Lent 2022 - Westminster Presbyterian Church

Lent 2022

Westminster Presbyterian Church
          Dayton, TN

“Mourning sin – past, present, and future – is the first step in
seeking and celebrating the divine grace that is the hope of
everyone whose heart has been made able to see by that very
same grace. So it is right and beneficial to take a season of the
year to reevaluate, recalibrate, and have the values of our hearts
clarified once again. Lent is such a season.”
                              [Paul David Tripp, Journey to the Cross]

the season of Lent
We live our lives in seasons. Community life is ordered around
national holidays and academic calendars. Nature cycles through
summer, autumn, winter, and spring.

The Church observes its own seasons, ordering each year around
the life of Christ and the story of our redemption. The Christian
calendar rhythms our spiritual lives around periods of
expectation, fulfillment, and proclamation.

In seasons of expectation like Advent and Lent, we wait. Advent
yearns, expecting the incarnation of Christ. Lent repents,
expecting the redemption of Christ.

Lent was a time of deep spiritual formation for the early church.
New believers prepared for baptism on Easter Sunday, while the
entire church practiced spiritual disciplines in humility and
reflection.

The tradition of fasting during Lent rose as a rhythm of
observance, imprinting the purpose of the season on
believers even as they carried on with daily routines in their
homes and workplaces. Lent continues for 40 days, from Ash
Wednesday, March 2, through Holy Saturday, April 16, the day
before Easter. Lenten expectancy is kept Monday through
Saturday each week. The Sundays that occur during this period
are not counted in the 40 days of Lent.

Year-round, each Lord’s Day, we remember our Triune God as
the author of creation, the hope in our fall, the source of our
redemption, and the restorer of His kingdom. During the season
of Lent, especially, Sundays rise in a slow crescendo that
climaxes on Easter morning when we cry, “He is risen! He is
risen indeed!”

observance

How can our Westminster family observe Lent in 2022?
Some practical ideas:

1. RECOGNIZE the season by noting it on our calendars. Write
“Lent, Day __” on each of the 40 days as a reminder that this is a
period of purpose.

2. PRAY that God would reveal disordered loves. Some Scriptural
and historic prayers that can be used during this time are Psalm
130, and Lenten prayers from St. Ephraim of Syria, The Book of
Common Prayer, and The Valley of Vision. These resources are
included in this booklet.

3. PRACTICE solitude. Set aside time away from the demands
of people and events to be with the Lord in silence.

4. FAST in some way through the 40 days of Lent. To fast is to
deliberately exclude or deny something in disciplined submission
to the Lord. Fasting functions as a constant reminder of our
spiritual goal for a season, and it creates space for communion with
Him in prayer and contemplation. Fasting from food for periods of
each day, or from specific foods for the entire season is a traditional
way to do this. But fasting can also be a practice of denying
activities or attitudes. For instance, fasting from time online or
watching TV could create space for rest. Fasting from buying
meals out could free cash flow for giving.

The discipline of fasting can be shared with those who might be
affected by it, like family or roommates. But the intent is to fast
quietly, in humility, as an act of worship. In our self-affirming
world, experiencing something powerful without announcing it on
social media is perhaps a modern application of Jesus’ admonition
in Matthew chapter 6:
       “When you fast, do not look somber as the
       hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show
       others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have
       received their reward in full. But when you fast,
       put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it
       will not be obvious to others that you are fasting,
       but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your
       Father, who sees what is done in secret, will
       reward you.” [Matthew 6:16-18]

5. GIVE generously. The disciplines of fasting and prayer are
often linked to almsgiving and mercy. Helpful links are available
in this booklet, under “resources.”

6. READ Scripture through Holy Week, starting Monday April
11, using the guide provided in this booklet. Believers around the
globe will be reading these same passages daily. Join the universal
Church in a powerful week of remembrance, repentance, and
rejoicing.

7. EXPERIENCE the season corporately with our WPC family
through gathered Sunday worship during Lent, Palm Sunday,
Good Friday, and Easter.

a prayer for Lent
Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD;
  Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
  to my cry for mercy.

If you, LORD, kept a record of sins,
   Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
   so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits,
   and in his word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord
   more than watchmen wait for the morning,
   more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
   for with the LORD is unfailing love
   and with him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel
   from all their sins.

                         [Psalm 130, NIV]

a prayer for Lent
O Lord and Master of my life,
keep from me the spirit of indifference
and discouragement,
lust of power, and idle chatter.

Instead, grant to me, Your servant,
the spirit of wholeness of being,
humble-mindedness,
patience, and love.

O Lord and King,
grant me the grace to be aware of my sins
and not to judge my brother and sister,
for You are blessed,
now and ever and forever. Amen.
                       [St. Ephrem of Syria]

                                a prayer for Lent
Almighty and everlasting God,
you hate nothing you have made
and forgive the sins of all who are penitent:

Create and make in us new and contrite hearts,
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may obtain of you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
                    [Book of Common Prayer]

a prayer for Lent
Humble my heart before thee,
and replenish it with thy choicest gifts.

As water rests not on barren hill summits,
but flows down to fertilize lowest vales,
so, make me the lowest of the lowly,
that my spiritual riches may exceedingly abound.

When I leave duties undone,
may condemning thought strip me of pride,
deepen in me devotion to thy service,
and quicken me to more watchful care.

When I am tempted to think highly of myself,
grant me to see the wily power of my spiritual enemy; Help me to
stand with wary eye
on the watchtower of faith,
and to cling with determined grasp to my humble Lord;

If I fall let me hide myself
in my Redeemer’s righteousness,
and when I escape,
may I ascribe all deliverance to thy grace.

                [The Valley of Vision: A Collection
                of Puritan Prayers and Devotions]

additional resources

for a guided devotional study during Lent:

Journey to the Cross: A 40 Day Lenten Devotional
by Paul David Tripp.
https://www.paultripp.com/journey-to-the-cross-a-40-day-lenten-
devotional

for ways to give to WPC and our ministry partners:

 WPC - https://www.wpcdayton.org/giving

local partners:

 Blazing Hope Ranch - https://www.blazinghoperanch.org/

 The Care Center - https://www.thecarecentertn.org/

 RC3 - https://www.rc3dayton.com/support

 We Care - https://www.wecaredayton.org/support-us

global partners:

 Rafiki - https://www.rafikifoundation.org/projects

 MTW - https://www.mtw.org/featured-ministries

Holy Week

These daily readings for each day between Palm Sunday and
Easter are used by Christians worldwide. They are taken from the
Revised Common Lectionary and guide us through the week. Read
them aloud daily as a family or in quiet meditation as individuals.
The daily Gospel readings are also available in an easy-to-use
online format on our website, www.wpcdayton.org.

Monday, April 11
John 12:1-11
Jesus is anointed at Bethany.
[see also Isaiah 42:1-9, Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15]

Tuesday, April 12
John 12:20-36
Jesus speaks about his death.
[see also Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 71:1-14; I Cor. 1:18-31]

Wednesday, April 13
John 13:21-32
Jesus foretells his betrayal.
[see also Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 70; Hebrews 12:1-3]

Thursday, April 14
John 13:1-17, 21b-35
Jesus observes Passover with his disciples.
[see also Exodus 12:1-14, Psalm 116:1-2, I Cor. 11:23-26]

Friday, April 15
John 18:1-19:37
Jesus is betrayed, arrested, tried, and crucified.
[see also Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Psalm 22, Heb. 10:16-25]

Saturday, April 16
John 19:38-42
Jesus is buried.
[see also Lamentations 3:1-9, Psalm 31:1-4, I Peter 4:1-8]

the season at WPC

Lent Begins, March 2
The first day of Lent, traditionally called Ash Wednesday:
A self-guided devotional observance for the start of Lent is
available at www.wpcdayton.org. The devotional can be used
anytime during this 40-day season.

Lent, March 2 – April 16
A period of expectancy marked by repentance and humility.

Palm Sunday, April 10, 9:30 AM
A time of joyful fellowship through gathered worship and Palm
Sunday Brunch.

Good Friday, April 15, 8:00 PM
A service of reflection and hope. Nursery provided for infants and
toddlers.

Easter, April 17, 9:30 AM
A joyous celebration. He is risen. He is risen indeed!

Cover photo © 2020, Ginger Sumerlin Photography
Content © 2022, Sally Powell

              Westminster Presbyterian Church
                1161 Hiwassee Highway / Dayton, TN 37321
          (423) 775-0879 / wpc@volstate.net / www.wpcdayton.org