Lent Devotional

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LENT 2024 RESOURCE KIT

Still looking for ideas for worship and teaching this Lent? Our resource guide will help you and your congregation experience a meaningful season on the way to Easter!

Sermon Series on Communion and Missions

The Rev. Dr. Thomas Hoeke ’03 shares this six-part sermon series that he used to connect the sacrament of communion to the practice of missions, and to help his congregation begin celebrating communion every Sunday instead of once a month.

Download the sermon series.

Preaching from the Lectionary Video Series

Are you a Lectionary preacher? For many years, PTS created weekly commentary on Lectionary Scriptures for Lent, called "Coffee with the Dean." Many of these are now archived on the PTS YouTube page.

Palm Sunday Poem: “What Kind of King Are You?”

Use this poem, written and first published in 2023 by the Rev. Michael Gehrling ’08, to enhance your Palm Sunday worship.

Download "What Kind of King Are You?"

Ash Wednesday Hymn: “Ashes Alive”

Sung to the tune of “Morning Has Broken,” the Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Sterling ’98/’08 has penned a beautiful hymn for use on Ash Wednesday.

Download "Ashes Alive"

Ash Wednesday Prayer Stations

Guide your congregation through six prayer stations on Ash Wednesday, as developed by Pastor Karen Slusser ’21 for use with her congregation.

Download Ash Wednesday Prayer Stations

BIG BOOK OF LENTEN DEVOTIONALS - YEAR 1

The Seminary's 2024 “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)

 

Selected previously released Lenten resources include:

GOOD FRIDAY MEDITATION

Luke 23:26-47 tells the story of Jesus’ suffering as he hung on the cross. Though not to the degree of Jesus’ agony, last year the whole world experienced a kind of suffering unprecedented in our lifetime. As a result, this year Christians come to Good Friday with a more profound sense and understanding of suffering. The Rev. Carolyn Cranston '99 offers this Good Friday meditation. 

Download PDF

DON’T BE A HERO! AND OTHER GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING A LENTEN DISCIPLINE

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

Read Blog

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 PDF

"SEE MY HANDS" VIDEO

This video looks at the stories related to Jesus' hands throughout the Gospels and could easily be used as a media presentation during a worship service, as part of a sunrise celebration, or as a jumping off point for an adult or youth education class. Be creative! This video comes with a lesson plan. Compliments of the Miller Summer Youth Institute.

Access Video

Download PDF

 

ADDITIONAL LENTEN RESOURCES

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

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