On March 5, 2025, Lent began once again. Thus commenced a new season of reflection, sacrifice, and service that guides Christians across the world into the new life of the resurrection.
There are many ways to celebrate Lent, such as fasting, service, worship, and prayer. While we are called to observe these practices, it is also important to consider what other ways we might give new life to Lent itself. Consider, when was the last time you observed Lent in a new way? Welcomed a new tradition? Expanded what prayer and service meant to you?
As you contemplate the role Lent plays in your life during this season, here are just a few ways that stewards of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Editon have breathed new life into their congregations during the Lenten season.
Communal Visio Divina –
Visio Divina exercises, the practice of contemplating and praying over a work of sacred art such as The Saint John’s Bible, are a phenomenal way to consider a familiar story in a new light. We invite you to take part in the Heritage Program’s Lenten Visio Divina for the illumination Valley of the Dry Bones. The Resurrection, The Raising of Lazarus, The Suffering Servant, Milkweed and Butterfly and The Crucifixion are other great illuminations to pray over if you are seeking to build upon this practice.
Share it With Other Communities –
Art – especially sacred art – is meant to be experienced together. Plus, it can be an amazing way to start conversations and build relationships between your community and others.
Take it from one faith community, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which shared its Heritage Edition with more than 62 external groups in its first year with the Heritage Edition. St. Michael’s has brought The Saint John’s Bible to libraries, galleries, and even a nearby correctional facility. The parish also shared its Heritage Edition with other Episcopal parishes during the annual Colorado Diocesan Convention. A local financial planning firm also arranged a time to experience The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition at St. Michael’s.
“Our community has embraced that this Bible is not just for us. So, for today, we are focused on how we can be good stewards of this gift – in caring for it and sharing it with those beyond our walls,” said The Rev. Matt Holcombe. “That is the question we seek to answer, ‘How can we, as a community who has this amazing gift of The Saint John’s Bible, feed others?”
Click here to read more about the Heritage Edition at St. Michael’s.
Read from the Gospel –
During the Lenten season and other important Christian holidays, many stewards of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition have found new and creative ways to proclaim the Gospel. St. Michael’s, for example, reads from the Gospels & Acts volume of the Heritage Edition each Sunday service for the four weeks leading up to Easter.
St. John’s Episcopal Church in Tallahassee, Florida, even hosted a 72-hour Scripture reading from the Heritage Edition. The event was public and seekers could come and go as they pleased.
Host a Meal –
Many Christians choose to abstain from meat or other foods during Lent. Take stock of the restrictions in your community and host a community meal to find closeness and foster connection during this season. As a plus, have the Heritage Edition there as a conversation starter. If you don’t have access to a Heritage Edition, consider partnering with a local community or even printing out digital versions of illuminations to contemplate together as you eat.
Worship and Prayer –
On Easter and all Holy Days leading up to it, many faith communities use the Heritage Edition as a vital component to worship and prayer. Pepperdine University, for example, opened its Heritage Edition to The Crucifixion Illumination on Good Friday.
“Opening The Saint John’s Bible to Donald Jackson’s illumination of the crucifixion of Christ, we contemplated the beautiful art: the deep purple of the torn temple veil, the blazing gold of the fully divine and yet fully human Christ crucified, and the earthy brown scene of his disciples gathered at the foot of the cross,” said Lucy Perrin, Director and Archivist for the Rushford Center for Research and Churches of Christ Heritage Collection. “The full import of Good Friday began to descend on us. How do we sit in the reality of the crucifixion in preparation for Easter?”
Click here to read more about the Heritage Edition at Pepperdine University.
Make Art –
There is already so much art out there that was inspired by The Saint John’s Bible – fromEpiscopal Church of the Transfiguration’s Children’s Bible, Canterbury Cathedral’s special bookmark for the Heritage Edition that debuted during Easter Sunday, composer Maureen Briare’s hymn inspired by the illumination To The Ends of the Earth, and more.
However, your artistic ambitions don’t have to be quite as sophisticated. Take some inspiration from the Diocese of Hamilton in Ontario, where Coordinator of The Saint John’s Bible Bridget Ker worked with the Diocese’s children to create ornaments with printed-out illuminations. In another project, students used the Heritage Edition to inspire their own calligraphy projects.
An Invitation: Share Your Reflections
We invite you to share your Lenten activities with us on social media. Share a photo and tag @SaintJohnsBible on Twitter (X), Facebook (Meta), and Instagram to potentially be featured on The Saint John’s Bible social platforms.
The Saint John’s Bible: Contemplate the Divine
To read more stories similar to this one, visit the Heritage Program blog and subscribe to the monthly e-newsletter, Sharing the Word.