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Lent at United Parish (February 22-April 8)
The season of Lent is a time for us to deepen more intentionally into our spiritual life -- sometimes in new ways of refreshing some old ways. Typically, people think of giving up something for Lent. However, Lent can also mean taking on something. Lenten practice is about adopting patterns or practices that help us sink more deeply into our souls and draw closer in our relationship and understanding of God.
As always, we have opportunities for all of us to do that this year. We heartily encourage you to try some if not all of them.
Praying with the Psalms
On Sundays during 11am worship, we will immerse ourselves in this big, rich book of poetry and the ways that faithful people throughout the centuries have used it as prayer. How may we re-enter this ancient collection in new ways and how may it enrich our collective and personal prayer lives?
Study Groups
Join a 4-week Lenten Study during March to help us deepen our own personal and collective practice of praying with the psalms. Each session will be offered in person (Sundays at 12:30pm) and on Zoom (Tuesdays at 7pm). Come to one or all of the sessions.
Session #1:
Sunday, March 5 at 12:30pm - Parlor
Tuesday, March 7 at 7pm - Zoom
Session #2:
Sunday, March 12 at 12:30pm - Parlor
Tuesday, March 14 at 7pm - Zoom
Session #3:
Sunday, March 19 at 12:30pm - Parlor
Tuesday, March 21 at 7pm - Zoom
Session #4:
Sunday, March 26 at 12:30pm - Lindsay Room
Tuesday, March 28 at 7pm - Zoom
Sign up for a Lenten Study Group HERE.
Prayer Partners
We encourage ALL of us to try or re-commit to having a prayer buddy in Lent -- someone you can check in with during the week, go over your concerns and joys and offer them in prayer. We offer you guidelines to make this fun and helpful. If this is something that sounds welcome and soothing or sounds like a challenge, or anything in between, then we encourage you to try it out! Prayer partnering helps us strengthen as a spiritual community.
Sign up for a Prayer Partner HERE.
Dinner Church
For the first time in THREE years, we are gathering again like the ancient church, around a table for a common meal of soup and salad, communion, song, prayer and conversation. This is a beautiful way to worship in a different setting and rhythm.
Thursdays from 6:00-6:45pm in the Parlor, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30. Doors open at 5:45pm.
Sign up to volunteer HERE.
As our congregation goes more deeply into clarifying our purpose and mission in this time and place during Lent, deepening our spiritual practices becomes even more important to ground us in God.
We encourage you to take part!
We have a lot of wonderful programs happening over the next month. To help keep it all straight, click HERE to download a calendar featuring our special Advent events as well as our usual offerings, or pick up a handout on the welcome tables on Sunday.
Full to the Brim: An Expansive Lent – Adult Deepening Opportunities for Lent
The season of Lent is a time to find new and creative ways to grow in faith and one’s relationship with God and others. As we emerge from winter and the restraints of the pandemic, we hope you consider joining one or more of these Lenten Adult Deepening opportunities, as well as the ongoing Weekly Bible Study on Sunday mornings at 10am.
Living into Lent Spiritual Practices Workshop - Sunday, March 13 (rescheduled from March 6) from 4-5:30pm on Zoom: Adam S. will facilitate an intimate gathering, aimed at helping you carve out some healing space for grace throughout Lent and beyond. “Come as you are” to explore together the joys, brokenness, gifts, and doubts we bring to this Lenten season, a time for emptying and re-filling our cup. Find the Zoom link in the weekly newsletter.
Full to the Brim Small Group Study - 7:30-8:30pm on Tuesdays March 8-April 5* on Zoom. (*Please note the new end date. This series has been extended another week.) During Lent, join us for a small group study to reflect on the themes of God’s abundant and expansive grace, drawing from the Full to the Brim Lenten resources. We will engage Jesus’ parables and promises of God’s lavish love and grace, through scripture, poetry, visual art and music. Find the Zoom link in the weekly newsletter.
Week #1: March 8, 2022 Download Lenten Study Materials
Week #2: March 15, 2022 Download Lenten Study Materials
Week #3: March 22, 2022 Download Lenten Study Materials plus Supplemental Handout
Week #4: March 29, 2022 Download Lenten Study Materials
Week #5: April 5, 2022 Download Lenten Study Materials
Prayer Partners for Lent - Please email adultdeepening@upbrookline.org by Ash Wednesday, March 2 if you would like a Prayer Partner for Lent. We’ll pair you up with someone, or you can choose a partner you already know, and then you can make a plan with your Prayer Partner to connect at least 15 minutes each week of Lent by phone or in person. The Adult Deepening team will also provide Prayer Partners with a brief guide for ways you might get to know each other, and ways to try praying together or individually on behalf of the other.
Questions? Send an email to adultdeepening@upbrookline.org.
