Welcome back to Lent! As always, it has been my honor and joy to edit this book; and once again, you came through for me – and for each other! Not only did I have enough devotions to cover the forty days, I could even cover most of the Sundays with original devotions! (On a possibly interesting side note, I believe this is the first of our books of the modern era not including anything from Charles Wesley.)
I had wondered if the pandemic lockdown would still be a topic for devotions but, based on your writings, it appears we are largely over it. We got submissions from several new writers to go along with many of our long-time stalwarts, a few from our brothers and sisters at College Grove UMC in Tennessee, a couple from a long-time writer who had gone missing in recent years, and even a few posthumous submissions. It really was great to have so many new voices share their thoughts, time, insights, and witness with our church family as we make our slow but sure journey toward the glory of Easter Sunday.
Next – as so often happens – an overall theme seemed to emerge as I collected and arranged the contributions. This year the theme wasn’t really COVID-related. It wasn’t anything like “Dealing with Frustration” “Who was that masked man?” “What I want for Christmas” or anything like that. No, it was God surprising us with blessings, nudges, direction. A thread of Providence weaves through our book, and reminds us we need to pay attention to what God is doing in our lives and in our world.
It’s pretty amazing. I don’t know how these “themes” appear each year (Maybe I do: it’s the Holy Spirit prompting us to write on what our readers will need!), but still, I am always comforted and excited when they do.
Now, as we have each year since reviving this Lenten tradition, we repeat the introduction from our congregation's first book of devotions, published in 1974:
Keeping a true Lent requires us to be vigilant in many ways: in prayer, study, worship, sacrifice, giving, meditation, and fellowship.Again, we can but say, “Amen.”
One or all may take precedence, depending upon our daily commitments.
From these devotions, lovingly prepared, may you find a well spring of faith to renew and sustain you, so that the Glorious Triumph that is Easter will remain with you always.
The Lenten Committee
Charlie van Becelaere, Editor
