Augustana Lutheran Church of Hyde Park

Exploration of our Lenten theme begins this Sunday with an Adult Forum discussion of a letter from our bishop, asking congregations to prayerfully consider the need to offer sanctuary to undocumented immigrants in the next few months. The Adult Forum will continue discussing our Lenten theme until Easter.

Our Thursday evening midweek worship series begins with a time of meditation and prayer for all who suffer from the pain and trauma of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Friday, March 12, at 6:00 pm, we will be hosting a movie night in Gorder Hall.  The movie is PK, a recent movie by Vinod Chopra about a naive alien sent to study Earth who asks awkward questions about why people put so much store in religious divisions.

It is clever, thought provoking, and fun. There are some passing references to sexual activity (The alien arrives naked and first gets clothes and money from “dancing cars”). But this is Bollywood, so visuals are restrained.

We will eat Indian food beforehand, and watch the movie at 7:00.

Give it up for Lent! Throughout history a spiritual practice has been and continues to be giving something up for Lent. More recently, rather than giving something up, some have added a new discipline to focus spiritual renewal.

Give up. Refrain. Engage. Retreat. Sacrifice. Let Go. Give Thanks. Accept.

Here is just a little start for you to dream, and prepare to give it up for Lent.

Refrain
We can for a brief time in our life “give up” some vice or practice for a period of time. Perhaps we could refrain from drinking coffee for seven weeks so we better experience the joy or energy that it gives us when we drink it again on Easter Sunday. We refrain from eating dessert or drinking alcohol or watching television.

Engage
Another way would be to give it up in all caps with an explanation point as in to get really excited. GIVE IT UP! Lent is here and we can as a community of believers gather together and celebrate this often somber season in the church year. It could be completely possible to CELEBRATE Lent with our whole heart while we remain quiet and contemplative.

Retreat
What if we were to evaluate our lives and realize that we fight or resist a regiment of prayer and the use of scripture as a tool to experience our life of faith. What if we “give up” the fight and actually spend more time in prayer or intentional relationship with God.

Sacrifice
Different than giving up sweets or caffeine, sometimes we take life’s comforts for granted. It is more difficult but could be much more poignant to actually sacrifice so that we can better understand those without such comforts. Could you consider “giving up” hot showers or warm blankets or your car for a time to experience the life of those less privileged?

Let Go
Stress can be a badge of honor as we go through our daily lives. We can with great satisfaction proclaim that life is hard and I am muscling through. Imagine rather than bracing or enduring through stressful situations actually “giving it up” to God in prayer.

Give Thanks
We live in a do-it-yourself society. We are quick to accept the credit for our successes and accomplishments. What if it became more common place to “give up” the credit to God. Recognize daily that day to day activities are a result of God given abilities.

Accept
Sometimes we need to be challenged to “give up” our prejudice or bias that keep us from experiencing a broader more diverse community. Identify your comfort level with people who are different from you, and then push from there to grow in real acceptance.

However you “Give it up!” this year, be it avoiding, experiencing or retreating, we hope that these weeks leading up to the resurrection will fill your soul and guide you to “the peace that passes all understanding.”