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This Lent, the house is participating by making use of three “Lent Jars” as described below:
Lent Jar #1: Pray. This jar is for hopes, wishes, desires, needs, dreams, or anything else you wish to speak to the Lord. These prayers are between you and God alone, so fold them up tight unless you deliberately wish to share. The jar is curvy (like us!) and wide open to the heart of Heaven. On Good Friday, we will bury these prayers in the ground, trusting the God who can raise the dead will hear and answer each one.
Lent Jar #2: Quit. This is our fasting jar for the irritations, hurts, anxieties, and even deep wounds we’d like to give up – or maybe even those we have grown so accustomed to that we forget that they are not our friends. We know that sometimes expressing them and leaving them somewhere else can be helpful. The jar is narrow-necked and equipped with a lid to remind us not to go grabbing back the stuff we don’t need. Fold your notes up tight or tear them into tiny shreds – whatever helps you most. On Holy Saturday we will burn them.
Lent Jar #3: Give. The Church asks us to use Lent to “give alms” – which can mean giving cash to those in need but can also mean giving in some other way. Let’s use this jar to write it down any time we notice anyone else in the house doing something generous, admirable, impressive, kind, or brave. The actions of the other person are a type of giving. The action of you noticing and writing it down is a type of giving too! The jar is a reminder that we are always called to be filled up and poured out for others. Fold or roll these papers gently, because on Easter Sunday, we will take them out and read each one aloud, celebrating joys big and small.