Preparing for Easter

Preparing for Easter is the 40 day period, excluding Sundays, that begins on Ash Wednesday (February 14, 2024) and concludes on Holy Saturday (March 30, 2024). The 40 day period is meant to remind us of the 40 days Christ spent in the desert in fasting and prayer before starting His earthly ministry. It has been a time for reflection and renewal by Christians for centuries in preparation for Easter. Through repenting, praying, fasting, giving, and serving others, we draw closer to Christ by identifying with His journey to the cross and remembering the ultimate expression of love. Henri Nouwen called it “a time of returning to God.” It is a time for us to say "no" to self and "yes" to Jesus more fully.

We invite you to spend these next weeks Preparing for Easter. For generations, Christians have spent the six weeks leading up to Easter remembering the life of Christ and renewing their connection with our Lord. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the weight of sin, death, and darkness in the world, while also bringing out the beautiful hope found in the Gospel of Christ. You can seek God by:

  • spending intentional times in prayer using the Monthly Prayer

  • reading through the Gospels

  • being present for each Sunday of the Preparing for Easter series

  • Engaging in spiritual disciples (or starting a new one) like generosity, prayer, fasting, seeking, trust, celebration, or sabbath. Matthew 6 provides some concrete disciplines that could loosen the grip of sin in our lives. Consider:

  • How will I give? (Matthew 6:2,3)

  • How will I pray? (Matthew 6:5-13)

  • Who do I need to forgive and from whom do I need to seek forgiveness? (Matthew 6:14-15)

  • How will I fast? What do I need to abstain from in order to create more freedom and space for God? (Matthew 6:16-18)

  • Where is my treasure—really—as it is reflected in how I use my time, financial resources and energy? Is there any specific way in which God is inviting me to “let go” of my attachment to some earthly treasure in order to more intentionally invest in that which is eternal? (Matthew 6:19-21)

  • What am I worrying about instead of trusting God? (Matthew 6:25-34)

These weeks aren’t about doing something for the sake of doing something or not doing something for the sake of not doing something. It is meaningful when it is approached as making extra room for God. How could these disciplines and choices open up more time for you to hear from Christ, identify with Christ, and become more like Christ? What spiritually meaningful routine could you add (click the link for ideas) to your daily life as a disciple that will help you seek God, identify with Christ, and experience renewal and rest?

However you choose to prepare for Easter, we pray it would be a time of reflection and repentance that leads to renewal and rest in Christ.

Resources:

On this page you will find a list of scriptures and resources that you can use throughout this season to deepen your relationship with Jesus. 

Reflect:

Begin the season by asking 2 simple questions in quiet reflection with the Lord:

  1. Lord, is there something You have me give up for these six weeks that is distracting me from You?

  2. And, what would You have me take up?

It may be helpful for you to journal as you ask these questions and then listen. Resist the urge to "fill in the blanks." Don't jump to conclusions or make a plan based on what you think God is saying before He's done saying it. Let God speak and direct you.

Scripture Readings:

Readings for Ash Wednesday (February 14):
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Psalm 51:1-17; II Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Readings for the First Week (February 18):
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11

Readings for the Second Week (February 25):
Genesis 12:1-4a, Psalm 121, Romans 4: 1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17

Readings for the Third Week (March 3):
Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 95, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42

Readings for the Fourth Week (March 10):
1 Samuel 16:1-13, Psalm 23, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41

Readings for the Fifth Week (March 17):
Ezekiel 37: 1-14, Psalm 130, Romans 8: 6-11, John 11:1-45

Readings for the Sixth Week (Palm Sunday) (March 24):
Isaiah 50: 4-9a, Psalm 31: 9-16, Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 26: 14-27:66

Readings for the Monday of Holy Week (March 25):
Isaiah 42: 1-9, Psalm 36: 5-11, Hebrews 9:11-15, John 12: 1-11

Readings for the Tuesday of Holy Week (March 26):
Isaiah 49: 1-7, Psalm 71: 1-14, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, John 12:20-36

Readings for the Wednesday of Holy Week (March 27):
Isaiah 50: 4-9a, Psalm 70, Hebrews 12: 1-3, John 13:21-32

Readings for Maundy Thursday (March 28):
Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10), 11-14, Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13: 1-17, 31b-35

Readings for Good Friday (March 29):
Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Psalm 22, Hebrews 10:16-25, John 18:1-19:42

Readings for Holy Saturday March 30):
Job 14:1-14, Psalm 31: 1-4, 15-16, 1 Peter 4:1-8, Matthew 27: 57-66

DEVOTIONAL RESOURCES:

ARTICLES

Some may recognize that our Preparing for Easter series is simply the season of Lent. Lent is more than just a practice of the Catholic church. It can have great meaning for evangelicals/protestants without being a obligation. Here is a selection of online articles about Lent, the meaning of Lent, and how to observe it both individually and as a family.

WEEKLY Preparing for Easter GUIDE

Interested in some practical ideas of spiritual disciples to do during these weeks? Then download this Weekly Lenten Guide. It contains a suggested spiritual discipline to practice for each day of the week with explanation and some Scriptures to ponder.