Commit to reading Luke and Acts during Lent-Easter 2018. As part of your preparation, please pray for our hearts and minds to be opened so that our lives—and indeed, our whole church—will be transformed through deep engagement with God’s Holy Word.
Connect with resources produced by Forward Movement and partner organizations for churches, small groups, families, and individuals. Links and information will be posted here as they become available, so check back frequently.
Become a partner. Contact Richelle Thompson at rthompson@forwardmovement.org to learn more.
Support Forward Movement or one of the other partners who are creating free resources. You can donate to Forward Movement online, and many of the partners have donation pages on their websites.
Resources
Forward Day by Day
Readers of Forward Day by Day can easily follow along, with Luke and Acts guiding the reflections during Lent-Easter 2018. Not yet a reader? Subscribe here. Churches that want to increase their subscriptions so the whole congregation can join the Good Book Club should contact the business office at 800-543-1813 for special discounted rates.
Invite*Welcome*Connect: Given that Invite*Welcome*Connect is a transformational ministry equipping congregations and individuals to cultivate intentional practices of evangelism, hospitality, and connectedness rooted in the Gospel, who better to read and study than Luke the Evangelist? The Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts speak to the deep truths of Invite*Welcome*Connect, all future workshops will begin with and focus on an intentional study/reflection of these scriptures.
Books/Study Guides
The Good Book Club Calendar: Forward Movement, in partnership with RenewalWorks, will offer a printed calendar for Lent and Easter with cartoons by artist Jay Sidebotham (similar to the popular Advent calendars published by Forward Movement). Each day will list the reading and feature an inspiring quote or cartoon. The calendar is perfect for coloring and appeals to all ages. Available in December through Forward Movement and as a smartphone app.
A Journey through Acts (to be released January 2018) and A Journey with Luke: Explore reflections on these two pivotal books of the Bible written by noted faith leaders from around the world. The books are part of the 50 Day Bible studies series and an extension of The Bible Challenge, a global initiative to encourage daily engagement with scripture. Published by Forward Movement in partnership with The Center for Biblical Studies.
Mission of Gratitude: A downloadable booklet with meditations on the readings, questions for personal reflection or group discussion, space to keep a gratitude journal, and a story of a ministry supported by United Thank Offering (UTO). UTO invites all Episcopalians to participate in a personal spiritual discipline of gratitude and giving. Each year, UTO collects thank offerings made and grants every penny to support innovative mission and ministry in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.
Resources for children and teens: Building Faith will publish a series of articles to help Christian educators and parents read and study Luke and Acts with children and teens.
Rogation Days Liturgy: Plainsong Farm will provide a liturgy for Rogation Days—Blessing the Fields—with readings from the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. This liturgy can be used for seasonal prayer in farms and gardens. Rogation Days in 2018 are May 7-9.
Reflections on the Gospel of Luke: Gathering of Leaders Chairman Bishop Duncan Gray will write a series of reflections on leadership through the lens of the Gospel of Luke.
Online/Digital:
Hometown: Episcopal Migration Ministries will offer a special podcast throughout Lent and Easter 2018, featuring voices from across the U.S., the church, and the immigrant and refugee community. A blog will accompany the podcast featuring written reflections, art, photography, music, and videos from podcast guests and others.
The Collect Call: During Lent and Easter 2018, the podcast for the Acts 8 Movement, The Collect Call, will offer a weekly episode focusing on themes and aspects of the readings from Luke and Acts. They will also offer a weekly BLOGFORCE question, which will invite people from throughout the church to write about a particular theme or issue in the readings that may have implications for the church and society.
Self(ie)-Reflections: Missional Voices will host a weekly video series with leaders (laity, clergy, and seminarians) from around the Episcopal Church reflecting on where they see the mission of God in each week’s readings.
Vital Practices: Through the period of Lent 2018, Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices bloggers will choose a reading from Luke that resonates with them and their ministry and write a related blog post. These blogs will be published on ECFVP and invite readers to share in the experience.
Covenant: Each week, The Living Church will post on its blog, Covenant, an article that explores the Luke-Acts text.