In 2025, at Brookfield Congregational UCC, our Liturgical Arts Team and Reverend Laura McLeod chose a Lenten theme of “Celebrating God’s Creation: A Down to Earth Lent”. Our activities, learning opportunities, liturgy, music, a Lenten study and Easter decor all focused on appreciating, experiencing and caring for God’s creation.
A weekly Lenten Activity Calendar was sent to all members. Each day offered a suggested activity, task, prayer, recipe, scripture or Idea to bring our attention and focus on God’s creation. Some of the ideas included were focused on sustainability tips. Other calendar suggestions were scripture readings and prayers, highlighting an appreciation and wonder, for all God has created for us.
The first Sunday in Lent we were led in worship by the Reverend John Helt, a member of the WI Conference Creation Care Team, challenging us on the importance of caring for our world. Later that day, members and visitors gathered for a Lenten Workshop. The intergenerational workshop included instruction on what the Lenten season is all about, and the opportunity to do hands on nature crafts and to take a climate pledge.
Also on this first Sunday, available to all members and visitors were flowerpots decorated by our children along with butterfly shaped papers imbedded with wildflower seeds. All were invited to take a pot home and plant the seeds to symbolically plant their personal intentions for the Lenten season. We were encouraged to nurture our seeds and return the pots on Easter Sunday to decorate our communion table along with green house plants from many members’ homes.
We started a new film series which has continued beyond Lent on topics of interest in the world and discussion on how our faith shapes our thoughts and conversations on these varied topics. Our first two films, The Big Little Farm and 2040 were both climate documentaries which led to thoughtful discussion on climate change, the interconnectedness of all parts of God’s creation and appreciation for small farmers.
A “Forest Bathing Walk” was planned. This one mile hike was designed to experience nature through our senses…smelling, listening, touching and hearing. It wasn’t meant to be a mental experience, but a spiritual and sensual opportunity. As a service and mission focused project during Lent, a group spent a day at Daychola camp doing Spring clean-up. We cleared the Labyrinth and Amphitheater of fallen leaves and limbs, cleared leaves from around all the buildings and shrubs, laughed and enjoyed the beauty of Green Lake on an early spring day.
Creation focused bulletin boards and worship slides which included member submitted nature photos encouraged all to participate in some way. All in all our Down to Earth Lent was a lovely focus for a time of thoughtful reflection and spiritual growth for our congregation.
Photos: Young congregant with decoprated flower pot, Work Day at Daycholah and Lent Bulletin Board