In the Episcopalian tradition, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. Because I am Episcopalian, at least in name, not in church attendance, that is how long I will be observing Lent. Here is what I plan on doing for Lent, in accordance with invitation from the Book of Common Prayer (p. 265) to observe Lent “by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word”:
- Starting Lent with a day off from work this coming Wednesday during which I plan to have a day of “quiet contemplation,” as I entered in my Google Calendar and invited my wife, who also happens to be off, to join me.
- Praying Daily Devotions both morning and at the close of the day, using the website of the Forward Movement, a ministry of the Episcopal Church. The devotions also include links to readings from the Bible for the day, which I plan on reading too.
- Denying myself alcohol and soda throughout Lent.
- Reading Meeting Jesus on the Margins: Meditations on Matthew 25, daily reflections for Lent, by Mike Kinman, Becca Stevens, Allison Duvall, Bo Cox, Hugo Olaiz, Lee Anne Reat, and Richelle Thompson, all of whom are either ministers or laypeople from the Episcopal Church. The book is also from Forward Movement, and I plan on reading these during my daily devotions in the morning.
- Reading Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor on Sundays during Lent. For a lot of Lents, I have picked out several books that I want to read and then only get to one of them, so this year instead I am picking only one. I considered a few others, but I think this is the one I need to read right now.
- Ending Lent by going to church that Saturday, Holy Saturday, or Sunday, Easter, depending on my schedule.
If you are a Christian and observe Lent, what are your plans for the season? If you belong to another faith tradition, do you meditate? Anything you read for your particular faith? If no faith tradition, how do you relax/meditate/stay calm?
Still an unfinished person... 
For Lent I am giving up yelling. My daughter said I yell too much. This is true but her antics are the reason for my yelling so she said she is not going to yell either but that last one day for her.
Nothing to do with Lent but my life group is almost done with our current study MODGINK (The backwards Kingdom). We have two more weeks and then for fun, we will be reading Francis Chan’s Letters to the Church. I think that’s what it’s called. I am also doing the Chronological Bible on audio and then recap it each day with The Bible Recap podcast. It’s been good. Some books better than others. I listen on the drive in and sometimes idiot drivers distract me.
LikeLike
Just don’t yell at the drivers. 😉
LikeLike
Ah! I forgot today was Ash Wednesday. I should probably take my parents to church.
I’ve never been good at daily meditations, though I considered a form of fasting for Lent. Perhaps sticking to a small amount of meat and then only healthy foods in small amounts. I will probably give up sweets/dessert. And perhaps string cheese. I have a string cheese addiction. It’s also possible I will make an effort to listen to or read the New Testament daily. It would be a half hour of listening daily, which is quite doable.
Good luck on your goals!
LikeLike
Oh we’re not going to church today. Too cold. We’re…hibernating today. 🙂 String cheese.. Oh man, I forgot about that. Oh so good… And good luck on your goals too.
LikeLike