Lent

We often have difficulty slowing down. Our lives are full of busyness. We are on our phones or other devices almost constantly. We rarely find an opportunity to "unplug." The culture around us tells us that the busier we are, the more success we achieve. And, on the rare chance we do take a break, we often are left feeling guilty about it or, at least nagged by a sense of being left out and falling behind.

Somewhere along the way, we can easily lose touch with God. Yes, God remains present even if we don't notice, but our inattention to the divine presence will eventually leave us feeling worn out and empty. All of our activities and the many achievements we say we enjoy begin to be unsatisfying. We sense something is missing. But what?

The season of Lent gives us opportunities for self-examination, prayer, reading the Bible, and fasting. We learn our limitations during Lent. Realizing that "we came from dust and to dust we shall return" humbles us so that we move closer toward God. As we continue the journey, our lives stop being filled with busyness that drains us and instead opens us to the possibilities that God offers us.

Our Lenten calendar provides ways to help you focus on scripture reading and prayers during the weeks ahead. We will also have a service opportunity that you can do at home and then bring to the church each week, like making cards for those served by our prison ministry or constructing baffles for Habitat for Humanity houses (see "Sunday Service Opportunities", below.) The purpose of this calendar is not to replace one way of busyness with another but instead to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us during this season as we together draw close to God.

Every Sunday during the season of Lent, there will be a special opportunity for you to serve. There's something for everyone and for all ages, and you can decide to do one, a few, or all of them—it's completely up to you. Check out the information below to see how you would like to serve. If you have any questions, contact our Minister of Families and Outreach, Cortney Babajtis. And as always, take pictures and tag us on Facebook or Instagram. Use @bensonmemorialumc and #bensonmemorialumc to tag us on social media when sharing your experiences!

Today’s Reading: Psalm 6

Service Opportunity for Sunday: Cards for Moms-to-Be at the Women's Prison

During the week, spend some time creating an encouraging card(s) for a mom-to-be at the women's prison. When our Women's Prison Ministry Team goes to visit in mid-March, your card will be delivered and a mom-to-be will know that you're thinking about them and praying for them. Need supplies? We've got you covered! Just come to the narthex the Sunday before (March 2) and pick up any materials you need. Bring your completed card(s) to the narthex on Sunday, March 9, or the church office during office hours (9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Mon.–Thurs.).

Saturday Reflection:

Lent is a season of reflection, repentance, and drawing closer to God. In Psalm 25, we hear the cry of a heart that longs for guidance, mercy, and redemption. This prayer feels especially fitting as we journey through these forty days.

The psalmist’s words remind us that faith is not about having all the answers but about placing our trust in God’s steadfast love. In times of uncertainty or regret, we are invited to turn to the One who teaches and leads us: “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths” (v. 4). How often do we resist slowing down to listen? How often do we try to navigate life on our own, only to find ourselves lost?

Lent calls us to a different way—to surrender our need for control, to bring our brokenness before God, and to trust in the One who is always faithful: “All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees” (v. 10). Even when we falter, even when we carry shame or regret, God meets us with mercy.

As we walk this Lenten path, may we lift up our souls to God. May we open our hearts to be taught, our lives to be shaped, and our spirits to be renewed by God’s unending grace.

(Based on Psalm 25)

Service Opportunity for Next Sunday: Collection for Family Promise of the Triangle

We are collecting essential items to support Family Promise of the Triangle, an organization that helps families experiencing homelessness find stability and housing. Their current needs include twin and queen bed bug mattress covers, bleach cleaners, and Fabuloso. These items help ensure that families have a clean and safe environment. Please bring your donations to the narthex on Sunday, March 16, or the church office during office hours (9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Mon.–Thurs.).

Saturday Reflection:

Lent is a season that invites us to be honest—with ourselves, with God, and with the world. It is a time of confession, of facing our frailties, and of remembering that we are dust. But Psalm 34 offers us a quiet assurance in the midst of that vulnerability: the Lord is always near.

We do not walk this journey alone. In our sorrow, in our weariness, in the moments when we feel unworthy or unlovable, God does not turn away. Instead, God draws close. This psalm reminds us that God’s presence is not reserved for the perfect, the strong, or the self-sufficient. God’s grace meets us in our broken places, offering healing and hope.

Lent calls us to trust—to release our grip on the things that cannot save us and take refuge in the love of God. It is an invitation not just to believe but to taste and see—to experience God’s goodness in the quiet moments of prayer, in the stillness of surrender, in the sacred space of community.

As we continue this Lenten season, may we bring our whole selves before God. May we trust that even in our brokenness, we are held. And may we taste, see, and know the deep goodness of the One who saves.

(Based on Psalm 34)

Saturday Reflection:

Lent is a season of humility—of recognizing our need for God and turning toward the One who hears our cries. Psalm 86 is the prayer of a heart that knows its dependence on God, a heart unafraid to ask for help.

How often do we live with divided hearts? Pulled in different directions, distracted by worries, weighed down by regrets? Lent invites us to return—to refocus, to let go, to trust. It is not about proving our worth but about allowing God to shape us, to renew us, to lead us deeper into grace.

This psalm reminds us that God does not turn away from our weakness. Instead, God draws near with mercy. In this season of reflection and repentance, may we have the courage to bring our whole selves before God—our doubts, our failures, our longings—and find that grace is always waiting.

May this Lent be a time of surrender, a time of trust, a time of renewal. May our hearts, once divided, find wholeness in God’s unending love.

(Based on Psalm 86)

Service Opportunity for Next Sunday: Clothing Drive for Jeffreys Grove Elementary School

Many children at our partner school lack access to well-fitting, weather-appropriate clothing and shoes. By donating new or gently worn items, we can help ensure that every child feels comfortable, confident, and ready to learn.

We are collecting children’s clothing (sizes 4T–14), and children’s tennis shoes of all sizes. All donations should be in good condition—clean, gently worn, or new. Bring your donations to the narthex on Sunday, March 30, or the church office during office hours (9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Mon.–Thurs.).

Saturday Reflection:

Lent is a journey through the wilderness—a season of seeking, surrender, and trust. In Psalm 143, we hear the cry of a weary heart, longing for guidance and deliverance. The psalmist does not hide their struggle, reminding us that faith does not mean we are never discouraged. Instead, faith is choosing to turn toward God even in the darkest times.

The psalmist pleads, “Answer me quickly, O Lord; my spirit fails.” (v. 7) How many times have we prayed like this—aching for God’s presence, longing for an answer, desperate for hope? Lent calls us to bring our whole selves before God, trusting that even in our waiting, God is near.

And then, a shift: “Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.” (v. 10) This is the movement of Lent—bringing our fears, our failures, our burdens before God and trusting that we will not be left alone. God’s love is our guide, our strength, our hope.

As we walk this Lenten path, may we lift up our souls to God. May we trust in the morning light of grace. And may we allow God’s Spirit to lead us ever deeper into love.

(Based on Psalm 143)

Saturday Reflection:

Lent is a season of waiting—of quieting the noise, letting go of distractions, and turning our hearts toward God. Psalm 62 invites us into that stillness, reminding us that our hope is not found in our own strength, in the approval of others, or in the things we accumulate. We are, instead, called to rest in God alone.

But waiting is not easy. Silence can be uncomfortable. We are often tempted to fill the quiet with noise, to seek security in things that sustain us only for the moment. Yet this psalm offers a different way: “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.” (v. 8)

Lent is an invitation to trust—to release our grip on all that weighs us down and to take refuge in God’s unwavering love. This is not a hurried faith, but one that waits in confidence, knowing that “power belongs to God, and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord.” (vv. 11–12)

As we walk this Lenten journey, may we learn to rest in God’s presence. May we find peace in the stillness. And may our waiting lead us deeper into the assurance that God alone is our rock and salvation.

(Based on Psalm 62)

Saturday Reflection:

Lent is a season of longing—of remembering where we have been and hoping for what is to come. Psalm 126 speaks to this tension between sorrow and joy, exile and homecoming, lament and laughter. The psalmist recalls a time when “the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,” when joy overflowed and “our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy.” (v. 2) But now, they are waiting again—praying for restoration, for renewal, for God to make all things right.

We know this waiting. We know what it is to carry grief, to plant seeds in the soil of sorrow, uncertain of what will grow. Lent calls us to this sacred patience—to trust that even when all we see are tears, God is at work, bringing life from the dust.

The promise of this psalm is not that suffering is erased, but that it is transformed. What we sow in sorrow, God can redeem. What feels barren now may one day burst into harvest.

As we journey through Lent towards Holy Week, may we hold on to this hope. May we trust that our weeping is not the end of the story. And may we walk forward in faith, believing that joy is already being planted in the places we least expect.

(Based on Psalm 126)

March 9: Cards for Moms-to-Be at the Women's Prison

March 16: Collection for Family Promise of the Triangle

March 23: Cards for Springmoor Life Care Retirement Center Residents

March 30: Clothing Drive for Jeffreys Grove Elementary School

April 6: Donations for North Raleigh Ministries

April 7: Serve Your Neighbor