A Lenten Journey of Reflection, Action, and Hope
Lent is a season of reflection, repentance, and renewal—a time in the Lutheran tradition to turn our hearts toward God, deepen our faith, and live out Christ’s call to love and serve our neighbours. At a time when many are feeling spiritually weary—amid division, suffering, and uncertainty—the need for connection and faith-rooted action has never been greater. So we invite you to come along with us on a Lenten journey of reflection, action and hope as we explore the fundamental challenges that unite our shared experiences and shape our collective future.
Each week, we will focus on a theme—Hunger, Safety, Well-Being, Identity, Loss, Community, Nature and Faith—and reflect on how these issues shape our lives, our communities, and our world. Through scripture, discussion, and action, we will consider how God calls us to respond with justice, compassion, and hope. As we prepare for Easter, may this journey renew our hearts, strengthen our faith, and inspire us to be agents of change, embodying Christ’s love in the world.
Week One: Hunger
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?
- As a group/congregation, discuss food insecurity in your local area. Who is most affected, and what challenges do they face?
- 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.
- Personal Action:
- 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?
Week Two: Safety
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?
- As a group/congregation, discuss the prevalence of gender-based violence in communities worldwide. Who is most at risk, and why?
- 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.
- Personal Action:
- 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?
Week Three: Well-being
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?
- 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?
- 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.
- Personal Action:
- 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.