9 Ways to Gather, Thrive, and Go Together This Lent

by Lucinda S. Sutton on January 27, 2025

 

Ash Wednesday is TODAY, and with it comes the beginning of Lent. As always, we are committed to making sure everyone has tools for a meaningful season, and no one has to journey alone. Here are a few options we will be using as a congregation to celebrate together this season:

Gather

1. Attend Special Worship Services, Beginning with Ash Wednesday
Lebanon FUMC hosts annual special services for Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday (featuring our Children's Choir), Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. All services take place both on site and online (here on our home page as well as on Facebook and YouTube), and are available for replay on YouTube anytime.


2. Break Bread (and Pizza...and Pasta...and Nachos, and more!) With Us
Throughout Lent, we will take time to share many meals together, and you are invited to all of them! It all begins with a Church-wide Pizza Meal before the service on Ash Wednesday; fill out this form to save your seat:

Wednesday Meals Sign-Up

 

( )   -

I would like to sign up for the following meals:*

Check all that apply.



3. Get Weekly Encouragement and Support for Your Lenten Journey 
Lent is a time of self-reflection and examination. Through pastoral teaching on Sunday mornings, we will look at the seven "I AM" statement of Jesus and how they can bring us closer to God today. All worship services take place both on site and online (here on our home page as well as on Facebook and YouTube). Services are available for replay on YouTube anytime.


Thrive

 4. Follow Along with Our Gratitude Journal Every Day
Make gratitude a priority every day...and see where it takes you!

Printable PDF


5. Learn New Things in Our Wednesday Studies and Small Groups
Pick one and drop in, sign-ups required!

  

  


6. Get Up and Moving and Make New Friends
Don't try to go it alone! We have so many options for boosting your physical, mental, and/or emotional health among friends. There's literally something for everyone. 

  

  

 

Go

7. Thank and Support Thistle Farms/the Women of Magdalene
We are honored to host the world debut of Magdalene: A Cantata in concert for Thistle Farms. Based on the book, Find Your Way Home: Words from the Street, Wisdom from the Heart by the Women of Thistle Farms, this musical event promises to be a powerful evening of healing, hope, and gratitude for survivors.


8.  Pray With Your Feet on Weekly Community Prayer Walks
Each Monday morning at 11:30, we will leave from our parking lot and spend 30 minutes walking around Lebanon, praying for our neighbors and community. All are welcome...including pets! (Just plan to pick up after them, of course.)


9.  Help Us Eradicate Hunger in Wilson County by Collecting for and/or Serving at Our Easter Dinner Food Giveaway
From Ash Wednesday through March 26, collect food items from the list below and bring them to the collection area in the Narthex (Lobby).  All items will go to our Easter Dinner Food Giveaway for the community happening on April 8; to help serve our neighbors that morning, contact Pastor Rebecca.

About the Author

Lucinda S. Sutton

Lucinda S. Sutton has been a member at Lebanon FUMC since 2011. Despite her history as a self-published author, professional editor, longtime teacher/volunteer, and unabashed fangirl and blogger, many in the community still know her far better as Trinity, Micayla, and Jaden's Mom (she is mostly okay with this).  

Lucinda came to us from the United Methodist Publishing House where she had a hand in the creation, development, and editorial work for Cokesbury's 2017-2020 VBS curricula, as well as other pieces for Abingdon Press.  While her professional background also includes work in the fields of marketing, organizational management, operations, and even food service, her calling is now and has always been to serve for the betterment of church life and church work.  For all of this, she is profoundly grateful.

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