Works of Love During Lent

The intention of this part of the Lenten Discipline is to connect our faith in God's love for us with actions that are loving of others in the world.

"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life" (John 3:16). Love is why Christ came. Love is why Christ died. Love is why God raised him from the dead. Love is the whole purpose and mission of the Church and of every Christian member: to show God's love in the world.

Consider one or more of these suggestions for this portion of your Lenten Discipline:

1. Use Matthew 25:31-40 and Luke 4:18-19 as guides for choosing to do a work of love.
2. Volunteer a portion of your time with a local service organization that serves the poor.
3. Offer to take a shut-in for errands or go for them.
4. Visit shut-in members of the church. Perhaps make something and take it as a gift (check on diet restrictions).
5. Ask the church's Social Ministry Committee or the pastor for suggestions of a needy place or person that could use your time, talent or treasure.
6. Contact your local government center and see if you could perform any kind of volunteer service for the community, such as picking up litter.
7. Go out of your way to do something nice for somebody at least once a week during Lent.
8. Make a donation for the needy through your church.
9. Contact a hospital, nursing home or prison about making visits. Especially see those who otherwise receive no visitors.
10. When doing your work of love, meditate upon Christ's words, “As you do it for the least of these, you do it for me” (Matt.25:40).

For more ideas about how to help the disabled during Lent, please see 10 Commandments of Disabilities.

Other topics in the Handbook Of Lent:

• An Invitation to Lent 
• What Is Lent?
• The Discipline of Lent
  • Lent and Repentance
  • Lent and Prayer
  • Lent and Fasting
  • Lent and Works of Love
  • Lent and Beginning Your Discipline
  • Lent and Keeping Your Discipline
• Lent And How To Make the Sign of the Cross
• Lent and Confession: Should I Go to Confession?
• How to Go to Confession During Lent
  • from Martin Luther's Small Catechism
• Lent and The Tradition of the Stations of the Cross
• Lent and The Triduum - The Three Sacred Days
  • Lent and Maundy Thursday
  • Lent and Good Friday
  • Lent and The Great Vigil of Easter
• Lent and Blessings over Food at Easter

Source: The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel - Evangelical Church in America

• Handbook For Lent - The Discipline of Lent
  • Handbook For Lent - Repentance
  • Handbook For Lent - Prayer
  • Handbook For Lent - Fasting
  • Handbook For Lent - Works of Love
  • Handbook For Lent - Beginning Your Discipline
  • Handbook For Lent - Keeping Your Discipline