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Raised in the evangelical tradition I was more familiar with Easter than this season called "Lent." I was comfortable with somber Good Friday services, and celebratory Easter Sundays. Then I learned about Lent, and how it is a time to reflect on our longings, our losses, in a way that leads us to confession at the feet of Jesus. Sometimes getting to his feet I found I needed a little help, a gentle push to move forward. I needed someone to remind me of the love of God amidst all this grief. From these experiences, and through gathering materials I've found helpful, we're offering this half-day Lenten retreat guide. It's filled with prayer practices, journaling prompts, and reflective invitations. It can be used individually, or with your community group. It can used on a half-day away at a museum or over a weekend up on the mountain. It was created with flexibility in mind. It was also created to remind you how much God loves you. Using Scripture, art, and thought provoking journaling experiences this PDF guide offers you the opportunity to open your heart to God through these practices and to prepare to celebrate the hope we have in Christ Easter Sunday morning.  If this idea excites you, or feels like the last thing you want to do but you feel invited by God to do it anyway, click below to learn a bit more and view a sample page. The PDF guide is designed to be flexible in use and time, so feel free to take a half-day to yourself or a weekend away with your community group.
If you have any questions about this retreat guide, or how to best use it, feel free to contact us anytime. We'd love to hear from you.
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 Photograph by Christine Lee Smith : Contemplative Photographer and you held me and there were no words
and there was no time and you held me and there was only wanting and being held and being filled with wanting and I was nothing but letting go and being held and there were no words and there needed to be no words and there was no terror only stillness and I was wanting nothing and it was fullness and it was like aching for God and it was touch and warmth and darkness and no time and no words and we flowed and I flowed and I was not empty and I was given up to the dark and in the darkness I was not lost and the wanting was like fullness and I could hardly hold it and I was held and you were dark and warm and without time and without words and you held me "And You Held Me," by Janet Morley printed in All Desires Known Wednesday marks the beginning of a new liturgical season: Lent. It is a season of waiting, of longing, of loss. It is a season of lament. Lent gives us space to grieve, to let go, to exist of the tension of already and not yet with Jesus. Below is an image, followed by instructions, to help you engage and process and connect prayerfully with Jesus as you open to the places of your heart and life where you feel tugs of grief and yearning. Peace as you enter this sacred space.  Begin in a quiet place...
How did it go? What surprised you? Where were you led?
In this project you're exploring who Jesus is to you, today, in this moment. Not necessarily what you believe about Jesus, but how do you experience him? This project helps us look at our relationship with Jesus and explore it more deeply. Who do you see when you picture Christ? It's only through the place of truth of our perception (this is how I really experience Jesus) that we can accept the truth of who he actually is. We move through perception and experience to truth. Recommendations for this Contemplative Photography Project:
Share with me in the comments: If you did this project, or are thinking of doing it:
The topic: Identity The project: Self-portrait  Christine's self-portrait from 2009. Sometimes we get lost in our daily lives, forgetting piece by piece who we are. In this contemplative photography project the goal is to examine where we're at today, in this moment. Who do we see when we look in the proverbial mirror? Because it's only through the place of truth of our perception (this is how I really see myself) that we can accept the truth of who we actually are (our identity). If you'd like a little more conversation on the subject of identity, check out my blog, "Being Named | And the Importance of Those Who've Named You." Recommendations for this Project:
Talk with me: If you did this project, or are thinking of doing it:
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