Five things Friday roundup: A Lenten journey

I’m sitting down to write this post late in the evening of Ash Wednesday. On the way to piano lessons yesterday, my third grader and I talked about what Lent is and what she remembered about Lent from previous years.

Her answer: “The time waiting for Easter.”

I always seem to forget when you’ve had less than a dozen trips around the sun that it takes years to remember certain rhythms and seasons, especially liturgical ones that aren’t necessarily emphasized or discussed outside of the home/church sector.

So tonight, I’m reflecting on what I’d love to hear her say next year when I ask her about Lent. How can this season be more than just “the time waiting for Easter”? What does it mean to wait in joyful anticipation for the Good News of Easter, both on Easter Sunday and the Good News of Jesus’ transforming presence in every hard day in this broken world?

Here are a few resources to help you embark on this meaningful journey through Lent toward the cross and empty tomb. Who knows, something here might even transform how you’d answer the question: “What is Lent?”

1. Lent at Home: Dwelling in Dissonance

This free, downloadable resource is available both in English and Spanish and follows the Leader magazine theme of “Dwelling in Dissonance.” This guide is designed for households of all sizes, any age and all life stages. It’s a flexible resource with rituals, prayer prompts, playlists and more.

2. Lenten guided prayer

From the Mennonite Spiritual Directors for Eastern Canada, this is a downloadable contemplative prayer resource for individuals, small groups and congregations. It provides weekly prayer sheets, an invitation to share with others (in person or online). Again, rooted in scripture, this year’s resource follows the same “Dwelling in Dissonance” theme.

3. “Follow Jesus” Lent and Easter kit

From Shine Curriculum, this digital resource kit is full of bright bold graphics, kid-friendly activities and flexible ideas to help the entire family retell the story of Jesus, Holy Week and the Good News of Easter.

4. Lenten meditations from Episcopal Relief & Development

I’m personally intrigued by these meditations, written by Sister Monica Clare, that focus on the scriptures read at vespers (evening prayer) during the Lenten season. These short meditations include a few lines of scripture, a reflection and a question for the reader. You can receive the daily reflection via email, read them online or download them all in booklet form to read offline.

5. Read a good book — fiction for Lent

Fiction can take us on a journey like none other! A few good Lenten reads include: Remember Me: A Novella About Finding our Way to the Cross by Sharon Garlough Brown and Amon’s Adventure by Arnold Ytreeide. I feel like my simple words can’t do justice to Remember Me and the beautiful way the author blends the character’s journeys of grief, depression and reflections on the meaning of Christ’s suffering woven together with a story of finding hope. It’s a powerful novella.

Amon’s Adventure is a fast-paced adventure taking place in Jerusalem at the time of Christ’s death and resurrection. Written for families, this fictional adventure includes a short daily reflection at the end of each chapter.

Disclaimer: Not all theology will align with every family, and there is some violence in most books in this series that I edit out while reading aloud. But our family has enjoyed and found this book as well as others in the series to be meaningful in our growth in faith. Amon’s Adventure can be read without reading the earlier books in the series (all Advent stories).