The season of Lent is an ideal time to find new and creative ways to grow in faith and one’s relationship with God and others. This Lent, we are delving into what it means to cultivate “the fruits of the Spirit,” (inspired by Galatians 5:22-23). Each week we will choose one of these Christian spiritual virtues and explore what it means to practice humility, gentleness, gratitude, generosity and service, patience, self-control. In Holy Week, we will look at love (Maundy Thursday), compassion (Good Friday) and joy (Easter).
This year, we hope you will make time to join these Lenten Adult Deepening activities:
Small Group Study: During Lent, United Parish worship services will be exploring Christian virtues such as humility, love, patience, joy, gratitude, self-control – the “Fruits of the Spirit” discussed in Galatians 5:22-23. Weekly Small Groups will explore how we can cultivate the Fruits of the Spirit in ourselves and as a church community.
Monday evenings, 7:30pm on Zoom, Contact: Deb Hall (adultdeepening@upbrookline.org)
Sunday afternoon, 20/30s Group at their regular time on Zoom 12:45-2:15pm. Contact: Katharine Henry (seminarian@upbrookline.org)
Sunday morning: our regular Drop-In Bible Study, 10-10:45am on Zoom. No prep necessary. Contact: Deb W. (biblestudy@upbrookline.org)
Lenten Study Archives
February 21: Humility
Post-Worship Questions for Consideration: Humility
Lenten Study Curriculum Packet: Week #1
February 28: Gentleness
Post-Worship Questions for Consideration: Gentleness
Lenten Study Curriculum Packet: Week #2
March 7: Gratitude
Post-Worship Questions for Consideration: Gratitude
Lenten Study Curriculum Packet: Week #3
March 14: Generosity and Service
Post-Worship Questions for Consideration: Generosity
Lenten Study Curriculum Packet: Week #4
March 21: Patience
Post-Worship Questions for Considertaion: Patience
Lenten Study Curriculum Packet: Week #5
March 28: Self-Control
Post-Worship Questions for Consideration: Self-Control
Lenten Study Curriculum Packet: Week #6
Mini-Prayer Retreat: “Leaning into Lent: Deepening Your Personal Prayer Practice”: A virtual mini-prayer retreat for the United Parish community. Sunday, February 21 from 4-6pm on Zoom. Please join us for a Lenten mini-prayer retreat, “Leaning into Lent; Deepening your personal prayer practice” via Zoom on Sunday, February 21 from 4-6pm. We will look at our own personal relationship to prayer, applying a spacious and inclusive definition of prayer in all of its beautiful and sacred manifestations. We will explore together how we might deepen our own personal prayer and contemplative practices during Lent, moving towards a more hope-full and inspired Easter. Lightly facilitated by Adam Sutton, United Parish member and ordained interfaith minister and coach. Gathering will be limited to no more than 15 participants, to allow for more intimate sharing and community-building.
Prayer Partners for Lent: One of the best ways to help us strengthen spiritually as a community and to ward off some loneliness during this continued pandemic is to have a prayer/conversation buddy. We strongly encourage you to try this. Please contact adultdeepening@upbrookline.org if you would like a Prayer Partner for Lent. We’ll pair you up with someone, or you can choose someone you know. Make a covenant with your Prayer Partner to connect at least 15 minutes each week of Lent by phone or in person. The Adult Deepening team will also provide Prayer Partners with a brief guide for ways you might get to know each other, and ways to try praying together or individually on behalf of the other.
Tuesday Lenten Dinner Church: 7pm-7:45pm on Zoom — February 23-March 23
During Lent, we invite you to join us on Tuesday evenings from February 23 through March 23 at 7pm for Lenten midweek worship on Zoom. Prepare your own meal at home and sit down with us for a worship service of prayer, contemplation and song. Dinner church is a postmodern return to an ancient worship model, just like what the early Christians did in their own homes. (This will replace the regular Tuesday Evening Prayers.) For more information, contact Seminarian Katharine Henry at seminarian@upbrookline.org or Associate Pastor Amy Norton at amy@upbrookline.org.
Morning Midweek Meditation – Thursdays from 8-8:30am via Zoom
If you are looking for a calming, caring congregational connection in the middle of your chaotic week, join Adam Sutton on Thursday mornings on Zoom. We will hold space for some simple prayer sharing and will offer a relaxing and centering guided meditation that will leave you relaxed and renewed, ready to move into the rest of your week. Sign up by contacting Adam Sutton at adultdeepening@upbrookline.org or find the Zoom information in the weekly newsletter.