2017 Lenten Resource Guide
When it comes to the topic of Lent, most of us will readily agree that Ash Wednesday and Holy Week—the seven days leading up to and including Easter—are the highlights of the season. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of how to observe the entire 40-day period. Our 2017 Lenten Resource Guide highlights these free resources highly recommended for congregational and individual use within the Episcopal Church in Vermont.
2017 Lenten Prayers of the People & Bulletin Inserts
By Cristosal
“What is good and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8) This is the question Cristosal asks us to consider as they call attention to the plight of families in Central America who are forced by violence to flee their homes.
The Rt. Rev. Thomas C. Ely joins Cristosal in commending all Vermont congregations to remember Central American Refugees in this year’s Lenten prayers. Clergy and lay leaders are encouraged to download the following materials:
- Prayers of the People for each Sunday in Lent compiled by Rev. Cannon George Woodward III
- March 26 bulletin insert sharing the biography of martyred Archbishop of El Salvador, Oscar Romero, written with the assistance of New York Times correspondent Gene Palumbo who has covered El Salvador since the civil war in the 1980s
- March 26 bulletin insert on current refugee crisis in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras and engaging with Cristosal’s work
Learn more online at http://www.cristosal.org/lent-2017
Living Life Marked as Christ’s Own: A Discipleship Offering Inspired by the Anglican Marks of Mission
By the Society of Saint John the Evangelist and Virginia Theological Seminary
Courtesy of the Rt. Rev. Thomas Ely, limited copies of this Lenten study book are available free-of-charge to individuals and congregations who request them. Those interested are encouraged to place an order right away. In the book’s introduction, Bishop Ely explains, “Many people assume that the season of Lent is mostly about fasting—giving something up… Lent is also a season of self-examination. And that can be a very filling experience.”
Living Life Marked as Christ’s Own invites participants to “fill up” on what it means to bear the mark of Christ and share in the glory of His resurrection by addressing the question, “If we are ‘marked as Christ’s own,’ what are the ‘marks of love’ that characterize the Divine Life abiding and at work within us?”
In addition to the workbook, the series includes access to online videos, downloads, and a social media community to enrich the experience. To place an order, please contact Maurice Harris, diocesan minister of communications, at mharris@dioceseofvermont.org.
Lenten Meditations 2017
By Episcopal Relief & Development
Available in English and Spanish, Lenten Meditations 2017 contains devotions about creating economic opportunities and strengthening communities, with a particular focus on empowering women. The daily readings are co-authored by a group of leaders from across the Anglican Communion, including Vermont’s own Rev. Lisa Ransom, who bring a range of perspectives as they reflect on Scripture and other sources of spiritual wisdom. Lisa is a farmer-priest and owner of Grow Compost of Vermont. She is also on the Charter Board of Cultivate: The Episcopal Food Movement.
To place orders, call Episcopal Media Center toll free at 1 (866) 937-2772 or visit the online Episcopal Marketplace. Please ordered by February 15 to ensure your materials arrive in time for Ash Wednesday, March 1, 2017.
Listen to an audio interview with the Rev. Lisa Ransom about her connection with Episcopal Relief & Development and Lenten Meditations 2017.