Lent & Easter with Shepherd
You’re invited to join us as we remember Jesus’ death and celebrate new life & hope through his resurrection!
Ash Wednesday
March 5, 5:00 & 7:00pm
In person & online
Lent Services
March 12, 19, 26, April 2, 9, 5:00pm, followed by soup supper
In person
Palm Sunday
April 13, 8:00, 9:15, 10:45am
In person & online
Maundy Thursday
April 17, 6:30pm
In person only, Last Supper experience in Community Center
Good Friday
April 18, 6:30pm
In person & online
Easter Services
Saturday, April 19
6:30pm
In person & online
Sunday, April 20
8:00*, 9:15, 10:45am | Sanctuary
In person & online
10:00am Family Service | Community Center
In person only
Kids are invited to worship with their families on Easter. sovKids Sundays will resume on April 27.
*Nursery for children 4 years and under is available for all Holy Week and Easter services except April 20 at 8:00am. A nursing room is also available at all services.
Lent Offering
Arrive Ministries
Since 1988, Arrive has resettled more than 12,000 refugees in Minnesota, providing essential services and practical assistance to refugees and immigrants to advance self-sufficiency.
As a Christian non-profit organization, Arrive mobilizes volunteers, in partnership with local churches, to extend love and friendship to our new neighbors to promote thriving in a new homeland.
As of January 2025, critical funding for 109 refugees Arrive is serving has stopped abruptly. Our financial gifts will provide essential services to our refugee neighbors beyond the 90 day gap in funding that was recently filled.
Will you stand in the GAP for these vulnerable neighbors in need of services and support?
G – Give resources and time as a volunteer
A – Advocate on behalf of refugee neighbors
P – Pray to our God, who loves the foreigner
Our 2024 Lenten practice includes a daily rhythm of multi-dimensional devotions for the six weeks before Easter. The theme, based on Libby Johnson’s spiritually formative resources (click on the daily image), is about cultivating something new to allow God to deepen our faith and walk with Him. Engage here daily and through worship on Wednesdays and Sundays and see what God cultivates in you in this season.
WEEK 6 | March 21
Prayer Walk:
Take time to walk outside today, returning to Jesus’ words in Matt 11:28-30.
Pray on this question: As I take on Jesus’s yoke and shed the yokes of the world, what feels different? WEEK 6 | March 22
Lectio Divina: Today we pray on 1 Peter 1:3-9. Read it three separate times with space for prayer and reflection in between each reading; in your first reading, find a word or phrase that sticks out to you. What is significant about it to you here and now? In your second reading, imagine Jesus speaking these words directly to you. How do they make you feel? In your third reading, ask yourself: What are the sources of rejoicing in your life? How do they, as gifts from God, keep you grounded even in times of great stress? WEEK 6 | March 23
Act of Creativity: Go on a prayer walk with your camera/phone and take pictures of what you notice. Scroll back through your photos and answer these questions: How did God awaken your attention? Did you discover anything new?
WEEK 6 | March 25
Breath Prayer: Read Psalm 23 today. Find a phrase for your breath prayer. As you exhale, whisper or say the words of the phrase. As you inhale, imagine that phrase taking root in various aspects of your day and in your interactions with those you encounter. WEEK 6 | March 26
Prayer of Examen: 1. Place yourself in God’s presence. Give thanks for God’s great love for you. 2. Pray for the grace to understand how God is acting in your life. 3. Review your day — recall specific moments and your feelings at the time. 4. Reflect on what you did, said, or thought in those instances. Were you drawing closer to God, or further away? 5. Look toward tomorrow — think of how you might collaborate more effectively with God’s plan. Be specific, and conclude with the “Lord’s Prayer”
Lent 2024
Week 1
WEEK 1 | Feb 15
Prayer Walk: Take time to walk outside today and listen to the words of Psalm 139 as you go. Pray on this question: How would God describe my identity?
WEEK 1 | Feb 16
Take some quiet moments today to read Philippians 3:8-10 three separate times with space for prayer and reflection in between each reading; in your first reading, find a word or phrase that sticks out to you. What is significant about it to you here and now? In your second reading, imagine Jesus speaking these words directly to you. How do they make you feel? In your third reading, ask yourself what things in my life am I placing over Jesus? Where are they hindering my capacity to live out of the identity that he has called me to?
WEEK 1 | Feb 17
Spend some time drawing or doodling all the identities/titles/roles that have been placed on you. As you do, pray a prayer of surrender so that each role falls under your identity as a son or daughter of God.
WEEK 1 | Feb 19
In your quiet space today, focus on your breathing. Choose one phrase from Psalm 139 that reminds you of your identity in Christ. With each slow breath in, repeat that phrase in prayer. With each breath out, offer the other identities that you listed before, or those you have tried on throughout your life. Repeat this several times, slowly and intentionally over the course of the next few minutes, while focusing on God’s presence with you.
WEEK 1 | Feb 20
Prayer of Examen: 1. Place yourself in God’s presence. Give thanks for God’s great love for you. 2. Pray for the grace to understand how God is acting in your life. 3. Review your day — recall specific moments and your feelings at the time. 4. Reflect on what you did, said, or thought in those instances. Were you drawing closer to God, or further away? 5. Look toward tomorrow — think of how you might collaborate more effectively with God’s plan. Be specific, and conclude with the “Lord’s Prayer”
Week 2
WEEK 2 | Feb 22
Prayer Walk: Take time to walk outside today and listen to the words of Psalm 1 as you go. Pray on this question: What season have I been in lately?
WEEK 2 | Feb 23
Take some quiet moments to read Matthew 11:28–30 three separate times with space for prayer and reflection in between each reading.
In your first reading, find a word or phrase that sticks out to you. What is significant about it to you here and now?
In your second reading, imagine Jesus speaking these words directly to you. How do they make you feel?
In your third reading, ask yourself what daily rhythms form the yoke you carry. Where are they ill-fitting or burdensome?
WEEK 2 | Feb 24
Haiku Meditation:
“Covered through winter.
Time to pull back what’s been veiled.
Seasons are changing.”
(Haiku: a 17 syllable poem with the purpose to slow down, become attentive to what is around you and distill your words to describe your surroundings or how God is leading you. The first line is 5 syllables, second line is 7 syllables and the third line is 5 again.)
Take a few moments to craft a haiku describing how God is leading you to rest and surrender today.
WEEK 2 | Feb 26
Breath Prayer
In your quiet space today, focus on your breathing. Choose one phrase from Matthew 11:28–30. With each slow breath in, repeat that phrase in prayer. With each breath out, offer the things in your heart that are not in alignment with Jesus’ yoke for you. Repeat this several times slowly and intentionally over the course of the next few minutes while focusing on God’s presence with you.
WEEK 2 | Feb 27
Prayer of Examen: 1. Place yourself in God’s presence. Give thanks for God’s great love for you. 2. Pray for the grace to understand how God is acting in your life. 3. Review your day — recall specific moments and your feelings at the time. 4. Reflect on what you did, said, or thought in those instances. Were you drawing closer to God, or further away? 5. Look toward tomorrow — think of how you might collaborate more effectively with God’s plan. Be specific, and conclude with the “Lord’s Prayer”
Week 3
WEEK 3 | Feb 29
Prayer Walk: Take time to walk outside today and listen to the words of Psalm 91 as you go. Pray on this question: Pray on this question: How has God covered you and been your refuge? WEEK 3 | Mar 1
Lectio Divina: Take some quiet moments today to read Mark 1:9-13 three separate times with space for prayer and reflection in between each reading. In your first reading, find a word or phrase that sticks out to you. What is significant about it to you here and now? In your second reading, imagine Jesus speaking these words directly to you. How do they make you feel? In your third reading, ask yourself in what ways the covering of God’s word – “You are my child, my cherished one, and my great delight is in you” – protects your identity in the realities of your daily life.
WEEK 3 | Mar 2
Act of Creativity: Create a word map of remembrance. On a blank piece of paper, write down any words that come to mind related to the theme this week “Covered” and times when God has been your refuge. See how the words are related to different seasons of your life and how God carried you through. WEEK 3 | Mar 4
Prayer Journaling: Take a few minutes today to write answers to the following questions and compose a prayer for the day.
- What has been lying dormant and is awakening in my life?
- Where do I find myself resisting or surrendering to pulling back the covering of the winter season?
- What new growth am I dreaming about with God?
- A garden’s topsoil has to be crumbled in order for new things to grow. What protective top layer of soil in my life needs to be crumbled to allow for new growth? What will it require of me?
WEEK 3 | Mar 5
Prayer of Examen: 1. Place yourself in God’s presence. Give thanks for God’s great love for you. 2. Pray for the grace to understand how God is acting in your life. 3. Review your day — recall specific moments and your feelings at the time. 4. Reflect on what you did, said, or thought in those instances. Were you drawing closer to God, or further away? 5. Look toward tomorrow — think of how you might collaborate more effectively with God’s plan. Be specific, and conclude with the “Lord’s Prayer”
Week 4
WEEK 4 | March 7
Prayer Walk: Take a walk today. As you do, reflect on these words from Psalm 19:1 “The heavens are telling the glory of God; they are a marvelous display of his craftsmanship.” Notice the beauty that God has created around you. What do you see, smell, hear, and feel that you can thank God for as you walk? Cultivate a sense of gratitude for all that you encounter. WEEK 4 | March 8
Lectio Divina: Take some quiet moments today to read Matt 13:1-9 three separate times with space for prayer and reflection in between each reading; in your first reading, find a word or phrase that sticks out to you. What is significant about it to you here and now? In your second reading, imagine Jesus speaking these words directly to you. How do they make you feel, which soils have you identified with in your life? In your third reading, ask yourself in what ways has God prepared the soil of my heart for what he wants to do in and through me? How can I cooperate with the turning over of soil in my heart? WEEK 4 | March 9
Act of Creativity: Plant a seed in a pot and think about ways the soil is a place of preparation for that seed to grow. Pray this prayer. “Lord may my own heart be prepared to be fertile soil for the seeds of your Word to grow.” WEEK 4 | March 11
Breath Prayer: In your quiet space today, focus on your breathing. Choose one phrase from Matt 13:1-9. With each slow breath in repeat that phrase in prayer. With each breath out offer the things in your heart that harden or distract the soil of your heart. WEEK 4 | March 12
Prayer of Examen: 1. Place yourself in God’s presence. Give thanks for God’s great love for you. 2. Pray for the grace to understand how God is acting in your life. 3. Review your day — recall specific moments and your feelings at the time. 4. Reflect on what you did, said, or thought in those instances. Were you drawing closer to God, or further away? 5. Look toward tomorrow — think of how you might collaborate more effectively with God’s plan. Be specific, and conclude with the “Lord’s Prayer”
Week 5
WEEK 5 | March 14
Prayer Walk: Take a walk today. As you do, reflect on Psalm 1. You can use the audio option in your digital bible app. As you go, reflect on the ways that God has planted you. How are you like a tree planted by streams of living water? How has God nurtured you? What fruit have you seen come from his care in your life? WEEK 5 | Mar 15
Lectio Divina:Take some quiet moments today to read Psalm 16:5-11 three separate times with space for prayer and reflection in between each reading; in your first reading, find a word or phrase that sticks out to you. What is significant about it to you here and now? In your second reading, imagine Jesus speaking these words directly to you. How do they make you feel? In your third reading, ask yourself in what does it mean for me to “bless the Lord?” What are the reasons in your life to do so? WEEK 5 | Mar 16
Haiku Meditation: Write a haiku in your own words about becoming ready for a new season. Use Psalm 16:5-11 for guidance if needed and rewrite one or more of the verses in haiku form.
(Haiku: a 17 syllable poem with the purpose to slow down, become attentive to what is around you and distill your words to describe your surroundings or how God is leading you. The first line is 5 syllables, second line is 7 syllables and the third line is 5 again.)
WEEK 5 | Mar 18
Breath Prayer: As you find a quiet space to pray today, be mindful of your breath, the rise and fall of your belly as you take deep breaths. Using the Haiku you wrote yesterday, with each breath repeat this as a prayer. WEEK 5 | Mar 19
Prayer of Examen: 1. Place yourself in God’s presence. Give thanks for God’s great love for you. 2. Pray for the grace to understand how God is acting in your life. 3. Review your day — recall specific moments and your feelings at the time. 4. Reflect on what you did, said, or thought in those instances. Were you drawing closer to God, or further away? 5. Look toward tomorrow — think of how you might collaborate more effectively with God’s plan. Be specific, and conclude with the “Lord’s Prayer”
