The liturgical calendar of the church shapes us, often in ways we may not recognize or appreciate. Advent leaves many straining against the reins to sing Christmas carols heard a month before in stores and on television. Ordinary Time, full of seemingly mundane events Sunday after Sunday, is a reminder of everyday lives to be lived mindful of the presence of God. In the words of the forthcoming Companion to the Book of Common Worship,

The liturgical calendar offers a series of celebrations that confront us with who we are in Christ and present us with a pattern for growth in Christ. The liturgical calendar permeates us with the mystery of Christ’s redeeming work so we may conform our lives to Christ.1

Lent’s particular emphasis on following Jesus to the cross gives it a unique place in the church’s life—and that of the individual believer. It has historically been a time of training in the church, both for those considering becoming a part of it and those seeking renewal within it. And for those whose relationship has waned, or even ceased, the Lenten season offers a period of preparation for return. Above all, Lent provides an opportunity to learn what it means to follow Christ. This makes the season an especially fruitful time for exploring spiritual disciplines, not simply as an intellectual exercise for seven weeks, but as a chance to experience what can become practices for a lifetime. Since participation in One Great Hour of Sharing has been a Presbyterian Lenten tradition for more than fifty years, Lent offers an opportunity to interweave our spiritual disciplines and our ministry with the needs of the world.

The stories of Lent provide the context for understanding in a variety of ways what is perhaps the most simple and most important lesson of the spiritual life: pay attention—to God, yourself, and the world. In taking time to be grateful for the food we have, we can be prayerful regarding those who don’t have enough.

We can read the newspaper not only for information but inspiration, breathing in (Latin in- + spirare, “to breathe”) the Spirit as to what is happening, and breathing out both our prayers and our consideration of how we might make a difference. We can read the Bible not in haste or out of duty, but as a way to more fully understand this Christ so that we might more faithfully follow him.

The practices found on these pages are possible at all times, but it is this season of Lent—with its reminder of our temptations, our failures, and the promise of forgiveness and new life—that particularly calls us to be conformed to Christ and transformed by him.

Imaginative Visualization2
Find a copy of the Children’s Activity Folder in the One Great Hour of Sharing materials your congregation receives in December or January (PDS item #70-612-02-112). Read through the description of the first eighteen chapters of Exodus. The refugee experience is primarily part of chapters 15 through 18. Choose one of those chapters to read. Also read the “Refugees in Today’s World” section.

This is an exercise in imaginative visualization. If you are a person who likes to ground your imagination in facts, you may want to examine the tent on page 5 of the folder or to take a walk in refugees’ shoes. To do the latter, log on to www.churchworldservices.org and click on “Refugees,” then on “The Refugee’s Journey.”

1. Read through the Exodus text several times to become familiar with it.
2. Use your imagination to enter into the scene you are reading about. What do you imagine as the setting of the story? (You can imagine it during biblical times or during our own.) What are the sights, the smells, the sounds? Who else is there? What are the expressions on their faces? Explore the scene as fully as you can with all your
   imaginative senses.
3. Where are you in the story in relation to the other participants? Are you one of the religious leaders? A member of the crowd? What is your role in this drama?
4. Let the story develop in your imagination: Does someone speak to you? What do they say? How do you reply? How does the scene evolve, and what are your feelings about it?
5. After the action has concluded, what do you do? Do you go somewhere, or tell someone? What do you tell them about what you just experienced? How do you describe the meaning of what has happened?
6. Allow your attention to come back to the present, being open to any insights or questions that may have arisen.

Praying the Newspaper3
One way to bring a mission focus to personal devotional practice is to pray the newspaper. As a Lenten variation, you can begin by looking at the Sharing Calendar from your One Great Hour of Sharing materials. Notice the variety of ministries supported by the offering and the needs they address.

As you read each story or notice each photograph in the newspaper, allow your attention to linger gently. Visualize those people and places as being held in the palm of God’s hand or sheltered in the protective presence of Jesus Christ. When you read reports of natural disaster, warfare, poverty, or other tragedy, see in your mind’s eye the presence of the living Christ with those who are suffering. Ask yourself whether the ministries of One Great Hour of Sharing may be part of the way Christ’s presence is made tangible. If so, thank God for the opportunity to be a part of that ministry. If not, offer a brief prayer for that situation. When the news gives you reason to give thanks to God, give thanks! If a story touches you particularly deeply, accept the invitation from God to respond: become active in the issue, make yourself available to others, and ask if you can offer yourself in some way.

Intercessory Imaging Prayer
Intercessory prayer need not entail words or conscious thoughts. This method uses a visual imaging process, and it can be used when praying for others or for oneself. It is especially appropriate when we have a concern about someone (including ourselves) but don’t know what to pray for specifically.

Look through your OGHS resources and identify a person or community in need. After taking a few moments for quieting and centering, close your eyes and visualize that person or community. Imagine them in your mind’s eye as concretely as possible, calling to mind a vivid picture. Hold this picture in your mind.

Now discern Christ’s presence around that person or community as we trust it is. Imagine it as a visible glow or halo that comes upon those you are imaging, surrounding them, suffusing them with the Light of Christ. Hold this image in your mind as your prayer.

Ask Christ how it is that you can be his hands and feet in the world, how you can help surround those you have prayed for with his love. Recognize that there are many others who are also Christ’s hands and feet, and thank God for their presence in your life and the lives of those you are praying for. How does the appearance of the person you are praying for change, the facial expression and posture? How might their life be changed? End your prayer with “Let it be so.”

1. Due from Geneva Press in 2003.
2. Adapted from In the One Spirit: Paul’s First Letter to the Christians in Corinth, by the Rev. Kristine A. Haig, Coordinator of the Office of Spiritual Formation, Congregational Ministries Division, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). PDS item #70-400-95-002.
3. Adapted from Kris Haig, “Spiritual Fitness: All the News That’s Fit to Pray,” Presbyterians Today, June 1999, p. 5.

These practices, and many others, will be available in the revised edition of the resource Lord, Teach Us to Pray, forthcoming in 2003. For more information contact the authors,
Alan Krome at (888) 728-7228, ext. 5168, e-mail akrome@ctr.pcusa.org, and
Steve Shussett at (888) 728-7228, ext. 5157, e-mail sshusset@ctr.pcusa.org.
Also see the Office of Spiritual Formation Web site, www.pcusa.org/spiritualformation, for more information.