Keeping a holy Lent: New VT-MA devotional program and more

"Baptism and Collaboration in the Body of Christ": Lent-Easter Devotional & Formation

Lent is the traditional season of preparation to receive new members into the church through Baptism at the Easter Vigil. It is a personal journey. Yet, from sponsors, to catechists, to the prayers of the community and its shared life, Baptism is also a collaborative endeavor: as we are baptized into Christ, we are baptized into each other. 

This year, a joint Lenten devotional is being offered in the dioceses of Vermont and Massachusetts on the theme of "Baptism and Collaboration in the Body of Christ." The devotional features lay, ordained and monastic voices reflecting on the daily Scriptures of the season and the various "Will you…" questions of the baptismal covenant: 

• Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship in the breaking of the bread and in the prayers? 
• Will you persevere in resisting evil, and whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord? 
• Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Jesus Christ? 
• Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? 
• Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? 
• Will you cherish the wondrous works of God, and protect and restore the beauty and integrity of all creation? 

Click here to access the devotional.

In addition, online worship and conversation gatherings guided by each week’s baptismal vow will be held on Thursday evenings, Feb. 15, 22 and 29, March 7, 14 and 21, and April 4, from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m., via the Green Mountain Online Abbey of the Diocese of Vermont. All are welcome. RSVPs to the Rev. adwoa Wilson are appreciated: awilson@diovermont.org.  

Ways to pray, learn, act and advocate on behalf of God's creation

The Creation Care Justice Network is a group of Episcopal clergy and lay people across Massachusetts working together to help congregations pray, learn, act and advocate on behalf of God's creation and to mobilize a robust, justice-centered response to the ecological and climate emergency.  Find the Creation Care Justice Network's suggestions for the Lenten and Eastertide seasons at www.diomass.org/creation-care.

Lenten Preaching Series: "A Word to the Church from Younger Leaders"

The Lenten Preaching Series at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston, "Preparing for the Great Uprising that is Easter: A Word to the Church from Younger Leaders" is offered on Tuesdays in Lent at 5:15 p.m.

In this time for rapid change and uncertainty for the church and the world, and in a year when this diocese is preparing to elect its next bishop, how do we chart a hopeful path into the future, following Jesus? This Lent's preaching series offers occasion to open ears and hearts to receive a message from preachers in their 20s and 30s.

The sermons are offered within a service of Evening Prayer and followed by a soup supper and conversation with the preacher. Join in person at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 138 Tremont Street in Boston, or by livestream via www.stpaulboston.org or the cathedral's YouTube channel.

• Feb. 20 - Phoebe Chatfield, Program Associate for Creation Care and Justice, The Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop’s Office
• Feb. 27 - Leo Biocchi, Minister of Families and Communications Director, St. Michael's Church, Milton
• March 5 - Margaret Walker, Emmaus Fellow with Life Together, intern with the Family Van
• March 12 - Alden Fossett, Postulant for Ordination and seminarian at Yale Divinity School
• March 19 - Sarah Neumann, Candidate for Ordination and seminarian at Yale Divinity School

Wild Tea with Jesus Day Retreat

Join Linden Rayton of Living Water Nature Programs on a day retreat at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in Greenfield, N.H., where participants will enter into Jesus’ Lenten journey by engaging in an ancient human tradition--making tea. The tea will be created from wild ingredients on the Barbara C. Harris Center property. Through the ritual of foraging, brewing and drinking the tea, the group will create an atmosphere for digging deep into two separate stories of Jesus staying close with God in his last days.

The day will start with a morning session, break for an included lunch, continue with an afternoon session and finish with a closing prayer. Each session will include brewing a different kind of tea, and explore a different story of Jesus.

All participants should bring outdoor-appropriate clothing and footwear, as the group will be outside for two portions of the day, except in case of extreme weather.

Register using this link: https://forms.gle/ezuqtsBxfXBCASur6 or by e-mailing info@bchcenter.org.

Find more Episcopal Church resources for the Lenten season here.