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Lenten Season - Easter Information, Activities & Resources |
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This Good Friday, the Beyond the Walls community will gather on Zoom for a special worship service. Our theme is “Walking with Jesus.”
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We invite you to join friends from around the world as we journey to the cross through song, prayer, meditation, and sacred community. Throughout this Lenten season, we have been walking with Jesus as we followed the account of the Passion as told in the Gospel of John. Along the way, we have encountered many challenges, but also moments of healing, fellowship, and peace—leading us toward the joyful celebration of Easter.
This is a special opportunity to gather on Zoom with those who are part of the Beyond the Walls family but do not usually participate in the live chats—and to see the faces and hear the voices behind the names that enliven our conversations every Sunday! All are welcome to join this special Good Friday service on Zoom using the details below. Please note that this event will not be recorded or live streamed. |
2025 Lent Season Dates
Ash Wednesday - March 5th, the first day of Lent.
Palm Sunday - April 13th, celebrating the return of Jesus to Jerusalem.
Maundy Thursday - April 17th, commemorating the Last Supper.
Good Friday - April 18th, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus.
Easter - April 20th, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus.
Ash Wednesday - March 5th, the first day of Lent.
Palm Sunday - April 13th, celebrating the return of Jesus to Jerusalem.
Maundy Thursday - April 17th, commemorating the Last Supper.
Good Friday - April 18th, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus.
Easter - April 20th, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus.
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Our 2025 Lenten resource intertwines the spiritual path of Lent with the physical journeys of refugees, offering a unique perspective on sacrifice, hope, and renewal.
Inspired by our World Conference Resolution 1329 and developed by the Intercultural Formation Ministries team, this resource provides:
Follow the Worshipper's Path at the Community of Christ Temple as we parallel our spiritual journey with refugees' search for safety. Whether you're an individual, family, or small group, this flexible resource adapts to your needs. |
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Deepen your faith, broaden your understanding, and stand with those seeking refuge. Join us in this sacred journey of compassion and transformation. Together, let's walk the mile, bear the load, and hold the Christ-light for each other and for our global neighbors.
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Download this devotional guide free from Community of Christ Herald House.
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What is Lent?
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Lent is a sacred time in the Christian calendar, a period that invites believers to pause and reflect on their spiritual journeys. It beckons us to consider the ways in which we separate ourselves from God and from one another, urging a return to the core values of our faith. As we embark on this spiritual pilgrimage, we are called to observe a holy Lent through self-examination, prayer, study, and meditation on God’s word.
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Self-examination is the first step in our Lenten journey. It is a time to look inward, to evaluate our thoughts, actions, and intentions. This process requires honesty and vulnerability, allowing us to identify the barriers that hinder our relationship with God and our community. By acknowledging our shortcomings and seeking forgiveness, we open ourselves to growth and transformation.
Prayer is a powerful tool that connects us to the divine. During Lent, prayer takes on a deeper significance as we use it to seek guidance, strength, and understanding. It is through prayer that we find solace and clarity, allowing us to draw closer to God and to those around us.
Lent is an opportunity to deepen our understanding of God’s teachings. By engaging in study, we gain insights into the scriptures and how they apply to our lives today. This period of learning not only enriches our knowledge but also strengthens our faith, preparing us to live out our beliefs more fully.
Meditating on God’s word allows us to internalize His teachings and apply them to our daily lives. It is a practice of contemplation that fosters a deeper connection with the divine. Through meditation, we quiet our minds, focus our thoughts, and open our hearts to the messages God is conveying to us.
While Lent is a time for personal reflection, it is also an opportunity to strengthen our bonds with others. By coming together in faith, we create a supportive community that uplifts and encourages one another. As we journey through Lent, let us strive to bridge the gaps that separate us from God and from one another, fostering a spirit of unity and love.
In the name of the risen Christ, let us embrace this holy season with open hearts and minds. Through self-examination, prayer, study, and meditation, we can draw nearer to God, enrich our spiritual lives, and cultivate meaningful connections with those around us.
Prayer is a powerful tool that connects us to the divine. During Lent, prayer takes on a deeper significance as we use it to seek guidance, strength, and understanding. It is through prayer that we find solace and clarity, allowing us to draw closer to God and to those around us.
Lent is an opportunity to deepen our understanding of God’s teachings. By engaging in study, we gain insights into the scriptures and how they apply to our lives today. This period of learning not only enriches our knowledge but also strengthens our faith, preparing us to live out our beliefs more fully.
Meditating on God’s word allows us to internalize His teachings and apply them to our daily lives. It is a practice of contemplation that fosters a deeper connection with the divine. Through meditation, we quiet our minds, focus our thoughts, and open our hearts to the messages God is conveying to us.
While Lent is a time for personal reflection, it is also an opportunity to strengthen our bonds with others. By coming together in faith, we create a supportive community that uplifts and encourages one another. As we journey through Lent, let us strive to bridge the gaps that separate us from God and from one another, fostering a spirit of unity and love.
In the name of the risen Christ, let us embrace this holy season with open hearts and minds. Through self-examination, prayer, study, and meditation, we can draw nearer to God, enrich our spiritual lives, and cultivate meaningful connections with those around us.
Project Zion Podcast
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PZP 817 | Coffee to Go | First Sunday of Lent
It’s the first Sunday of Lent… a time for looking inward. Be advised, you can’t blame everything on the devil. Well, you could, who would you be fooling? Sometimes you have to take responsibility for your own actions. Making responsible choices is up to you. Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith as they enter the wilderness with Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and a special “visitor” to see how Jesus will respond when the pressure is on.
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PZP 820 | Coffee to Go | Second Sunday of Lent
Are you going to be a fox or a hen? Before you answer that question, stop and take a few minutes … it is Lent after all … to engage in some honest self-reflection. The world may suggest that it’s better to be a fox, but Jesus would likely disagree. You can decide as you listen to this episode of Coffee to Go with hosts, Karin Peter and Blake Smith. This week they’re with Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. See what Jesus has to say about power and oppression, then spend some time figuring out in which camp you stand.
PZP 822 | Coffee to Go | Third Sunday of Lent
You can almost hear the kids saying, “Are we there yet?” And the answer is NO! We are still on the road to Jerusalem with Jesus, and Jesus is still encountering people asking questions to which he has already given answers. And yet, he tells a parable that reinforces just how merciful and patient he is with those who haven’t borne fruit, even though he has shown them the way…God’s way. Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith for a conversation about the importance of turning and going “another” way … a way that is not our own. We are no better or worse than those who have gone before us, and we still have questions. Thank God for the season of Lent… a time to reflect and turn.
PZP 825 | Coffee to Go | 4th Sunday After Lent
Choose joy! It may be hard sometimes, but the alternative will just tear you down. In this episode of Coffee to Go, hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith take a look at the story of the Prodigal Son from the Gospel of Luke. While the young man was ready to receive what he deserved… nothing … the father was more focused on the joy of his return. That’s how God feels when we “return home.” For some of us, it’s probably good we don’t get what we really deserve. Instead, we get welcomed with open arms and pure joy.
PZP 827 | Coffee to Go | 5th Sunday After Lent
Can you smell that? When Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with pure nard, the scriptures tell us that “the room was filled with the smell of the perfume. Mary spared nothing to do what she thought was right in the moment… to take a prophetic risk. On this final week of Lent, hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore the significance of Mary anointing Jesus’ feet with costly perfume, highlighting the sensory experience and the intimacy of the act. Grab some perfume or a fragrant bar of soap and join in on Mary’s prophetic trip down sensory lane.
What is Ash Wednesday?
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The Lenten Season begins with Ash Wednesday, an ancient holy day in the Christian calendar. In scripture, ashes signify grief, sin, and human mortality as well as joy, forgiveness, and victory over death. Christians often wear a smudge of ashes on the first day of Lent to symbolize repentance.
Ash Wednesday is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible as a specific holy day or observance. The practice of Ash Wednesday is rooted in the Christian tradition and is observed by various denominations, particularly in the Western Church. The Community of Christ does not celebrate Ash Wednesday. |
Project Zion Podcast Episode 815: Coffee to Go - Ash Wednesday
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It may seem strange that on a Christian Holy day where many disciples will walk around with a smudge of ash on their foreheads for all to see, we have a scripture passage that tells us to pray and fast privately in our “closet.” Why don’t we wear the smudge of ash in a place where only we and God can see it? Well, the smudge is a symbol of the condition of our hearts … repentant, mortal, humble. What matters is not the words we say or the significance of what we gave up for Lent (our act of fasting). Rather, it’s the condition of our hearts when we pray and what we hope to gain in our fasting. The acceptance or accolades of others is not what we’re after. What we need is a little more time and space for God. Listen in and you’ll see what we mean!
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What is Palm Sunday?
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Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem as recorded in all four gospels of the Bible: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; and John 12:12-19.
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What is Maundy Thursday?
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Maundy Thursday is the night on which the Lord’s Supper was first celebrated. The central theme of that first Lord’s Supper was one of humble service. Jesus washed the feet of the disciples and commanded that they do the same for each other. Jesus taught that he came not to be served, but to serve; to share the hospitality of God and the intimacy of breaking bread together.
The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word for “command.” The “Maundy” in “Maundy Thursday” refers to the command Jesus gave to the disciples at the Last Supper, that they should love and serve one another. |
Many Community of Christ congregations celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper on Maundy Thursday. All who believe in Christ, which usually is expressed in water baptism, whether members of Community of Christ or not, are welcome to share the Lord’s Supper.
Project Zion Podcast Episode 831: Coffee to Go - Maundy Thursday
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The room has been chosen. The table is set, and as you enter, Jesus kneels to wash your feet. What would your reaction be? Remember, Jesus knows you better than you know yourself, so will you try and refuse as Peter did, or learn from the experience? Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith on this Maundy Thursday for a close look at a very intimate event in which Jesus makes a final attempt to teach the disciples a valuable lesson. Don’t worry, it’s not “goodbye.” It’s more like “see you later!”
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What is Good Friday?
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Good Friday is a somber gathering as we observe the death of Jesus on the cross.
Why is Good Friday referred to as “good”, considering what the authorities did to Jesus was not good. Read the 26th and 27th chapters of Matthew, in the Bible, for the complete story of this event. The results of Christ’s death are very good for us! “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18 |
Project Zion Podcast Episode 832: Coffee to Go - Good Friday
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The lights have all gone out. The unimaginable has happened. The one we love is gone. What will we do now? On this Good Friday, hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith offer only a scripture and a blessing. Sometimes, it is all we can do to sit in the rage, the disappointment, the loss, the grief… wondering if the light will return. In those moments, it has to be enough to wait. The darkest part of the night is right before the dawn, but the dawn does come.
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Resurrection Sunday - Easter
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Easter is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter is the most important day in the Christian calendar as we rejoice in his eternal presence with us. Halleluiah!
See Matthew 28:1-7 NRSV, for the story of this event. |
1 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.
5 But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.
6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you."
Matthew 28:1-7 NRSV
2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.
5 But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.
6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you."
Matthew 28:1-7 NRSV
Project Zion Podcast Episode 834: Coffee to Go - Easter
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He is risen! On this episode of Coffee to Go, Karen and Blake look closely at Mary Magdalene’s experience at the tomb – from darkness and weeping to a personal encounter with the risen Christ. They ask: How do our expectations limit us from seeing God at work? And have you felt the Spirit call you by name? Discover the significance of being called by name and challenge yourself to see the Divine in the everyday.
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Jesus Lives
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Audio recording from the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now Community of Christ) "Hear Ye Him" radio sermons by Evan A Fry. Although this sermon was given over seventy years ago the message is still relevant today.
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What Is Ascension Day?
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Ascension Day, also known as Holy Thursday, commemorates the Christian belief in the bodily ascension of Jesus into heaven. This event is observed 40 days after Easter Sunday and marks the end of Jesus' earthly ministry.
The Ascension is described in the Bible in the Book of Luke and Acts, where it is stated that Jesus was taken up to heaven in the presence of his disciples. This event signifies the completion of Jesus' earthly mission and his return to the Father.
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Luke 24:50-51 "Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven." NRSV
Acts 1:6-11 "So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 1 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 1 They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." NRSV
Ascension Day serves as a reminder of the central beliefs of the Christian faith and the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ. It is a time for reflection, celebration, and renewal of one's commitment to following the teachings of Christ.
Community of Christ 2025 Lenten Season Activities
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Check back here for Online Worship Information and other Lenten Season activities and resources produced by Community of Christ and its affiliates. |
A History of Hope: Palm Sunday Service at the Kirtland Temple
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Through this recorded video, you can virtually experience the Palm Sunday worship service held in the lower court of the Kirtland Temple on Sunday, April 13, 2025. President/Prophet - Designate, Stassi Cramm offers the morning message. This service held special historical significance for the attendees as the Kirtland Temple was dedicated on Palm Sunday in 1836.
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Community of Christ: "Alive in Christ” (Easter)
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In this Easter sermon, Scott Murphy of the First Presidency assures us that, through the resurrection of Christ, God invites us to experience a bigger, fuller, understanding of the abundant life available to all. From the March 2025 “Witness the Word” release.
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, Romans 6:3-4, 8:38-39 |
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Introduction to Lenten Practices
A Community of Christ podcast about six spiritual practices that help focus and deepen your Lenten journey.
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Is Easter Historical?
Christians have commemorated Easter for almost 2,000 years, but is the story actual history?
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