We are excited to announce our Lenten community-wide study for 2021, Sacred Invitation. We continue to hear how important these resources are for both Advent and Lent each year– with more churches participating in Advent 2020 than any ever before! We are encouraged by your commitment to be in the Word and actively participate in the life and calendar of the Church. We hope that these resources help bring your community together, whether you are worshipping in-person or online.

For Lent 2021, writers Dr. Jesse Middendorf and Stephanie Lobdell return for their second year. Sacred Invitation is inspired by The Book of Common Prayer and invites you to join Christ on his final earthly journey. Grasp the life-changing reality of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as we find our place in that grand story.

Each daily reflection ends with questions intended to foster meaningful reflection. Sacred Invitation is also available for faith communities in discounted packs of 10.

For Lent this year, we are also providing ministry downloads for children, youth and adults. The pastor’s downloadable resource includes weekly sermon outlines, small group discussion guides, service outlines for Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday, powerpoint backgrounds, a promo video and more.

Help children appreciate the significance of Jesus’s walk to the cross by bringing them along with your adult congregation during the Sacred Invitation journey with the children’s ministry downloadable resource. The Children’s Ministry Resource offers creative suggestions for children’s sermons and take-home activities that tie into the weekly sermon outlines.

Encourage your teens to connect their individual stories to the story of the cross with The Youth Ministry  Resource. This resource includes prayer stations, thought-provoking games, prompts to jumpstart at-home family conversations, and ideas for social media engagement.

Lent is a season of fasting and contemplation that vitally informs our relationship with Christ and with others. The words, reflection questions, and prayers offered in the Sacred Invitation resources will inform and transform your Lenten observance so that you will emerge victorious with Christ on the day of resurrection.