you always have the ultimate teammate. God always has your back.
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
Learning to Love God
April 10
If We Are The Body – Casting Crowns
Color this cross or one like it, while contemplating the lyrics of this song.
Learning to Love the Earth
April 8
Help a neighbor prepare a garden space who may not be able to do it themselves.
Learning to Love the Earth
April 7
Enjoy a nature walk or hike with a friend and
pick up trash along the way.
Learning to Love the Earth
April 5
Bike or walk to school or work today to save fossil fuels.
Learning to Love the Earth
April 4
Meditation
Mediate as you listen to these sounds of the rainforest.
May they remind you of why we need to care for Mother Earth.
Learning to Love the Earth
April 3
Doodle or color something from nature while you pray for the earth.
Learning to Love the Earth
This daily devotional was written by teens in Massachusetts to help us love throughout Lent. This week we focus on learning to love our earth.
April 2
Put together small pots with soil and marigold seeds and give them to 3 neighbors. Inscribe on a piece of paper “Love all God’s creations, both whole and every grain of sand. Love every leaf, every ray of light. Love the animals, love the plants, love each separate thing.” Dostoevsky
Learning to Love our Enemies
April 1
Try to start fresh, forgive grudges.
A fresh start can make all the difference.
Learning to Love our Enemies
March 31
Show Empathy/Put Yourself in their Shoes
Empathy, or putting yourself in someone else shoes, can completely change the way you see someone else. You may realize that this enemy is going through hard times, and their negative emotions towards you may have just been something bad in their life that they’re taking out on you.
Learning to Love our Enemies
March 30
Try talking to them and See what Happens
Even if it’s just a simple hello, communication is key. With an enemy it may be hard, but try to go out of your way to do it.
Learning to Love our Enemies
March 29
Try Showing them Extra Kindness
Even if it’s just another compliment, a nice text, or a baked good, being extra kind toward someone that it may be hard to be kind to is important. Just going a bit out of your way to show kindness is something that can change someones thought of you. Why not try doing something extra kind, like baking them some homemade chocolate chip cookies.
Learning to Love our Enemies
March 27th
Anonymous Gesture of Kindness
Simple acts of kindness are a great way to show love. These gestures can be anonymous, if you still don’t feel comfortable directly approaching your enemy. Even a quick note can make someones day
Learning to Love our Families
March 26th
Compliment them
A compliment takes very little effort from you, but it can monumentally change someone’s day. Although it seems a small act, it can be the first step towards forgiveness of someone you may have once called your enemy.
Learning to Love our Families
March 25
“Honor your father and mother that it may go well with you and you may live long in the land” Exodus 20:12
It is always good to walk a mile in someone’s shoes to see how things really are for them. This can be important for parents and kids who often don’t see eye to eye. Take a set amount of time, a half day or a full day, and switch roles with a family member. Doing their chores, living as them for a bit might change your perspective on what you think their life is like as opposed to what it actually is. Do not say “I don’t do/act like that” as they are showing you what they perceive.
Learning to Love our Families
March 24
“…For whoever does not love their brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” 1 John 4:20
Take a moment to read these family poems either aloud, or quietly. Pick a line that makes you think of your family, then use that to begin your own writing about your family.
Mom
As a daughter
I rolled my eyes and thought you were out of touch
I thought I was putting up with you
But as a mom
I realize you put up with me with grace, love and mercy that I did not deserve
You modeled God’s unconditional love
And I am in awe
(as my children roll their eyes and tell me I “don’t get it”)
At how I love them unconditionally
Through you I know God’s love.
Love
Family is love
Love is family
Family is community
Community is family
Family is all of us
All of us are family
Family
Family is laughter
Family is love
Family is when you walk into your best friend’s house without knocking on the door.
Family is the people you grew up with
Family is blood relatives, especially the ones you see the most
Family is church
Family is when you feel you are at home with the people you are with
Family is depending on them and knowing they will pull their weight
Family is no judgement
Family is trust and honesty
Family is good whether they are blood, or not.
Learning to Love our Families
March 23
“Love makes a family”
Download the following coloring pages
and breathe deeply as you color
Sometimes we need to do something with our hands to free our minds. Consider giving each family member one or two colors that belong to them, and pass the paper after adding “your” color(s) to see what beautiful creation you come up with together.
Learning to Love our Families
March 22
“Love makes a family”
We asked people to define the word “Family” and about their family Lenten observations.
Think about how you define family, and how your family observes Lent together.
Learning to Love our Families
March 21
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Ephesians 6:1
Parents need to lead the way in modeling and expecting behavior, and good problem solving techniques. Daily prayers can be helpful to calm an argument. Try saying this prayer with your children when an issue arises. Dear God, Help us to forgive each other and remember we are all your children. Bless us with your endless love and forgiveness. Amen.
Here is a short film about how prayer might work in this situation.
Learning to Love our Families
March 20
“ First, be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.”
Matthew 5: 24
Here is a list of easy activities that you can do with your family during Lent that do not require electronics, and engage your spirit, mind and body!
Going for a walk together
Bike ride
Change competitive games to cooperative games (ex: Instead of having your own money in Monopoly, share the wealth)
Play the game Sorry, and each time you leave Start, meditate on an instance that needs apology until you get to Home.
Color
Tag (When the tagger is getting close, you can be “safe” by touching the ground and sharing a blessing.)
Read aloud
Make up a skit and act it out
Prepare dinner together
Learning to Love our Families
March 19
“You can kiss your family and friends goodbye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world, but a world lives in you.”
– Fredrick Buechner
Listen to this song and reflect on what you think the song is saying to you. Then read the paragraph below:
Lent is a time of many emotions, one of which is grief. In this song there are lyrics that speak to what it’s like when you lose a family member. The title “See You Again” is reassurance that those who are lost to you, will be reunited with you in the kingdom of heaven.
Learning to Love our Neighbor
March 18
By Greg Richane
[Slow Down]
________
Immerse Yourself
in your neighbor’s context
__________
Put yourself in a position to
LISTEN
_______
See specifics
Share specifics
___________
Exchange words
SHARE ENERGY
Learning to Love our Neighbor
March 17
Rushing, moving, constantly whirling
Our lives pass in a haze of obligations, enjoyments and calamities
Our dreams are our mind’s realities, but waking moments are still spent asleep
Stop!
Look around with newborn’s eyes.
Hear with fresh ears cries of emotion, of love.
The first thing you see of your surroundings, your neighbors.
The first thing you hear are your neighbors.
God is in all of us, so love your surroundings, your peers, your elders, children.
Love Him and the world.
But love them not as a collection, but as individuals who you can relate to.
“For to love another person is to see the face of God.” – Victor Hugo
By: Gabe Jones-Thomson
Learning to Love our Neighbor
March 16
Original art to contemplate by Matthew Perara and an original song from Melissa Genoter
Prayer: O God, awaken me to your love within me. May I walk humbly with you as I seek to love others. Remind me that how I love my neighbor is how I love you. Amen
Learning to Love our Neighbor
March 15
original art by Ben Mulrenan
This is a house with a halo. Angels live in this house.
This is just a regular house where anyone could live.
This is a dark house. Devils live here.
Here are the angels who live in the halo house.
Here are the residents of the devil house.
Here are the people who live in the middle house.
They have neighbors who are very different from themselves and from each other, but they have chosen to be friends with all of them, despite their differences. God loves all of us unconditionally no matter what!
Learning to Love our Neighbor
March 14
Untitled
Unconditional love
Unstoppable hunger
Unimaginable passion
Unattainable joy
Where is the love
When all is laid bard
When the fear stops your heart
When the pain is too real
Who is it that we love
When the world gets too real
When its too hard to feel
When loving’s lost all appeal
Love the loveless
Love the lost
Love the helpless
Love at all cost
My love…my love is fear abating
It’s soul sustaining
It’s life rejuvenating
For love is what we are all patiently waiting
By: Carrie Swayne-Gerrish
Learning to Love our Neighbor
March 13
by Britany Riddle
Love can be hard for everyone. Friends, family, neighbors. Neighbor is a hard word to define when it comes to religion. “Love your neighbor.” A neighbor could be people at school, work, people on your street, or people all across the world. A neighbor could be someone you’ve never met. Just remember that whoever you define as neighbor, love them. Love can help you in hard times and in easy times. Just don’t forget that if you love your neighbor, you can love other things, too.
Prayer:
God – Forgive me for forgetting to love the people I know and those that I don’t know. Help me love my neighbors. Help me to remember to forgive them. Help me not to walk away from them. And help my neighbors love their neighbors too. Amen.
Learning to Love Ourselves
March 12
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm him. Plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Don’t ask yourself what the world needs ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go and do that because because what the world needs is people who have come alive.-Howard Washington Thurman
Learning to Love Ourselves
March 11
“Love yourself first first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.”-Lucille Ball
Physical exercises is a great form of self-care and a healthy way to de-stress and take time to listen to your inner voice. Take a walk, go for a jog, or go for a bike ride and enjoy the benefits of this practice–yes, practice, something that we need to do not just today but everyday.
Learning to Love Ourselves
March 10
Meditation is a great way of reconnecting with oneself and practice self-care. Deep breathing is a crucial part of meditation. Take 5 deep breaths and then sit and relax as you read this meditation.
Meditation
Stardust…..the sprinkling of the universe’s light into each of us. Imagine the feeling of glowing from the heart. Imagine knowing that you are connected to everything in the universe….and that you are perfect. Imagine it because that is who you are. Imagine it because when you live with Stardust, with light in your heart, you live in your greatness.
Prayer My brilliant Image
One day the sun admitted,
I am just a shadow.
I wish I could show you
The Infinite Incandescence
That has cast my brilliant image!
I wish I could show you,
When you are lonely or in darkness,
The Astonishing Light Of your own Being!
by Daniel Ladinsky
Learning to Love Ourselves
March 9
When God made creation, God pronounced it good. And on the sixth day, when God created humanity, God pronounced it all very good.
The image above of God’s creation was captured on a reflective walk and photo session. Take a walk, snap a picture, and be grateful for the wonderful life God has given each of us.
Learning to Love Ourselves
March 8
“Self-care is never a selfish act—it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.” – Parker Palmer
We decided that eating healthy is a wonderful way of caring for oneself.
Here is a delicious and nutritious recipe we think you will enjoy!
Recipe for Basil Pesto Pasta with Roasted Vegetables
Ingredients
1 lb. of whole wheat penne pasta
Homemade Basil Pesto
2 zucchini, sliced
2 yellow squash, sliced
1 red onion, cut into 1″ cubes
15-20 mini bell peppers (assorted peppers), tops cut off
2 tablespoons of olive
1 teaspoon of salt
½ teaspoon of ground pepper
Preheat oven to 400.
Place zucchini, squash, red onion, and mini bell peppers on baking sheet. Season with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat.
Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, according to package directions.
Drain pasta when done and reserve ½ cup of cooking liquid.
In a large bowl add cooked pasta, roasted vegetables, basil pesto, and ½ cup of reserved cooking liquid. Toss to coat.
Serve. Top with additional parmesan cheese if desired.
Learning to Love Ourselves
This daily devotional was written by teens on their recent retreat to help us practice loving better throughout Lent. This week we focus on learning to love ourselves.
March 7
“You desire the truth in my inward being therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart… Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me”’ from Psalm 51.
The activity of doodling is a relaxing activity. Take some time to create a piece of art and contemplate the beauty you are able to create. This is a gift from God which you can share with the world.
Take a moment and gaze at the beautiful picture created by Isabela Rahim for this post and then pray…
Prayer: When I criticize myself
Loving and accepting God,
Day after day I criticize myself and others, confusing the blame and guilt that weigh me down with righteous and compassionate judgement. Lift from me, I pray, the burning of regret about my actions and resentment over the actions of others. Teach me to repent fully and forget freely, trusting your divine vision to see the true content of my heart and to measure the true justice of community, Give us grace to accept and affirm one another as beloved children of God, and to fulfill our real vocation to love and serve me neighbor in all my words and work this week, through Christ, in whose name I pray.
Amen
Learning to Love Ourselves
This daily devotional was written by teens of the Massachusetts United Church of Christ to help us practice loving better throughout Lent. This week we focus on learning to love ourselves.
March 6
You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you (Song of Solomon 4:7).
Watch this video reflection:
Who You Are: A Message To All Women
Who You Are: A Message To All Men
And if you live beyond the gender binary we invite you to watch them both because you too are beautiful, brave, strong, and awesome…
Whoever you are, child of God, you are loved.