Much like New Year’s Resolutions, Lenten promises of self-sacrifice often fall by the wayside. Sometimes it’s easier and more productive to add something worthwhile to daily life than to give up something.
Anyway…..it’s worth a try.
Here is an alternative Lenten calendar that hopes to add one or more meaningful acts to the coming seven weeks-plus. It doesn’t matter whether you follow it every day, or not……you can do what it suggests……you can choose one or more that you really like and repeat them any number of times…..you can make up your own.
Or, as with all things in life, there is always the choice of ignoring it completely!
I hope, in some small way, it adds value or joy to your days and/or to the lives of others. In any case, I offer it here as my gift to you…..and may blessings float down upon you!!
(Note: The original document had a specific form/format that did not translate to this forum as intended……sorry about that!!!)
A Lenten Calendar for 2020
2/26: Bible Study…ashes….2/27: Help a friend
2/28: Sing The Lord’s Prayer 2/29: Dance/leap
3/1: Take Communion3/2: Be silent 5 minutes
3/3: Write to a friend… 3/4: Read Psalm 135
3/5: Pray for Peace 3/6: Hug a dog, cat or child
3/7: Smile at a stranger 3/8: Go to church 3/9: Give time/money to a good cause 3/10: Turn off the television 3/11: Thank God for a specific blessing… 3/12: Laugh 3/13: Contemplate a tree… 3/14: Sing a song with the radio…. 3/15: Go to church and sit in a new location… 3/16: Just listen.. 3/17: Have corned beef and cabbage 3/18: Read 1 chapter in the Gospel of John… 3/19: Talk to God… 3/20: Try to spot a robin… 3/21: Make a list of the twenty-five things that you are most thankful for 3/22: Take someone to church… 3/23: Perform an unexpected good deed, and do it anonymously if possible… 3/24: Pay for someone else’s coffee, tea, or whatever 3/25: Be openly joyful 3/26: Let go of a grudge
3/27: Go outside and holler/sing “Hallelujah!”
3/28: Sing the Doxology…with unusual gusto!!
3/29: Thank God… .for the renewal of Spring
3/30: Contemplate what Jesus might’ve been
Thinking/doing in the week that leads us up to
Palm Sunday 3/31: Pray for lost/lonely souls…
4/1: Be merciful…. and forgive those who are
Not…4/2: Look for a few green shoots…. even
If they are under the snow… 4/3: Read Mark,
12-14.. 4/4 Find your Easter basket 4/5 Wave
Your palm branches and sing a few Hosannas!
4/6: Invite a friend or a neighbor to church for
Easter Sunday….. 4/7: Color some Easter eggs
4/8: Thank God and Jesus for the priceless gift
Of your Salvation… 4/9: Contemplate the Last
Supper 4/10: Observe Good Friday somehow
4/11: Dust off/fluff up your Easter Bonnet and
4/12: Sing “The Hallelujah Chorus”…. whether
You should sing it or not!