The Communities for Spiritual Vitality, a ministry for interparish formation in Province I, is offering a third provincial Lent-Easter Devotional.
This year’s devotional, “The Sermon on the Mount: On Earth as in Heaven,” centers on Matthew 5-7 and features individual reflections from members of all seven Episcopal dioceses in New England, as well as artwork from Christian artists. The booklet spans Ash Wednesday through the second Sunday of Easter but can be used in future years or at other seasons.
While primarily available online, physical copies may be purchased by contacting communities@diovermont.org.
Designed for adult formation, there are a number of ways to engage with the devotional’s material as an individual or in community.
As an individual, you can read the Sermon and engage with the daily reflections in prayer or meditation. You can also share the reflections on social media, or use them as a jumping off point for your own writing and reflection on the sermon.
New this year, everyone can elect to receive each day’s devotion directly to your email inbox. Join the daily mailing list.
Congregations may use also the devotional for their own Lenten programming. One suggestion is to form a small group at your church or in your community to discuss the Sermon and use the devotional to enhance your discussions.
Additionally, the Communities for Spiritual Vitality will also hold a weekly gathering via Zoom to reflect on the devotional as in previous years. These gatherings will take place on Thursdays in Lent from 6 to 7:45 p.m. An introductory session will take place on Thursday, February 19, and subsequent gatherings will continue on Thursday evenings through April 9. Note, during Holy Week, the gathering will be held on Wednesday, April 1.
The sessions will take place with the Vermont Green Mountain Online Abbey, and will be followed by compline at 8 p.m. Please email communities@diovermont.org to register for the series.
Congregations are encouraged to share the devotional and program in their communities. Download promotional materials.
