Lent 2025 Readings/Theme & Worship Schedule

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Dear Gentle Folks,

As our Lenten season begins, we are reminded that these next 6 weeks we are called to reflect on our faith, celebrate our blessings and spend time renewing and rededicating our lives to God. I have included daily readings from the “Revised Common Lectionary” put together by Vanderbilt Divinity Library.

Holy Week

As we travel in our Lenten journey and move to Good Friday, we encourage folks to join us in our annual fast with the church. Our first took place 27 years ago. And for at least the last seventeen years we have attempted to make our fast more focused on the work God would have us do as a ministry and fellowship.

This year’s Lenten theme comes out the Broadway play and then movie; “Auntie Mame” and this wonderful observation: “Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!”  How is we can have all these blessings and yet feel like we are starving.

Some of that will be discussed in our weekly Lenten (Bible) study as we look at the book of Esther and then the temptations of Jesus.

The phrase “Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death” rings as both a challenge and an invitation. It suggests that abundance surrounds us, yet so many fail to grasp it. During the season of Lent, this sentiment takes on profound meaning, inviting us to reflect not only on the spiritual banquet we are offered but also on how systems of power, greed, and fear keep so many literally and metaphorically “starving.” With the stories of Esther in the Old Testament and the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness, we see two windows into abundance, sacrifice, and justice, even when the world tempts us to live otherwise.

The story of Esther is a quintessential moment of abundance concealed in scarcity. Esther, a Jewish woman, rises to become queen in an empire where her identity makes her an outsider. When her people face extermination under Haman’s plot, she is thrust into a dangerous position—to risk everything by approaching the king uninvited, an act that could lead to her death.

At first, Esther hesitates, embodying the fear of scarcity we all sometimes feel. It’s the fear that we lack enough courage, enough strength, enough resources to challenge injustice. But Mordecai’s words echo through time as a reminder that abundance—the kind of abundance that saves lives—often lies in taking risks for others. “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)

Esther eventually hosts not one but two feasts, where she courageously speaks truth to power. These banquets are not just literal meals; they symbolize the spiritual and moral abundance found in courage and solidarity. Esther’s story reminds us that there is enough courage and collective power within us to stand against oppression. Yet so often, we remain “starving” for justice because fear convinces us otherwise.

Her actions resonate today as a call to progressive Christians and social justice advocates to step into moments of discomfort, to speak out even when it feels risky. The banquet of justice and solidarity is always waiting to be prepared, but we must be willing to show up, even at great personal cost.

So, when Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness, there could hardly be a better image of scarcity. Alone, hungry, and exhausted, he is tempted by evil thoughts three times. Each temptation is an invitation to grasp at a false kind of abundance—power, safety, and satisfaction that come at the cost of faithfulness. Turn stones into bread. Throw yourself from the temple and force God’s hand in saving you. Bow down and rule the world.

But Jesus resists, not because abundance is bad, but because these offers reflect the cheap, hollow versions of abundance the world often provides. The banquet God offers is radically different. It is not about hoarding power but sharing it. Not about exploiting the vulnerable but lifting them up. His response reminds us that true abundance is rooted in trust and care for others. “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

The temptations of Jesus mirror the temptations we face in modern systems. How often do we settle for wealth that extracts from others, security that ignores injustice, or power gained at the expense of the marginalized? Jesus’ resistance invites us to reject these illusions and instead trust that God’s abundance is enough—not just for us, but for everyone.

Both Esther and Jesus challenge us to rethink what abundance means. Esther shows us that abundance isn’t about having power for oneself but using it for others. Jesus reminds us that abundance isn’t found in shortcuts or exploitation but in faith, community, and justice.

Yet many of us are starving—not for lack of abundance, but because systems of oppression and individual greed convince us there isn’t enough to go around. The modern world thrives on the myth of scarcity. Capitalism tells us there’s not enough wealth to ensure everyone’s basic needs are met. Racism feeds the false narrative that opportunity and dignity must be zero-sum. The climate crisis unfolds because we insist resources are infinite while denying them to the most vulnerable.

Lent holds a mirror to these myths. It calls us to confront the ways we sit at the banquet of God’s creation yet allow others to starve, both spiritually and physically. It asks us to fast, not just to deny ourselves but to awaken to the abundance we overlook and hoard.

For progressive Christians and social justice advocates, the season of Lent isn’t just about personal reflection; it’s a call to action. If we believe life is a banquet, then ensuring no one is left starving is central to our faith. This means dismantling the systems that keep people hungry, marginalized, and excluded from the table.

  • Advocacy and Solidarity: Like Esther, we are called to use any power or privilege we have to advocate for those who are denied access to life’s abundance. Whether that’s fighting for living wages, healthcare, or confronting racism, every action sets another place at the table.
  • Faithful Resistance: Like Jesus, we must resist the temptations of power that exclude the vulnerable. The church itself must examine how it can model abundance—not through lavish cathedrals or accumulation of resources, but through radical generosity and inclusion.
  • Living Abundantly Together: The body of Christ is a community built on shared abundance. What would it look like if every church became a hub of shared resources, mutual aid, and grassroots action? This is the banquet God calls us to.

Lent is a time of paradox. We fast, but we prepare for the feast. We confront our brokenness, but we hope for resurrection. If life is a banquet and so many are starving, this season pushes us to ask hard questions about who has been excluded from the table—and what we can do to change that.

Esther’s courage set her table for justice. Jesus’ resistance to shallow promises pointed us toward the true feast of God’s kingdom. Now, it’s our turn. Will we create a world where everyone has a seat at the banquet? Or will we leave others starving while we hoard abundance?

The table is set. All are invited. The question now is, how will we make room?

Church Fast:

With that in mind we are setting aside Easter weekend to put ourselves aside and concentrate on God, to allow God to speak with each of us and to all of us as a church. Our church will start (as mentioned) our period of fasting and prayer at Good Friday services April 18th  at 7pm with First Christian Church of Decatur and end it at our Easter (Resurrection Sunday) Sunrise Service at on April 20th at 7:00 AM in Candler Park, picnic Pavilion 2.

If this is your first fast or have concerns or questions about how to do a fast, you can find that information in the website. If you have questions, feel free to call me at the office and we can chat.

Our Holy Week schedule:

  • Maundy Thursday Service on April 17th at 7:00pm at First Christian Church of Decatur, with FCCD.
  • Good Friday Service on April18th at 7pm with First Christian Church of Decatur at the foot of the Cross on the front lawn.
  • Holy Saturday Fasting and Prayer on April 19th from 10am-1:00pm in Candler Park, near picnic Pavilion 2.

We will spend the time focusing on, Esther’s courage setting her table for justice. Jesus’ resistance to shallow promises pointed us toward the true feast of God’s kingdom. Will we create a world where everyone has a seat at the banquet? Or will we leave others starving while we hoard abundance?

The table is set. All are invited. The question now is, how will we make room?

  • Easter (Resurrection Sunday) Sunrise Service on April 20th at 7:00 AM in Candler Park, picnic Pavilion 2, followed by a potluck breakfast cookout.
  • Easter Sunday Celebration Service on April 20th at 10:25 AM with First Christian Church of Decatur, in their main sanctuary.
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