The major turns in the Church calendar can discourage even the most creative of pastors and leaders and lay folks — how many times can you talk about Advent or Lent and not return to the same (ol’) themes? Well, there’s a reason we return to the same (ol’) themes — because they are important.  Still, many of us appreciate new angles on old themes, and so I’d like to suggest one of my own books for those still searching for a Lenten tool: 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed
. 40 days of Lent, and a brief lesson a day about loving God and loving others — a season that evokes Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness.

Recently I got a letter from a former student, now pastor, who explained that their church was going through this book week-by-week and was finding a renewed commitment to God, to one another, and to the local community. I won’t publish the letter but I will encourage you to think of using this year’s Lenten season to focus again on loving God and loving others, and perhaps to do so (as we will in our Lenten series) by repenting from our lack of love and asking God to awaken love in all of us.