Faith practice -- Coins for Lent

During Lent, many of us are reminded once again to examine our lifestyles and ask, “What can we do for others?” Part of faith formation at any age is compassion and offering a serving heart to our neighbors. These past few years have been challenging when trying to find ways to serve our neighbors while remaining physically distant. This time has also reminded us that we need to demonstrate compassion to others now more than ever. Lent is a good time to commit to giving money to a project that helps those in need. One way to involve the whole family is to collect coins during the season of Lent and then following Easter, donate the money. Follow our Coins for Lent Giving Calendar as a guide.

If you decide to do this as a family or as a congregation, first determine where you would like your money to go. Regardless of their age, let everyone have a voice. Maybe you have a community food bank that could use funds to purchase food for the hungry. Perhaps you could contribute to a larger project beyond your local community. Click here to visit the UMC General Board of Global Missions website to find other Advance mission opportunities to donate money. Ask within your conference or district to find other local projects you can also help to support. Select an agency that would appreciate your contribution.

Once you have selected a project, decide what coins you want to collect. You may want to contribute a quarter for every item on the giving calendar. You may want to simply collect loose change and give whatever coins you have for each item.

Now make a container to collect the money. Use a plastic tub, jar, or a coin bank that you aren’t currently using in your home. Decorate it and place it where the entire family can see it (and contribute to it).

Items on the daily guide will remind us of all we have and how little others may have. Each Sunday, pray as a family for the project and the people who will benefit from your gifts. Our giving begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes with Holy Saturday. During Lent, Sundays are for worship and praise to God and are reflected with a weekly day of prayer.

-- Kevin Johnson, Discipleship Ministries