Today is the first Day of Lent: Ash Wednesday, March 5th theme is What are the basic needs in your community? How might you participate in meeting these needs? #basicneeds (please see Lenten Opportunities below) Lenten Opportunities (if your Youth does not get this update or is not on Facebook, PLEASE share with them): Lent is the season of the Christian Year that is typically observed as a time of simple living, prayer and fasting leading up to Easter and begins next week on Ash Wednesday [March 5, 2014]. Some people decide to spend the time in self-examination and reflection as modeled by Jesus in Matthew 4: 1-11 where he prayed and fasted for 40 days before beginning his ministry. What happened during those 40 days of fasting and praying in the wilderness? Some say that maybe Jesus needed some time with God to sort through the major changes happening in his life. Maybe he needed a break from family, friends and his regular routine in order to see God [and himself] more clearly. Maybe he sought more time with God as he searched for direction and answers to the question that we, too have from time to time: “What are you calling me to do, God?” We, too are invited into this time of introspection. As we journey through this season of Lent, some will choose to give up something. Some will go about their lives as they typically do. Some will choose to be more reflective. We have used a resource before called Rethink Church (thanks to Rethink Church for this idea). I will be posting “weekly challenges/offerings” on our Youth Facebook page (I will also talk about them in Youth the Sunday before - we have already discussed the one that starts this Wednesday!). As you think about the questions and images revealed in the theme, you can share them on social media using the # for that week. Perhaps you’ll share a photo of how that topic speaks to you. Or maybe it’s a Vine or Instagram video you created (trust me, your youth knows what this means :)). Whatever it is, the hope is that these 40 days of Lent will be a time to open your eyes and heart to what’s already at work around you. I would like you to consider trying some of these challenges…whether you think about them or actually participate in the weekly practice. If you so choose, you can share on our Facebook page how you’ve responded to each theme for the week or even on the Rethink church pages (I will give them on Facebook). You don’t have to supply any response, unless you want to. If you choose to share, you can Tag on your instagram photos with @rethinkchurch or on twitter [@umrethinkchurch] with#rethinkchurch and #40days. Or you can share your photos on their Pinterest board! They will be pinning what you share [as much as they can keep up], so check back regularly to see what others have shared! This is really more about the practice of paying attention and being intentional, than it is being the best artist [though we encourage you to get creative!]. If you don’t have instagram or twitter, we’d still love for you to share your reflections. Just share them on our facebook wall.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 10:52:14 +0000
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