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Lenten Calendar 2011

March 15, 2011 by Sybil Macbeth 5 Comments Leave a Comment

Lent seems to be the time when I try to cram in a year’s worth of Bible study or prayer into 40 days. This year I decided to make my spiritual discipline small enough so I can “savor rather than stuff” as I described in my March 4th post. On Ash Wednesday I sat in church and listened to an exquisite musical version of Psalm 51 called Miserere Mei by Gregorio Allegri. Although it was sung in Latin, I followed along in English. For me, the words of Psalm 51 are some of the most beautiful and rich in the Bible. So Psalm 51 will be my Scripture focus for Lent this year.

Each day I choose a word from the Psalm and reflect on it in two ways. First I write the word on a piece of paper and start brainstorming. Everything that comes to my mind about the word ends up on the paper–whether it’s spiritual or silly. This stream-of-consciousness writing helps to clear my mind of everything I already know or perceive about the word. It makes room for my mind to receive something new about the word.

Then I write the word on my calendar and start to draw. This time I don’t consciously think about the word. I ask God to tell me what I need to hear. I listen to the word as it tells me new things about itself and I listen to God through the word. If I hear something new I write it down. This is a way of initiating a conversation with God using a single word from Scripture.

Below is the first week of my calendar and an example of what I did with one of the words: abundant. It has been a whole week and I’ve just started on verse 2 of the Psalm.

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm 51, NRSV)

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Filed Under: Praying in Color Tagged With: Lent, Lenten calendar, Psalm 51

Comments

  1. Melissa Fischer says

    March 16, 2011 at 7:18 am

    I LOVE this idea and how you immerse yourself in Scripture one word at a time. Thank you very much for sharing this.

    Reply
  2. Danae says

    March 16, 2011 at 2:25 pm

    I do love this! Sadly, I am stuffing myself this year instead of savoring. I will have to remember this next year.

    Reply
  3. Lael Swager says

    March 16, 2011 at 2:42 pm

    Sybil, I’m enjoying this Lenten Season this year as I use the Daily Lectionary and the Calendar. This is another great idea to use. Thanks. God’s Blessings To You. Lael

    Reply
  4. Ruth J Leamy says

    March 17, 2011 at 8:48 pm

    Today I prayed in color through St. Patrick’s prayer. Tomorrow I need to think more seriously about Lent.
    http://sacredsignposts.blogspot.com/2011/03/praying-in-color-on-st-patricks-day.html

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Lenten Calendar 2011–Final Weeks « Praying in Color says:
    April 22, 2011 at 9:06 pm

    […] is my final calendar for Lent. Some days I worked the program as I had planned–a full blown meditation and prayer on each word. Other days I chose a word and drew hastily with a scattered mind and spirit. In spite […]

    Reply

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