We’re delighted to be sharing news of the Church of England’s 2018 Lent campaign and resources for churches.
#LiveLent – Let your light shine is a Lent journey through the Gospel of John, offering a short daily reading, a pause for reflection and prayer and a challenge to act. We’re working closely with the Thy Kingdom Come team as part of this key moment in the Christian year.
It is written in simple and accessible language by John Kiddle, Archdeacon of Wandsworth, and includes an introduction from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, who say:
“These Lent reflections take you on a journey through the Gospel of John and give you an opportunity to explore what the gift of Jesus and the challenge of Jesus mean for you, in the context of your daily life.
“God offers us life for the sake of others. The light he gives us in Jesus Christ is not to be hidden but to shine – it’s a gift to be lived and shared. Indeed, the more we share it and let it shine, the brighter it burns.”
A weekly five-session Lent course that can be run in conjunction or separately to the daily Let your light shine material will also be available as part a range of downloadable materials to support churches.
The aim in 2018 is to be as joined up as possible and encourage people to journey from Lent and Easter into Pentecost and Thy Kingdom Come.
The full range of #LiveLent resources and activities will include:
- Full-colour printed book #LiveLent: Let Your Light Shine from Church House Publishing, which can be ordered here. They are available in bulk or as single copies
- Daily reflections – a daily discipleship journey through Lent from the Gospel of John, and a weekly Lent course based on these themes
- App for Android and iOS (available late January) including all daily reflections material
- Social media graphics from the national Church of England accounts to share on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
- E-mail and text signups – which proved very popular over Advent and Christmas for #GodWithUs
- Additional downloadable resources, including the five group sessions based on the themes/synopsis of booklet. We also have logos and other resources available on our website.
Our prayer is that these resources help you and your church to walk the Lent journey and bring you closer to Jesus, who offers abundant life to all who journey with him.
Adrian Harris is Head of Digital Communications and Thomas Allain Chapman is Head of Publishing at the Church of England