Lent Devotional 2022

Read and/or listen to daily meditations written by members of the Seminary community. Scroll down to learn more about the various ways you can read the daily messages.

With thanks to Bill Hammond, friend of the Seminary, for providing this year's audio recordings. And much appreciation to DMin student Jordan Miller-Stubbendick, who edited the devotionals.

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Lent Resource Kit 2022

COFFEE WITH THE DEAN VIDEO SERIES

In this weekly series, the Rev. Dr. Leanna Fuller discusses with members of the PTS community the selected Lectionary passages for each Sunday in Lent. Watch these videos for ideas on how to preach and teach these portions of Scripture. A new video will be posted each Monday.

Week 7: Ruth Boykin

In this final Coffee with the Dean video, Interim Dean Leanna Fuller talks with Ruth Boykin, associate director of the Seminary's Metro-Urban Institute, about contextual displays of God’s love in Psalm 118, how resurrection comes to people through communities, and the connection between salvation and God’s peace.

Week 6: Watch as Interim Dean Leanna Fuller talks with Jennifer Kaalund, associate professor of New Testament, in preparation for Palm Sunday and Holy Week. Looking at a familiar story, they invite us to pause at each step along the way to celebrate what God is doing, discover the essence of Jesus as humble servant, and remember the importance of knowing God sits with those who have suffered and continue to suffer in systems of oppression. WATCH

Week 5: During Week 5 Interim Dean Leanna Fuller and Professor of Old Testament Jerome Creach explore the “already and not yet” of Psalm 126, where restoration has occurred but more is still desired. Connecting this to Christ’s resurrection and second coming, they also reflect on the anointing of Jesus’ feet in John 12:1-8 as preparation for his death and burial. One can’t have shouts of joy without weeping, nor Easter without Good Friday. WATCH

Week 4: In this video, Interim Dean Leanna Fuller talks with Asa Lee, president of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, about the lost parables of Luke 15. These parables, especially the parable of the prodigal son, invite us to wrestle with God’s celebration and affirmation of those to whom we are resistant to offer grace. WATCH

Week 3: Interim Dean Leanna Fuller and Franklin Tanner Capps, director of the Miller Summer Youth Institute at PTS, discuss Isaiah 55:1-9 and themes of feasting and fasting, scarcity and abundance, restraint and indulgence. How does the bodily practice of eating affect spiritual practices, and vice versa? WATCH

Week 2: In this Coffee with the Dean Lent Week 2 video, we look at Genesis 15 and Luke 13 and consider God's radical risks to be in relationship with stubborn people. Interim Dean Leanna Fuller Leanna Fuller and Visiting Assistant Professor of Bible and Writing Specialist Daniel Frayer-Griggs discuss how God is present event in our struggles. WATCH

Week 1: Interim Dean Leanna Fuller and Director of Strategic Initiatives and Special Projects Erin Davenport '05 discuss how God is our refuge and strength as detailed in this week's Lectionary passages. God remains faithful despite the circumstances of our lives. WATCH

BIG BOOK OF LENTEN DEVOTIONALS - Year 1

The Seminary's 2022 “Big Book of Lenten Devotionals” gives you a valuable resource for personal and corporate Spiritual formation during the Lenten season. From Day 1 through Easter, each section includes multiple biblical passages from the daily lectionary, reflections based on those passages, and accompanying prayers based on each reflection. Seminary alumnae/i, faculty, staff, Board members, and students have contributed to this resource to help enrich your Lenten worship for many years to come.

DOWNLOAD THE BIG BOOK OF LENTEN DEVOTIONALS (WORD)

DOWNLOAD THE BIG BOOK OF LENTEN DEVOTIONALS (PDF)

Preaching During Lent

In this reflection, the Rev. Dr. Murray Joseph Thompson ’76/’01 reminds us that the homiletical task is to proclaim the Good News of God, particularly through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.

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Christian Hope

The Rev. Karen Rohrer, director of the Center for Adaptive and Innovative Ministry, asks "What if we started to believe that God and what God has for us is bigger than what is plausible? What if we imagined resurrection?" That's Christian hope.

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Lent and Learning What it Means to Follow Christ

The stories of Lent help us to understand what is perhaps the most simple and most important lesson of the spiritual life: “Find God in everyone and in everything.” Read more from the Rev. Dr. Steven H. Shussett ’93 and Lent and what it means to follow Christ.

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Previously released Lenten resources include:

SERMONS

Consider using the Rev. Carolyn Cranston’s ’99 sermon reflecting on John 13 in your Maundy Thursday service this year—or in a Lenten or Holy Week gathering featuring foot washing. Carolyn is the Seminary's director of alumnae/i and church relations.

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From the office of the World Mission Initiative, the Rev. Bala Khyllep shares his sermon “Are You Watching?”—based on Luke 21:25-26—to encourage Christians to live uprightly and confidently amid turbulent times while we anticipate the Risen Christ’s return.

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Consider the extravagant expression of gratitude shown in Mary’s anointing of Jesus’ feet in this 14-minute audio version of a chapel sermon by the Rev. Dr. Leanna Fuller, associate professor of pastoral care. The accompanying service bulletin provides a suggested liturgy for your use.

LISTEN TO SERMON

DOWNLOAD BULLETIN

Don’t Be a Hero! And Other Guidelines for Choosing a Lenten Discipline

These insights by the Rev. Dr. Roger Owens, professor of Christian spirituality and ministry, can aid you in forming Lenten disciplines that are helpful, realistic, and focused on honoring God, not yourself.

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COMMON QUESTIONS KIDS ASK ABOUT LENT, HOLY WEEK, AND EASTER—AND HOW TO ANSWER THEM!

When kids ask questions about Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, you might find that you don’t really know how to answer them! Here you’ll find suggestions for what to say in response to some of those questions. You might even use them as the basis for a children’s sermon or Sunday school lesson, or for conversation at home around the dinner table.

DOWNLOAD EASTER QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

GALILEE TO GOLGOTHA SLIDESHOW

Via captioned lantern slides from the Kelso Museum of Near Eastern Archaeology’s historic collection, this PowerPoint resource, compiled by alumnus the Rev. Richard Byerly ’07, follows the Gospel of Luke’s account in taking you on a visual trip of the journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, the city of Jesus’ Passion. Use this slideshow as the basis of a Sunday school class at the start of Passion week.

DOWNLOAD THE POWERPOINT GALILEE TO GOLGOTHA

DOWNLOAD THE PDF GALILEE TO GOLGOTHA

SYI HYMNAL FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS

The Miller Summer Youth Institute Hymnal for Wind Instruments coordinates with the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal and the 2013 Glory to God: the Presbyterian Hymnal. This resource contains three charts for each song, and each chart shows the vocal lines from the hymnals transposed for a collection of instruments—the ones that the youth in your congregation learn to play for marching and symphonic band. Involve your kids and young adults in an upcoming service! Have them accompany your choir, perform special music in a small group, or play a solo on their flute, saxophone, trumpet, or other wind instrument.

ACCESS THE SYI HYMNAL FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS

ADDITIONAL LENTEN RESOURCES

For additional Lenten resources, visit the Seasonal Resources - Lent page of our website.

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