Lent 2023 has Begun: Will You Journey with Us?
Lent is a liturgical season that can bring healing, hope, and transformation - it is a spiritual journey toward wholeness and the new life of Easter.
In spite of the snow storm pushing us to be fully on Zoom, we began Lent with a beautiful contemplative service on Ash Wednesday. More than 50 Living Table and Spirit folx gathered together to remember the fullness of life God created us for, while also keeping in mind our need for God on a daily basis.
As you may remember, our theme for Lent is “Broken, Exposed, Resurrected: A Twelve Step Journey Through Lent.” Beach glass or lake glass is the image we invite you to contemplate. Think of a piece of broken glass tossed into the ocean or lake to emerge years later smoothed and beautiful. We are the glass, and our hope is that we will expose our “rough edges” throughout Lent and allow the exposure to the Spirit and our community begin to smooth them out.
Build Your Prayer Beads – Add a Bead Every Sunday this Lent
Each week we will contemplate a poem, some of the Steps, and a scripture passage. The sermon time will include an invitation to participate in some spiritual practices to try during the week. We will also be putting together prayer beads, with a new bead offered each week. If you know you won’t be in person at all during Lent, please let me know in the comments and I will be sure you receive a full set of beads.
I am excited by the multiple layers of theme and meaning RAT (Ritual Arts Team) has put together for this season. I hope you are, too. We still need some poetry, so comment here if you’re willing to write a poem for one of the weeks and RAT will share the theme for that week with you.
Come, journey with us as we head toward Jesus’ return to Jerusalem and the sacred week that follows. May this Lent be one of grace and healing for us all.
About Rachael Keefe
Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe is the pastor of Living Table United Church of Christ. She was called to Living Table in 2015 after serving in many varied ministry settings since her ordination in 1992. She holds graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Andover Newton Seminary at Yale (formerly Andover Newton Theological School). Her ministry and leadership often center around advocacy and accessibility. Her writing has been published by Chalice Press, The Christian Century, Red Letter Christians, Working Preacher, RevGalBlogPals, and others. She is grateful to be in ministry with Living Table today.
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I won’t be in person on Sunday because my luck finally ran out- I have Covid 🙁
I might be needing some prayer beads to get me through this!
The service last night was beautiful and very affirming. It was SO different than the theology I was raised on.
Thank you!
Sandy, I’m so glad you had an affirming experience!
Sounds beautiful! But I won’t be able to attend in person during Lent, so would much appreciate receiving a set of beads.
Nancy, I will be in touch about a delivery 🙂