WHAT IS LENT?
The season of Lent finds its roots in the early 2nd-century church. The Lenten season is 40 days in which the church reflects on the life and death of Jesus. The 40 days of Lent reflect the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13).
This year’s Lent Guide expands on our sermon series of Encountering Jesus through the Gospel of John. The Gospel of John calls us to reflect on how others responded to Jesus and challenges us to do the same. Belief is more than an initial decision. It leads us on a lasting, Spirit-filled journey of transformation, trust, and ongoing discipleship.
We want this season of Lent to be one where together we are not just meditating on the things of God, but one where we are practicng them together. In order to help with this, we have created this Lent Guide that includes mediations, prayers, and some practices for us to do together. Some of these practices involve a sacrifice of giving something up. Some of them require us to give blessings to others rather than ourselves.
This focus of practicing the “unforced rhythms of grace” helps us to live in joy and hope in a world that is full of disruption and upheaval. They help prepare us to once again experience the act of receiving new hearts on Easter Sunday morning. We are saved once we accept Jesus, but the celebration of Easter allows us to experience salvation once again.
Lenten Services
Ash Wednesday | March 5th
In place of our own Ash Wednesday service, we invite you to attend one of the options from one of our friend churches in San Antonio:
Grace Northridge
12pm and 5:30pm
2659 Eisenhauer Road
San Antonio, TX 78209
St. Andrews Church
7:30am
722 Robinhood Pl.
San Antonio, TX 78209
Ash Wednesday traditionally marks the beginning of the Lenten season. From the ashes of the previous year’s palm Sunday branches, Christians over the centuries have been marked with a cross on their foreheads. As we receive this mark, we hear the words spoken over us, “you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gen 3:19). In this act, we are reminded of the frailty and mortality of our bodies; that our days are numbered in this world (Ps 90:12). This body that God has given us, through which our spirit experiences Him, through which we share His love with those around us, came from the earth, and will return to it one day. It is in this place of humility, we move toward him again, and open up space for His love to transform us.
Good Friday Tenebrae Service | April 18th, 12pm
Location: Christian School at Castle Hills
‘Tenebrae’ means darkness or shadows. As we come to the end of Lent, we begin a journey into darkness to a place of deep shadows. This service is a somber service where we read scripture from the last week of Jesus’ life and sing together. We enter into the depth of sadness and darkness that would have been felt after Jesus died on the cross, before Easter Sunday. This service is a preparation to celebrate Easter Sunday morning.
Resurrection Sunday | April 20th, 2024 8:45 AM
Location: Christian School at Castle Hills
Resurrection Sunday is a wonderful celebration of the risen Christ. Join us April 20th for a morning full of joy and celebration. Our Easter Jam Festivities, breakfast, and photo opp will begin at 8:45 AM. Our normal Sunday morning service will begin at 10 AM, with an egg hunt immediately following the service outside by the playground.
This very eventful Sunday is always a full morning, if you’d like to be a part of the morning and serve alongside us, you can contact Nancy Gaines at nancy@theparksa.org.
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
“God has given us the Disciplines of the spiritual life as a means of receiving his grace. The Disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that he can transform us.”
Richard J. Foster, A Celebration of Discipline
Following Jesus takes practice. During this Lenten season, we encourage you to use some traditional spiritual disciplines to help you connect with God.
FASTING
is the practice of abstaining from something. The purpose of this abstinence is in order to rightly learn to enjoy God’s gifts. What we consume often consumes us. Fasting doesn’t have to be scary, it can be done on a small scale.
Forms fasting can take:
- abstain from a media form (tv, social media, etc…)
- abstain from buying new things
- choose silence or natural sounds
- trim a packed schedule
- fast from food (can be a partial fast or a full fast)
EXAMEN
is a practice for paying attention to God’s presence your life: reflect on God’s presence; review your day in a spirit of gratitude; become aware of your emotions before God; pray over one feature of your day; and then intentionally look forward to tomorrow. This practice can become a healthy rhythm for your spiritual life and relationship with God.
At the end of your day, take some time to reflect on the things that you did and said throughout your daily routines. What were your attitudes, behaviors, and character weaknesses? Where did you notice God’s presence? How did you you interact with other people? Pray over a part of your day and ask God to prepare you in new ways for tomorrow.
LECTIO DIVINA
is a practice of praying scripture. Read a passage of scripture. Instead of trying to study or exegete the passage, listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying through God’s Word. Mediate or wonder about the Word in a time of silence, where you think of nothing but what you read. Read the passage again as a prayer. Then speak to God about what it is you read and that He brought to your heart and mind. Rather than reading to learn more about God (which is a good thing), Lectio helps us to read to love and know God more.
MUSIC
We believe that good music has the power to change your mood, your perspective and your focus. We will curate a playlist for you to follow and listen to to help you worship and focus during this Lenten Season.
Lent Playlist
OTHER RESOURCES
These are just a few of the books on prayer, Lent and other topics we think are helpful for you if you want additional resources for this journey.
