Sydney Lutheran Church's Lenten Devotions, Bearing the Cross invites people to journey with Jesus in bearing the Cross of Faith for 15 minutes (or less) a day.
You can either watch the Lenten Devotions online or download a written devotion.
In 2018 Lent begins on Ash Wednesday on 14 February 2018(St Valentines Day) and East Sunday falls on 1 April 2018 (April Fools Day) this occurence gives rise to a number of creative suggestions for Lent and Easter themes, including Foolish Love, Loving Foolishly, Out of the ashes comes love for fools..... Following are some resources that may assist you and the people you serve in their Lenten and Easter journey
The season of Lent is one of thoughtful reflection. During this time of the church calendar, Christians ponder the unfolding events that led to Jesus’ condemnation and crucifixion: His triumphal march into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday; His firm words of warning about the events to come; His sham trial, brutal scourging, and horrific crucifixion. No day could be any darker; no travesty more calamitous than the slaying of God’s own Beloved Son. And yet, that’s what we find on Golgotha: our sins demanding His death on a cross to satisfy the Father’s righteous judgment.
Taken from the cross, the lifeless form of Christ was placed in another man’s tomb. With that action the world thought the ordeal complete, the savagery it had witnessed something it could now put behind it. But God’s work wasn’t quite done. Three days later, out of a sealed tomb—guarded to prevent theft—Jesus rose from the dead. And with that thunderous crescendo, mankind’s disgrace and ruin, which had destined it for eternal slaughter, is forgiven through the blood of Christ.
Lent is when we turn our eyes to the cross. It is there where Jesus, the sinless Son of God, suffered the indignity and shame of dying for our sins. And it is there where God’s wrath was satisfied by His Beloved Son’s supreme sacrifice, winning salvation for all who call Him their Savior.
From Lutheran Hour Ministries available for download and as handout for your congregation
This beautiful, full-color devotional takes you through Lent with daily readings from Martin Luthers Small Catechism. Each reading is accompanied by a photo, a quote to ponder, reflection, and prayer. Free Indeed invites you to reflect on Martin Luthers guide to the basics of Christian faith during the Lenten season, and within the observance of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation
Available in Kindle and Paperback
In the 40 days of this Lenten season, you are invited to join with many in the Lutheran Church of Australia and the Lutheran Church of New Zealand to pray for their partners in mission.
Prayer is a vital part of mission, of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with those who don’t yet know him. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-6
The LCA has two arms reaching out across the borders of our countries to share Jesus’ love – LCA International Mission and Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS).
LCA International Mission has the responsibility for mission and evangelism, so that, through the work of the Holy Spirit and in partnership with others, we can bring the life-changing news of the gospel to people overseas and cross-culturally in our own countries.
Through LCA International Mission you are enabling Jesus’ love to come to life in the lives of many people across the borders of our countries and particularly in our near-neighbour countries in South East Asia and the Pacific.
To obtain your copy of 40 days of Lenten prayer guide visit here
"Within the solemn halls of the Lenten season, Christians gather around God s Word in repentance of sins, preparation for recalling their Savior s sacrifice, and thanksgiving for the crucifixion s redemptive power. The theology of the Lord s Supper mirrors this Lenten pilgrimage in many ways. In these daily devotions, readers arrive at a deeper appreciation of the Holy Meal instituted by Christ through a study of Scripture and both ancient and modern hymns. Each theme reveals a host of approaches to understanding the same gift: life-giving fruit, nourishment, healing, communion with the saints, rest, a priestly meal, the feast of victory, and more. Every day of Lent, meditate on and embrace these beautiful, biblical images and metaphors of the Lord s Supper in addition to the chief blessing and description of this Sacrament in Scripture: the forgiveness of sins. The forgiveness of sins, won for the world on Calvary and offered in the Sacrament of the Lord s body and blood truly makes this blessed Supper a salutary gift. "
The stations of the cross show that was meant for those who grace the hallways of a church and for those who just walk by outside. These stations are a cross-section of elements, ideas, and objects from Jesus’ journey of being with us, but made available to the wider world and can be made available to the community where your church is placed.
On the first Sunday in Lent, preach about the freedom and power God
gives God's people to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms
they present themselves.
On the second Sunday in Lent, explore what it means to confess Jesus
Christ as your Savior.
On the third Sunday in Lent, talk about the responsibility of others --
parents, sponsors, mentors, and church members -- to take seriously their role
in the covenant and the continuing need to reaffirm their own baptismal
covenant.
On the fourth Sunday in Lent, discuss the Apostles' Creed and its
historical and theological role in our baptismal faith.
On the fifth Sunday in Lent, consider the welcome that states
"Through baptism you are incorporated by the Holy Spirit into God's new
creation and made to share in Christ's royal priesthood. We are all one in
Christ Jesus."
How does reflecting upon our baptismal covenant during the season of
Lent help to prepare us for the Easter proclamation? How are we transformed by
the journey?
Psalms and Prayers of the Better Covenant is a resource to accompany daily devotions for the Transfiguration / Lent / Easter period. (In 2014 the celebration of the Transfiguration of Jesus is Sunday March 2.) Priced at $10 plus postage, the book is available from either Pastor Fred himself fred.veerhuis@lca.org.au, or from Australian Church Resources. If you order through Pastor Fred you can pay by direct debit (F H VEERHUIS BSB 062-797 A/N 2800 9607) Review “I heartily recommend you purchase Pastor Fred Veerhuis’s latest booklet called Psalms and Prayers of the Better Covenant. It is an excellent worship resource for all year, but especially for Transfiguration, Lent and Easter. About a year ago, when Fred invited me to critically review and comment on the first draft, this is how I replied to him: Fred, I want to thank you for asking me to look over your psalms and prayers. It has been a blessed exercise for me. These psalms embrace me in prayer and praise, confession and absolution, pain and joy, humility and hope. They communicate simultaneously with my head and my heart. And when I have shared them with my wife, daughter and son-in-law, they were touched in the same way. All your Biblical knowledge, all your theological insight, all your pastoral concern, all your anguish and dark nights of the soul have found fulfilment in these expressions of worship which are a gift to Christians across the spectrum. A year later I endorse what I wrote, and I’m confident that most readers will do the same.”
Devotions and studies
Free Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour: Jesus man on a mission Printable for your church members http://www.lentendevotions.net/
CSS Lenten Resources Lenten Special :8 resourcess for $39.95 http://www.csspub.com/lent-easter-sale-2012.html The People v Judas Iscariot – Lenten Worship Series More Alive under the shadow – Bible Study and reflection following the footsteps of Simon Peter Where’s Noah? – Worship and activities Bread for the journey – multi sensory worship services A day of redemption – a tenebrae service for Good Friday http://www.csspub.com/cat-Lent.htm?sortby=df_PUB&sortdir=ASC&RCATS=Lent
