Episcopal Relief & Development
Lenten Meditations Ask,
‘Who is My Neighbor?’
According to The Book of Common Prayer, Lent provides us with the opportunity for self-examination, repentance, prayer, fasting and self-denial; and to read and meditate on God’s holy word (BCP, p 265).
This Lenten Season, Episcopal Relief & Development invites you to join us as we meditate on the commandment to love our neighbor and consider the meaning of this fundamental instruction in our daily lives.
A note about the Sunday Reflections in this book
As you may know, Sundays are not counted as days of Lent. During the Lenten season, however, we worship and reflect on scripture each Sunday, and this collection of Lenten Meditations will offer the same opportunity. As with our previous publications of Lenten Meditations, the following meditations cover every day of the week except Sunday. New this year, each Sunday, we will list the lectionary readings for the day and share a reflection on a prominent theme raised in each one. We invite you to use these reflections as a prompt for journaling, prayer or deeper learning. We will also share a link to a video of Episcopal Relief & Development’s work that resonates with the theme. You can use the video and reflection on your own, with friends, or in a church group for deeper study.
Suggested format for a group study
◊ Open with prayer
◊ Read one of the passages of scripture from Sunday’s lectionary
Use the Lectio Divina style of bible study:
Read the passage aloud a first time. Following the reading, each person shares a word or phrase that resonated for them.
Then read the
passage aloud a second time.
Following the second reading, each person describes how
that word or phrase is speaking to the ear of their heart.
OR use another bible study method
Play the video for the week
Break into small groups to discuss the questions listed on the Sunday page
Come back as a larger group to ask:
• What were the highlights from your group discussion?
• What parallels do you see between the video and discussion and the scripture we read?
◊ Close with prayer
In addition to a downloadable booklet, this year’s meditations will also be available online at episcopalrelief.org/lent. New meditations will be posted each Sunday and readers will be invited to share their responses to weekly reflection questions related to each theme. As in past years, supporters may also subscribe to receive daily emails as well.
The Rev. Robin Denney, a parish priest and former missionary focused on agricultural development in Liberia and South Sudan, wrote this year’s meditations. Robin’s reflections are poignant and personal and challenge the reader to consider the question, “Who is my neighbor?”
Relief & Development invites Episcopalians and people of all faith backgrounds to reflect on the question “Who is My Neighbor?” this Lent through the 2023 Lenten Meditations. This year’s reflections are written by the Rev. Robin Denney, rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Napa, California.