Bring a Lent box with Easter Eggs at the bottom.
Hi everyone! I’m so glad you are here today.
So today is the first Sunday of Lent! Can you say the word “Lent” with me? Lent! Very good. Lent is what we call a “season” of the church. And just like the seasons of “Spring, Fall, Summer, and Winter,” we have different “seasons” in the church too. And this 46 day long season began last Wednesday and continues all the way through Easter.
Now, I don’t know about you, but at my house, we usually store the things we need for each season in a box that we label. For example, I don’t need my snow shovel all year long. I only need it during what season? Winter. And in the summer, what kind of clothes do we wear that we don’t wear in winter? Shorts. Flip flops. I store those clothes in a box labeled “summer” so I know when to wear them.
So I brought my lent box! Let’s see what in it.
Go through the box. Pull out stuff we need during Lent. [Note: Build this stuff at the office!]
the book we’re studying
the Lenten devotion
a soup bowl because we’re having soup & studies
oil for a healing service
communion stuff because we do communion
something that’s purple because it’s our purple season
Bible because some read the bible more
Chocolate because some of us give up chocolate
Our worship book because some of us will go to church more
And then, buried at the bottom, is several Easter Eggs.
What’s this at the bottom? Easter Eggs. Easter is the day and season after the Lent so we won’t actually use these during Lent. But I keep them in my Lent box to remind us what we’re doing: this season is about preparing for Easter, preparing for when Jesus rose from the dead, preparing for when Jesus promised us that he is here with us, right now, whenever we gather. And this serves as a reminder that we need the season of Lent to really feel, experience, and be in awe of Easter. Lent is the season when we spend time growing our faith, spend time with Jesus and God, and spend time with the promise that Jesus is here; Jesus loves you; and Jesus will be with us, no matter what, forever.
Thank you for being here and I hope you have a blessed week.
Each week, I share a reflection for all children of God. The written manuscript serves as a springboard for what I do. This is from Christ Lutheran Church’s Worship on First Sunday in Lent, 2/18/2018.