"Reversing through Lent in small ways" 2025

At the beginning of March we face the important religious festival of Lent, celebrated by Christians all over the world. It is a

period of reflection and growth and a time for new beginnings.

Many people have used this time to go on a mini fasts ranging from ‘not eating chocolate’, ‘becoming vegetarian’, ‘giving up social media’, or in various other ways mark and help this time of reflection by imposing restrictions.

This year I am showing a different way of journeying through Lent – a type of reverse Lent – when we do things rather than restrict them, to help our growth and contemplation.

Week 1 - Love

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and women, old men and children.

Small things we can do this week:

Who can you help this week as an act of love. Perhaps that's a smile to people you see on the street, or a visit to a neighbour, or a letter to someone you haven't heard from recently. We can all love the world a little better by small actions. Perhaps you could recycle more, use less energy or feed the local birds.

Week 2 - Truth

Jeremiah 6:8-20

This is what the Lord says:

“Stand at the crossroads and look;

ask for the ancient paths,

ask where the good way is, and walk in it,

and you will find rest for your souls.

But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Small things we can do this week:

The world is full of confusing information, false news and untruths. Climate change is something proven by science but not everyone believes it's true. Can you find some facts about climate change this week and share them on social media? Or perhaps you can donate to a charity which helps communities worst affected by climate change such as those in Africa or Asia. Two charities you might consider to support are Oxfam or Tearfund.

Week 3 - Wisdom

James 3:13-18

The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Small things we can do this week:

How can we be more wise in our lives? Last week we thought about finding the truth in situations. Wisdom is about helping people to come together peacefully to work for a better world. Are there situations of conflict in your life that you could try and heal? Perhaps you could pray for peace across the world. Or perhaps you could volunteer in the local community helping those who are in need.

Week 4 - Justice

Luke 19:1-10

Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Small things we can do this week:

Justice is about changing behaviour so that we live a little better. Is there something you would like to change in your life but have been putting off? Is there a challenge you'd like to do? Or could you be kinder to yourself? I love keeping a list of blessings in my life and it helps me to read these when times are hard, might that be a good idea to try?

Week 5 - Hope

Romans 5:1-11

We glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Small things we can do this week:

What hopes do you have for yourself? Your family? Our community? The world? Is there anything you can do to help those hopes become reality? Could you visit someone lonely to make the world more compassionate? Could you commit to not buy new clothes for a few months to reduce your impact on the planet - you might find nicer clothing in charity shops. Perhaps you could share your hopes with a friend or family member and ask them about there's.

If you find it hard to be hopeful you could write some down and read them every day as a reminder that there is always hope. And of course you can pray for the world, that our hopes become a better world.

Easter

Jesus: the vine - John 15:5

“I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit.”

Welcome to Easter.

This week we remember that Jesus knew the reality of life, injustice, pain, grief and love. He lived a human life and through him God knows both our joys and sufferings. As we do every Easter, we will walk alongside Jesus as he is captured by people who hated him, is tortured, dies on the cross and is buried.

We know the joyful truth that on Easter Day we can celebrate because 3 days after he died, Jesus rose again, resurrected in a miraculous way.

But perhaps the Easter story has something to tell us about caring for our world.

Jesus was buried like a seed in the soil. He was prayed for, watered with the tears of those who loved him and kept safe. After 3 days Jesus emerged, renewed at the resurrection like a vine, growing strong into the world. We are the branches of that vine, taking our wisdom from Jesus, growing with the help of the Holy Spirit to follow God's teachings to love ourselves, one another and the world we live in.