Our annual 40 Days of Lent for Carp has been updated. Some are new things to do or consider while others were so good they had to be repeated! Blessings as you journey through Lent.
Pastor Monique
40 ideas for keeping a Holy Lent
The Anglican Parish of Huntley ~ 2016
Don’t feel you have to do all of these or in this order. Add or replace one if you wish!
Day 1: Take some healthy canned foods to the new location of the West Carleton Food Access Centre (at the West Carleton Community Complex)
Day 2: Pray for all of the people who walk into Alice’s Café today
Day 3: Take 5 minutes of silence at noon
Day 4: Pray for the families who have lost a loved one in the past year
(Sunday ~ Lent practices don’t happen on our Celebration Day)
Day 5: Pray for the students and staff at Huntley Centennial, Venta Preparatory, West Carleton Secondary School and all students
Day 6: Intentionally let go of a frustration
Day 7: Take 5 items of clothing to the ValueVillage on Hazeldean Road
Day 8: Pray for the Carp Fair Board and Planning Team
Day 9: Do someone else’s chore
Day 10: Buy a few $5 Tim Horton’s Gift Cards and drop them off at the church (Pastor Monique will take them to St. Luke’s Table during Holy Week)
(Sunday ~ Lent practices don’t happen on our Celebration Day)
Day 11: Call an old friend
Day 12: Pray for refugees throughout the world
Day 13: Open your bible and read something from one of the Gospels. If you don’t have a bible drop by Pastor Monique’s office; she has 10 to give away to the first people who show up! If you would like to find a bible online go to http://bible.oremus.org
Day 14: Sit down, write and send out a letter to someone (a real letter is preferred)
Day 15: Pray for the poor and the vulnerable in our community. Especially the work of our Diocesan Community Ministries. (To find out more about them see: http://www.ottawa.anglican.ca/Community_Ministries.html)
Day 16: Pray for all refugees, Syrian and others, who are making their way or recently arrived to Canada
(Sunday ~ Lent practices don’t happen on our Celebration Day)
Day 17: Forgive someone
Day 18: Internet diet ~ No Facebook or Internet… or TV Diet if you’d prefer!
Day 19: Examine how recycling is going in your home? Are you reducing, reusing, and recycling (and composting!)?
Day 20: Pray for the upcoming General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada that will be meeting in July. Pray for those who are preparing to attend this event.
Day 21: Make a Date – with your partner, a family member or a friend for a night out
Day 22: Tell someone what you are grateful for
(Sunday ~ Lent practices don’t happen on our Celebration Day)
Day 23: Introduce yourself to a neighbour
Day 24: Pray for an end to extremism and religious fundamentalism, racism and bigotry and hurtful behaviour.
Day 25: Consider a financial alms gift to the church ministry
Day 26: No shopping day
Day 27: Pray for the families in the Carp community
Day 28: Light a candle and sit with it for a moment.
(Sunday ~ Lent practices don’t happen on our Celebration Day)
Day 29: Write a thank you note and mail to someone who’s blessed you in your life
Day 30: Pay it Forward… buy a coffee for someone at Alice’s or Tim Horton’s by paying for the person behind you in line
Day 31: Pray for the residents of the West Carleton Apartments
Day 32: Buy flowers or a new plant for your house to bring creation inside until spring
Day 33: Read John 8:1-11 http://bible.oremus.org
Day 34: Worship at a friend’s mosque, synogogue or church and look for the beauty
(Sunday ~ Lent practices don’t happen on our Celebration Day)
Day 35: If you don’t participate in Holy Week services (aside from Sunday) choose one that you will attend this year (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil?)
Day 36: Pray for our neighbouring churches
Day 37: Give $20 to a local non-profit
Day 38: Pray for all those who make farming and agricultural their livelihood in our community
Day 39: Consider how you might talk about Christ at your Easter Dinner
Day 40: Pray for your enemies then decide which of these exercises you’ll keep for good