Resources for Lent 2024 at FPC

On Ash Wednesday, February 14, we will go about our days with smudged foreheads that mark the beginning of the season of Lent and our journey alongside Jesus as he heads toward the cross. As Christians, we take these 40 days as a time to reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection—remembering our own finitude and fragility and how God incarnate experienced those very human things, too.  

This Lent, we have some different opportunities and resources that you may use to guide your 40 days. We come to Christ’s table hungry for many different things and there is always a seat for us there. However you choose to observe this season—in community or in solitude, with reflection or action— we pray that it is a time of intentionality and attentiveness to yourself and to your relationship with God.  

Observing Lent with others: 

Wed@First: Meeting Jesus at the Table, Lenten Conversations with Whitney and Ryan

6:30-7:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall Breakout Room

Jesus spent much of his life and ministry breaking bread and sharing meals both ordinary and extraordinary with all types of people. Join us as we look at the journey toward Easter through the lens of these many holy encounters that happen when Jesus gathers at the table. We will be drawing from the Lenten study book Meeting Jesus at the Table, but there’s no required reading. After Lent, plan to join us on April 10, 17, and 24 for continued learning together about the intersections of food and faith and how our congregation can respond to the needs of our neighbors. Come as you are and join the conversation! 

Lenten Lunch (via Zoom, ID: 706-543-4338) – using Have a Beautiful, Terrible Lent! by Kate Bowler - Thursdays at 12:30, beginning February 15.

Grab your lunch and sign on from your home or office to join us for a weekly group study written by Kate Bowler. Our time together will consist of reading scripture, discussion based on the week’s Lenten theme, prayer, and a blessing for the week. This will coincide with Kate’s daily Lenten email prompts, but you won’t be lost without them – come as you are! This will be a meaningful time for us to grow closer together in community as we name and share the highs and lows in this mixed bag of Lent and of life. 

Lenten devotionals to use on your own: 

Local Pilgrim: a Wandering, Wondering Daily Devotional by Rev. Teri McDowell Ott and others. This daily Lent devotional from the Presbyterian Outlook invites you to explore and observe new and familiar places in your community. What will God reveal to you when you pause, ponder, and reflect? Click here to access a pdf of this devotional. If you would like a printed version, please contact the church office (e-mail frontdesk@firstpresathens.org or call 706-543-4338). 

Have a Beautiful, Terrible Lent! by Kate Bowler. Click here to sign up for Daily Lenten Prompts delivered straight to your e-mail inbox for the 40 days of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday (February 14).

Tread Lightly for Lent – a daily reflection-action calendar from Presbyterian Hunger Program, offering a lens of creation care to your Lenten practice. Click here to access a pdf of this resource. If you would like a printed version, please contact the church office (e-mail frontdesk@firstpresathens.org or call 706-543-4338).

Children's Ministry plans for Lent: Click here to read Making Room for Jesus, Making Room for Wonder, Children's Ministry Newsletter with plans for Lent 2024.

Youth Ministry plans for Lent:

Middle School Sunday School - For Lent, we'll be learning more about Jesus and his relationship with outsiders, outcasts and outlaws, using the Adam Hamilton curriculum, Luke. How can stories of his interactions with the wealthy and powerful and with the poor, sick, and vulnerable help us to become more faithful Christians?

Youth Group - On Sunday nights, we'll focus on Holy Week. Delving into each day, we'll seek to understand how Jesus was feeling, what his disciples might have been thinking and the importance of each day in the journey to the cross. Based on these conversations, youth will design and create prayer stations in the PIT that will be open during Holy Week for the congregation.