Lent in worship and reflection 2022
What hymns to use?
As well as the hymns already available in Singing the Faith, take a look at Carolyn Gillette’s reflection on words of the prophet Joel ("Return to me with all your heart") in her hymn, “Ash Wednesday comes, and Lord, we hear”. And for some contextual thoughts around Ash Wednesday, see Beginning Lent - some thoughts about Ash Wednesday.
Published on StF+, David Lee offers a paraphrase of Psalm 130, Out of the depths I cry to you, suitable for Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent. In its final verse, we may perceive the glimmering light of Easter drawing near:
May we, your people, joined in one accord,
out from the depths renew our hope, O Lord.
May we in you find redemption and mercy:
Lord, hear our cry, our deepest song.
A number of hymns published here on Singing the Faith Plus explore the imagery and symbolism of desert places: Lord save us from the desert (Rachel Parkinson); You call us to the wilderness (Paul Wood and Ian Worsfold); and Joy Dine's popular God who sets us on a journey. Together, they convey the challenges and opportunities of the inward (and outward) journeying we associate with the season of Lent.
Holy week
For use later in the season, there is a thoughtful and memorable hymn based on the events of Maundy Thursday by Sue McCoan and Matthew Prevett, Dusty-footed, heavy-hearted. Likewise, Dominic Grant's O watcher in the wilderness (StF 667) draws on images from the Last Supper as well, again, from desert experiences.
Lent - expanding our horizons
In Lent - expanding our horizons, we look beyond the Lent section of Singing the Faith to discover hymns suitable for this season.
Other resources for Lent
Faith and Order have also drafted some guidance for people concerning anti-Semitism and the service for Good Friday. Click here for details.
A sequence of prayers for Lent and Easter can be found on the Methodist Church website.
This year’s Easter Offering dedication service, prepared by Methodist Women in Britain (MWiB), takes the theme Let Justice Roll. 
In 2023, collections from Easter Offering services raised over £190,000, all of which went to the World Mission Fund of the Methodist Church in Britain.
This year, the Easter Offering resource reflects the principles of justice written down in the book of Micah. The resource tells stories of people standing for justice, persisting in the face of setbacks and taking up the challenge in new ways as circumstances change.
For other justice-themed resources, see Walking with Micah.
What is mine to do? is the question asked by by the Methodist aid and partnership agency, All We Can in its Lent devotional resource for Lent 2024.
Inspired by Jesus' time of discernment in the desert, which we mark at the beginning of Lent, All We Can says:
"Sometimes when it comes to tackling injustice, our efforts can feel insufficient – like there is always something more we should be doing. Sometimes, we all need to hear the words ‘you can’t do everything!’ With All We Can’s Lent resource, you will have the chance to reflect on what is yours to do – as an All We Can supporter, and as a justice-seeker."
Additional series of studies for the Lent period are produced each year by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) Resources going back to 2008 are still available:
Christ's costly gift of reconciliation was the Lent theme developed in 2023 by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI). It set out to continue the journey initiated at the World Council of Churches 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany, and considered some of the challenges facing the Church in the work of reconciliation. This information will be updated when 2024 resources become available.