Lenten Disciplines

This post is by the Rev. Aniko Olah, pastor of Novato UMC:

Dear Lenten Pilgrims,

Greetings to you all in this growing season of Lent.

In one of my former churches I inherited a list of suggested Lenten Disciplines. Although the author of the list is unknown to me, I am very thankful for finding it in the files. We used these suggested Disciplines in the Lenten season at the Novato UMC last year, and we also talked about them in our Ash Wednesday service this year. You might find it helpful to pick one (or even a few) suggestions for the remaining weeks of Lent, so I am gladly sharing them with you (below). I wish you all a blessed Lent and a joyful Easter!

Inward and Personal Disciplines

1: Spend time in solitude each day.
2: Use a devotional reading.
3: Read through the Gospel of Mark and/ or the Gospel of John.
4: Begin (or continue) to keep a journal of prayers, questions, insights.
5: Focus on thanksgiving in prayer rather than asking.
6: Make a list of people with whom you need to be reconciled. Pray for them and let Jesus guide your thinking and feeling about them.
7: Go to all the Holy Week worship services as an act of love and waiting for Jesus.

Outward and Social Disciplines

1: Write a letter of affirmation once a week to a person who touched your life.
2: Give blood and recall the cross.
3: Say "NO" to something that is a waste of time or money.
4: Go through your closets, your home, garage, storage rooms and sort out all the items you don't really need. Give them away to a local organization of you choice.
5: Plan a weekly visit to a shut in neighbor, friend or church member.
6: Donate canned food every week to your local Food Bank.