Lent is what we call the 40 days of preparation leading up to Easter. In ancient times it was a time of catechism preparation leading up to baptism at Easter. Lent is a time of spiritual preparation, practice and contemplation. It's a time of remembering and reflecting on who Jesus was and is and what his life, words and sacrificial-living shape the way that we live.
Oftentimes people give things up (bad habits or practices that distract us from God) in view of journeying with Jesus in his suffering. In other words to seek greater empathy, to love as Jesus loved.
Sometimes people take something on, a new spiritual practice or habit that's more healthy, in view of accomplishing the same thing during this spiritual season.
In 2025 we’re inviting you to do try out several spiritual practices as a rhythm of growth, discovery, spiritual maturity and activisim.
You can try three different practices:
Scroll down to learn more, which you can also find in the linked PDFs.
If you’re going to commit to practicing one of these spiritual disciplines throughout Lent, please EMAIL PASTOR MONTE so that he can follow-up and include you in small group gatherings with other folks on the same Lenten spiritual journey.
Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina, meaning "divine reading" in Latin, is a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation, and prayer intended to promote communion with God and deepen understanding of scripture. It involves a slow, reflective reading of a passage, followed by contemplation, prayer, and resting in God's presence.
Lectio Divina is an ancient tradition, with roots in the earliest of Christian monastic traditions. It is reading scripture by focusing on listening. It's a way of praying with scripture, emphasizing listening to God's word rather than simply studying it. Lectio Divina is not about dissecting scripture, but about entering into a personal encounter with God through his word. You might say it’s praying with and through scripture by turning up the heart and turning down the head (not your smarts, but the constraints of our busy ever-thinking minds.)
There are 3 suggested ways to try out this prayer practice in Lent:
1. We’ll gather on Fridays in Lent at 12pm on Zoom (just like for Sunday Service) for a 30 minute Lectio Divina session.
(Fridays, March 28, April 4, 11, 18) - o Join Zoom Lectio Divina CLICK ON THIS LINK:
2. You can also do Lectio on your own by using this suggested process:
• Select a space that is comfortable and meaningful where you can have uninterrupted time to be still.
• Imagine that God (as you understand God) is with you in the space you have chosen and is filling it with love.
• Be present - making certain that your feet are firmly on the floor. Breathe deeply.
• Lectio (Reading): Select a passage, or ask Monte for some ideas. Then read the passage slowly and attentively, allowing words to resonate.
• Meditatio (Meditation): Reflect on the passage, pondering its meaning and how it applies to your life.
• Oratio (Prayer): Engage in prayer, responding to God's word and expressing your thoughts and feelings.
• Contemplatio (Contemplation): Rest in God's presence, allowing the word to sink into your heart.
• Give thanks for whatever you have experienced. Journal. (Consider bringing any part of your experience to your next Journey Group gathering to process our spiritual journeys in Lent.)
3. You can also do Lectio Divina with and through an excellent app called Pray as You Go. They present a daily lectio divina and examen guided prayer. You can find them in your favorite podcast store, and or online at https://pray-as-you-go.org/.
The Examen Prayer
The Examen is one of the spiritual practices we’re proposing for Lent 2025. It has been attributed to the spiritual exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, a 16th century Jesuit. The Examen invites us to consider our authentic selves in the presence of God and through our various experiences of our life’s circumstances. As we discern our experiences, Ignatius believed we could learn about our actions and intentions - our faithful (or not) responses - as consolations (that which draws us closer to God) and desolations (that which draws us away from God). As we become aware of these consolations and desolations, we are empowered to find ways to give more meaningful praise or to make more meaningful change. We’ll gather together later in Lent as a Journey Group, to share about our own spiritual journeys through this practice. Stay tuned for dates and times!
Suggested process:
• Select a space that is comfortable and meaningful where you can have uninterrupted time to be still.
• Imagine that God (as you understand God) is with you in the space you have chosen and is filling it with love.
• Be present - making certain that your feet are firmly on the floor. Breathe deeply.
• As you inhale, ask God to bless you with insight on the Examen exercise of the day.
• As you exhale, ask God to show you the places that need awareness and places where connections happen or don’t. (Our theme for this season is Awarenesses and Connections.)
• Consider each Examen exercise in conversation with God. (10 min or more)
• Give thanks for whatever you have experienced. Journal. (Consider bringing any part of your experience to your next Journey Group gathering.)
Opening – 1st week 3/23-29
Examen Exercise: Recall the last occasion where you were an invited guest and consider where/how you felt the Most Supported (included) and where/how you felt the Most Compromised (excluded).
• Use a journal or book to record your thoughts…
2nd Week of 3/30-4/5
Examen Exercise: Recall the last public event you attended and consider where/how you felt the Most Seen (acknowledged, relevant) and where/how you felt the Most Unseen (invisible, irrelevant).
• Use a journal or book to record your thoughts…
3rd Week of 4/6-4/12
Examen Exercise: Recall your best celebration ever and consider where/how you felt the Most Authentic (honest) and where/how you felt the Most Guarded (hidden).
• Use a journal or book to record your thoughts….
4th Week of 4/13-20
Examen Exercise: It’s been 5 years since COVID and the world shut down. Recall your time during the “Shelter in Place” and consider where/how you felt the Most Loved (belonging) and where/how you felt the Most Unloved (dismissed/insignificant).
• Use a journal or book to record your thoughts…
The Practice of Boycott
A Lenten Fast from Corporations: A Call to Spiritual Resistance
A growing number of Black consumers collectively boycotting Target and other retailers that have reversed DEI programs in recent weeks. Pastor Jamal Bryant of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church about leading a movement to swear off shopping at Target for Lent. The movement he started is described below. You can find more information online at https://www.targetfast.org.
Lent is a sacred season of reflection, sacrifice, and renewal. It is a time when we draw closer to God by letting go of the things that distract us and recommitting ourselves to justice, love, and righteousness. As we enter this Lenten season, we are called not only to personal transformation but also to prophetic action.
In recent days, we have witnessed a disturbing retreat from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives by major corporations—companies that once pledged to stand for justice but have since chosen the path of compromise. These rollbacks represent more than just corporate decisions; they reflect a deeper erosion of the moral and ethical commitments necessary to build a just society. As people of faith, we cannot be silent. We are called to resist systems that perpetuate exclusion and inequity.
This Lent, we will begin a corporate fast, starting with Target, as a spiritual act of resistance. Just as Jesus overturned the tables in the temple, challenging the exploitation and hypocrisy of his day, we too must disrupt business as usual. Fasting is not just about what we abstain from—it is about what we embrace. By redirecting our resources toward businesses that uphold justice, we embody our commitment to God’s vision of equity and love in action.
This is a fast for accountability. A fast for justice. A fast for a future where corporations do not bow to pressure at the expense of marginalized communities. As we journey through these 40 days, let us pray, reflect, and act—knowing that our collective sacrifice can bring about transformation.
For the first time ever, we’re taking our economic power beyond the checkout line and into real-time impact. With cutting-edge tools like the Voter Wallet and Black Wall Street Ticker, we’re not just spending—we’re tracking, leveraging, and shifting the balance of power. Every dollar redirected is a data point, a demand, a declaration that we dictate the terms.
Turn your dollars into data, power, and change. Spend with intention and watch the ticker tell our story. This is more than a movement—it’s a measurable force
Join us as we stand in faith and resist with purpose. Let this Lenten fast be a witness to the power of conviction, reminding the world that justice is not negotiable.