Lent 2021: Dust To Love

Jesus was once asked, “What is the most important commandment?” And he responded with what has been called “The Jesus Creed” (for a great study on this, check out Scot McKnight’s book The Jesus Creed):

‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:29-31)

In this season of Lent we are reminded that God’s love transforms us from people who are mortal and frail (DUST) to people who become like Jesus and live as Jesus lived (as a person of LOVE). So each week, with the first week starting on Feb 22, we invite you to love as Jesus loved, with an emphasis on a different part of the Jesus Creed.

Week 1 (Feb 22): Love God with all your heart
Week 2 (Mar 1): Love God with all your soul
Week 3 (Mar 8): Love God with all your mind
Week 4 (Mar 15): Love God with all your strength
Week 5 (Mar 22): Love your neighbour
Week 6 (Mar 29): Love yourself

We’ve made this resource as a downloadable PDF to love God and love your neighbour as yourself.

Each week will have a short description of what that means, and how you can practice. And some practices include loving God with your soul through gratitude and thanking God aloud each day for God’s gifts. Loving God with your strength by going on daily prayer walk. Or loving your neighbour by serving others and showing hospitality.

As with all the practices here at the Tapestry: It’s invitation, not coercion. So don’t feel like we’re forcing you to do this. You aren’t less of a disciple if you don’t do these.

But again, the great gift of the church calendar, is that it offers a time of communal focus and formation. All around the world right now, God’s church is entering this season of Lent. And so we wanted to offer some direction to guide you into it. Feel free to adapt these as your own so they fit your lifestyle and rhythms. And we invite you to practice these with others as well.

So Tapestry Church, may you go forth alive in Jesus Christ, with him transforming you from the inside out, so that you too can become love. To love God and to love your neighbour as yourself.

And may grace and peace be with you,
every step of the way.
Amen.