Journey Through Lent

Addressing hunger in its many forms [Click here to download Week One activities as a PDF]

• DAY 1: Scripture reflection
  • Read John 6:35 and reflect on what it means to be generous with food and resources.
  • Reflection questions:
    • Jesus provided food for the hungry but also pointed to a deeper kind of nourishment. What do you think it means to “never go hungry” or “never be thirsty” in a spiritual sense?
    • How does physical hunger affect a person’s ability to grow, learn, and thrive? How might spiritual hunger affect someone in a similar way?
    • In what ways can we help address both physical and spiritual hunger in our community and beyond?
• DAY 2: Personal reflection & journaling
  • How does hunger affect me?
  • Reflect on moments when you’ve felt hunger—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual.
  • Consider the role food plays in your daily life: How do you access it? How does it impact your well-being?
  • Journal Prompt: Write about a time when you were truly hungry (for food, connection, or meaning). What did it feel like, and what helped satisfy that hunger?
• DAY 3: Group testimony
  • As a group/congregation, discuss food insecurity in your local area. Who is most affected, and what challenges do they face?
    • Research statistics on hunger in your region and share what you learn.
    • Group Activity: Identify a local food bank, school meal program, or soup kitchen and explore how they address food insecurity.
  • Explore hunger on a global scale—what factors contribute (poverty, climate change, conflict)?
    • Read Lucio’s Story to learn how hunger affects children’s education and future.
    • Discussion Question: How does food insecurity prevent people from reaching their full potential?
• DAY 4: Personal and collective action
  • Personal Action: 
    • Fast from one meal and reflect on the experience.
    • Donate food or funds to a hunger relief program, like CLWR’s Gifts of Food
  • Community Action:
    • Organize a food drive for a local food pantry or school program.
    • Write to policymakers urging stronger food security policies.
• DAY 5: Prayer and commitment
  • Pray for those experiencing physical and spiritual hunger, that they may find nourishment, hope, and support.
  • Pray also for those working to provide food and for guidance in how we can be part of this work.
  • Commitment Challenge: What is one action you will take this week to be more mindful of hunger?

Holding space for a life without fear [Click here to download Week Two activities as a PDF]

• DAY 1: Scripture reflection
  • Read Psalm 46:1 and reflect on what it means for God to be a ‘refuge’ in times of trouble.
  • Reflection questions:
    • What kind of support do we seek when we feel unsafe?
    • How does a lack of safety—whether from violence, displacement, or insecurity—impact a person’s well-being?
    • In what ways can we help create safe spaces in our homes, communities, and the world?
• DAY 2: Personal reflection & journaling
  • Reflect on times when you have felt safe and protected. What contributed to that feeling?
  • Have you ever experienced a time when you felt unsafe or vulnerable? How did that impact you?
  • Journal Prompt: Write about a person or place that has made you feel truly safe. How can you help others feel that same sense of security?
• DAY 3: Group testimony
  • As a group/congregation, discuss the prevalence of gender-based violence in communities worldwide. Who is most at risk, and why?
    • Group Activity: Research local or global organizations that support survivors of violence and help restore dignity and security.
    • Explore hunger on a global scale—what factors contribute (poverty, climate change, conflict)?
      • Read Jennifer’s Story and reflect on the importance of providing safe spaces for survivors of violence.
      • Discussion Question: What societal barriers prevent people—especially women and girls—from living safely? How can we help remove them?
• DAY 4: Personal and collective action
  • Personal Action: 
    • Donate to or volunteer at a local women’s shelter, crisis centre, or hotline service.
    • Take time to learn about the warning signs of violence and ways to support someone who may be experiencing abuse.
  • Community Action:
    • Write to policymakers asking for policies that protect survivors of violence and strengthen legal protections for those at risk.
    • Organize a community awareness campaign to educate others about gender-based violence and personal safety.
• DAY 5: Prayer and commitment
  • Pray for all who live in fear or danger, especially survivors of violence, that they may find safety, healing, and justice.
  • Pray also for those who work to provide protection and support, that they may be strengthened in their mission.
  • Commitment Challenge: What is one action you will take this week to help create a safe space for those in your community?

Nurturing resilience in a world of uncertainty [Click here to download Week Three activities as a PDF]

• DAY 1: Scripture reflection
  • Read Psalm 34:18 and reflect on what it means to be “crushed in spirit.”
  • Reflection questions:
    • Why is it important to acknowledge and express our struggles rather than suppress them? What helps us open up about our pain, and what makes it difficult to do so?
    • How do we tend to cope when we feel overwhelmed, anxious, or brokenhearted? In what ways do we experience God’s presence during difficult times? How can we create space for that presence in moments of distress?
    • In what ways can we embody God’s nearness for others who are struggling with their mental health?
• DAY 2: Personal reflection & journaling
  • How does technology, by keeping us constantly connected yet often disengaged from real-life relationships, influence our sense of belonging and emotional well-being?
  • While technology keeps us constantly informed, it can also amplify feelings of helplessness in the face of global crises. How does the awareness of suffering and injustice elsewhere affect our ability to maintain hope?
  • What activities help you feel grounded and calm? How do you integrate those practices into your daily routine?
  • Journal Prompt: Write about a time when someone’s kindness or presence made a difference in your mental well-being. How can you offer that same support to someone else?
• DAY 3: Group testimony
  • As a group/congregation, discuss the importance of mental health in your community. Who is most affected by mental health struggles, and what barriers prevent people from seeking support?
    • Group Activity: Research common challenges people face in accessing mental health resources in your region. Identify local mental health programs, crisis support services, or community spaces that provide care for those dealing with trauma, anxiety, or emotional distress. Explore how they support mental well-being and how faith communities can complement their efforts.
  • Explore mental health on a global scale—how do factors like conflict, displacement, and trauma impact well-being?
    • Read Helping Children Cope with Trauma to learn how Ukrainian children are navigating the emotional toll of war and displacement.
    • Discussion Question: How do uncertainty, disrupted routines, and exposure to violence affect children’s well-being? What role does community, faith, and structure play in their healing?
• DAY 4: Personal and collective action
  • Personal Action: 
    • Take one intentional step today to care for your mental well-being, whether through mindful breathing, spending time in nature, engaging in a creative hobby, or finding comfort in caring for a pet.
    • Make a small change in your digital habits—try limiting doomscrolling, turning off notifications, or spending more time in real-world interactions instead of screens.
    • Be mindful of how you speak about mental health—choose words of understanding rather than judgment.
  • Community Action:
    • Create a Well-Being Corner in your church or community space as a quiet place for reflection, support, and renewal. Stock it with mental health resources, faith-based reflections, and local support information, along with interactive elements like prayer request cards and uplifting messages.
    • Support mental health initiatives that provide children affected by war, trauma, and displacement with counselling, safe spaces, and emotional healing, such as those facilitated by CLWR.
• DAY 5: Prayer and commitment
  • Pray for those struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, and other mental health challenges that they may find comfort, healing, and hope.
  • Pray for mental health professionals, caregivers, counsellors, and all who walk alongside those in need of healing.
  • Commitment Challenge: This week, check in with someone who may be struggling—whether by sharing a comforting resource, offering to help with a small task, or simply being present for them.

Honouring the truth of our unique inherent worth [Click here to download Week Four activities as a PDF]

• DAY 1: Scripture reflection
  • Read Psalm 139:14 and consider what being “fearfully and wonderfully made” truly means.
  • Reflection questions:
    • How might genuinely recognizing yourself as God’s creation radically transform the way you view yourself?
    • Where do you find your strongest sense of identity—family, faith, culture, talents, or something else? In what ways do these elements inspire or hold you back from confidently embracing who God created you to be?
    • When your sense of self-worth is tested, how does knowing that you were intentionally and uniquely crafted by God give you strength and clarity?
    • How might embracing the diverse facets of our identities—such as our culture, race, or abilities—allow us to more fully understand and celebrate the intentional diversity of God’s creation?
• DAY 2: Personal reflection & journaling
  • Reflect on a time when you felt truly confident and comfortable with who you are. What truth or experience sparked that powerful sense of identity, and how can you hold onto that feeling more consistently?
  • What aspects of your identity do you deeply value? How do these reveal your unique purpose or calling?
  • Think about how your identity has evolved over time. Which life events or key relationships have challenged, enriched, or reshaped your understanding of who you truly are?
  • Consider aspects of your identity that are beyond your control, such as your cultural background or family history. How have you wrestled with or embraced these in shaping your authentic self?
  • Journal Prompt: Imagine viewing yourself through God’s eyes—fully loved, purposefully designed, and uniquely gifted. Write openly about the aspects of your identity you’d celebrate or see differently from this divine perspective. How might embracing this viewpoint change how you live each day?
• DAY 3: Group testimony
  • As a group/congregation, discuss what influences shape our sense of identity—family, culture, faith, life experiences. When have these influences empowered us, and when have they caused us to doubt or question our worth?
    • Group Activity: Actively identify key struggles around identity and self-worth in your local community, especially among youth and young adults. Share powerful examples or personal stories about individuals who’ve boldly reclaimed their confidence or sense of self. Discuss specifically what actions, insights, or support helped them in their journey toward clarity and self-acceptance.
  • Explore identity on a global scale—how do location and cultural values, such as individualism vs. collectivism, influence the way people understand and prioritize self-discovery?
    • Watch the video Iqbal’s Story to learn how she challenged cultural barriers and societal expectations to define her identity and reclaim her sense of self-worth.
    • Discussion Questions: How does society often try to assign specific identities or roles to us (for example, women are good homemakers)? How might these predefined labels affect our sense of self-worth and identity? Why can it be difficult to move beyond the labels or expectations others place upon us? How can faith and community help in embracing our authentic selves?
• DAY 4: Personal and collective action
  • Personal Action: 
    • Spend some time reflecting on and honouring your strengths, gifts, and experiences. Write them down, considering how they uniquely empower you and shape who you are.
    • Do one thing outside routine that truly expresses your authentic self—create, serve, or immerse yourself in an activity that deeply affirms your identity.
    • Identify a stereotype or label you’ve been carrying that limits your sense of worth. Actively challenge it this week by doing something meaningful that truly expresses who you are.
    • Intentionally uplift someone by sincerely acknowledging an often-overlooked strength or quality in them that you sincerely admire, reinforcing their confidence in who they are.
  • Community Action:
    • Create an appreciation wall in your church or community space inviting members to share empowering messages or scriptures affirming each person’s inherent worth as God’s creation.
    • Host a storytelling night in your community or congregation, where people share experiences or journeys about discovering their identity and finding confidence. Bring together community members of different ages and backgrounds to discuss how identity and self-worth evolve through life and faith.
    • Actively champion or partner with local programs dedicated to empowering young people in developing authentic confidence, self-worth, and a healthy sense of identity rooted in community, faith, and self-discovery.
    • Organize an art or creative expression project, encouraging participants to visually or creatively explore and celebrate their unique identities and gifts.
• DAY 5: Prayer and commitment
  • Pray for those, especially young people, whose struggles with self-worth lead them toward despair or hopelessness—that they may find the support and inspiration they need to believe they are deeply valued, profoundly loved, and have a meaningful role in the world.
  • Pray for mentors, parents, counsellors, and leaders—that they may offer steady guidance, deep compassion, and the wisdom needed to help others see their own strength and potential.
  • Commitment Challenge: Seek out and initiate an authentic conversation with someone whose life experiences or identity differ significantly from yours—aim to genuinely listen, thoughtfully connect, and learn from their perspective to expand your understanding and appreciation.