A Living, Open Lenten Journey

Though many of us are feeling buried under a continual blanket of snow, or are growing ever anxious as the seasonal rains aren’t arriving this year, all around spring i​s​ starting to burst forth. In little ways: swollen buds on branches, snowdrops pushing up through the cold ground, a freshness in the air that signals a coming change.

As Christians of the Northern hemisphere this subtle shift in our environment mirrors the shifts we see reflected in our liturgy. Lent begins the 40 day journey to resurrection, 40 days of growing anticipation for something new to grow in us. As the days grow longer how do we see resurrection in our lives? Where do we see newness pushing forth? Like tender greens as they courageously push through the snow with the expectation of warmer days ahead, where in our lives are we pushing forward with brave expectation?

Open Table Cooperative and Living Stream Church of the Brethren invite you on a Lenten journey to cultivate our appreciation of the Creator’s manifestation in our daily lives. Join us by stepping outside wherever you live and taking notice of the simple gifts of bravery demonstrated in environmental rebirth. Connect with the Lenten journey through weekly reflections, daily nature photos from folks around the country, and eco-spiritual worship on Sunday evenings with Living Stream.

During the six weeks leading up to Easter on April 20 you will receive an email devotion and reflection each Sunday morning written by folks from around the country as they share their observations of the ways they find resurrection in their lives. Join us on Facebook or Twitter as we share daily photos of spring emerging around us and invite you to share your photographs too. This Lenten journey is one of community and connection. Join us by submitting a devotion or reflection (more information on our website), share photos taken of the world around you (#LivingLent14), log on and participate in Living Stream’s weekly worship service. Together in these days of Lent we invite you to look for the ways our spirituality is reflected in the environment around us. Being led and grounded by a daily activity that encourages us to get outside, even if it is cold/snowing/rainy (Remember, bravery isn’t always comfortable!) we will walk the days of Lent engaging with our faith made tangible in the bursting spring.