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The Jesus Tree

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The Jesus Tree The Jesus Tree A Lenten Guide, Family Devotional & Activity Dear St. John’s family, During this season of Lent, we want to give you and your family a way to interact with the story of Jesus. With the direction of this devotion, families and individuals will be instructed on how to build a “Jesus Tree” decorated with symbols that represent Jesus’ journey to the cross. Each day a bible passage and symbol is provided. Create symbols from items around your house or cut and color the ones provided and decorate your tree with them. Your tree can be anything you like it to be. Have a tiny tree you use at Christmas? Perfect. Have a funky branch fall in your yard? That’ll do too. Place your tree where everyone can see it as a reminder of the Season. On Easter Sunday it will be a beautiful centerpiece for your table. Gather each day and read the corresponding scripture. Work together to construct a symbol to be hung on the tree. You may already have a cool Playmobil sword or an old eyeball from Halloween. There could be a neat stick on your walk that looks like a finger. Or a palm from a neighbors tree. Use your imagination and let your creativity run wild. There are paper symbols provided that you can cut, color and decorate to be used on your tree. Prayers for Ash Wednesday and each Sunday are included, as well. We hope you are able to enjoy and create a unique experience as you walk through the story of Jesus’ life together. Involve everyone in the reading, cutting and searching and let the Lord show you His character, His love, and His devotion through His Word. See you at church on Sunday! Blessings, What is Lent? Beginning on Ash Wednesday and lasting for 40 days, Lent is a season of fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter. The Church year revolves around two “cycles,” one for Christmas and one for Easter. ● The Christmas cycle begins with a season of preparation: ​Advent​. ● The Easter cycle begins with a season of preparation: ​Lent​. Because Lent lasts for forty days it recalls Christ’s fasting during temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). How long is Lent, exactly? Nowadays, most everyone agrees that Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and that it lasts for some reckoning of 40 days. Why not count the Sundays in Lent toward the 40 days? Although Lent is a season of fasting, every Sunday in the Christian year is a feast day. Every Sunday is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So, we don’t fast on Sundays. Why is it called “Lent”? Great question! See, in Greek and Latin, the names for Lent make more sense, because they’re based on the number 40. However, English is more confusing. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary​ (a fascinating website): ● “Lent” comes from the English noun “Lenten,” meaning either, “the season of spring”, or the period of fasting we now refer to as Lent. ● “Lenten” comes from the Old English “lencten,” meaning “the season of spring” or “Lent, the period of fasting.” ● “lencten” comes from the West Germanic “langitinaz,” meaning “long-days,” or “lengthening of the day.” So, “Lent” refers to the lengthening of the days during springtime. What are some common practices during Lent? Check out these Anglican Pastor posts on common lenten disciplines: ● Prayer​-an act of communion with God such as in devotion, confession, praise or thanksgiving. ● Almsgiving​-giving to others as an act of compassion and desire for justice. ● Fasting​-abstain from some kinds of food or drink, especially as a religious observance. Regarding the history of lenten fasting, the ODCC notes, During the early centuries the observance of the fast was very strict. Only one meal a day, taken towards evening, was allowed, and flesh-meat and fish, and in most places also eggs and lacticinia [milk and dairy products], were absolutely forbidden. From the 9th cent. onwards in the West the practice began to be considerably relaxed. Today, in the Roman Catholic Church, people are only obligated to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. However, fasting from meat, fish, eggs, and dairy is still common in Eastern Churches. Now, in Western Churches: Lent is generally observed as a time of penance by abstaining from festivities, by almsgiving, and by devoting more than the usual time to religious exercises. In recent years in the Western Church more emphasis has been placed on these aspects than on physical fasting. Lent Collects and Collect Reflections Ash Wednesday​ (Feb. 17th, 2021) Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made, and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The First Sunday in Lent​ (Feb. 21st, 2021) Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations, and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. The Second Sunday in Lent​ (Feb 28th, 2021) Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities that may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The Third Sunday in Lent​ (March 7th, 2021) Heavenly Father, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you: Look with compassion upon the heartfelt desires of your servants, and purify our disordered affections, that we may behold your eternal glory in the face of Christ Jesus; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The Fourth Sunday in Lent​ (March 14th, 2021) Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Fifth Sunday in Lent; Palm Sunday​ (March 28th, 2021) Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of this world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. .
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