St. John The Baptist Catholic Church at 3160 Carla Dr., Carrollton , MI 48604-1749 US - Seven Habits of Highly Effective Lent-Keepers

1. Fast. Make room in these days for God. Make them unique for yourself and your family by doing without something good. In these cluttered days, giving up something is more than ever a good idea. Give up something you LIKE! Examples: Meat at some meals, snacking between meals, sweets, TV, video games, mall grazing, -- there are so many things to offer up to make room in our hearts' hunger for God. 2. Give Alms: Make these days unique by doing something extra. Give yourself spiritual alms by reading to nourish your faith. Examples: The Bible, the 'Little Black Book' on prayer. Set aside 50 cents a day (or your own special amount) toward Rice Bowl. Find ways of being kinder to someone you're in constant contact with, resolve to be more honest and earnest in your studies, your work, etc. 3 . Pray: Make Lent a time of communal support. Get connected with your larger family and faith. Not only at Sunday Eucharist, but during the week. Take advantage of prayer and study times offered; check the Lenten calendar for Wednesday Lenten Prayer, Bible Study, Friday 6:00 p.m. Soup Supper and Stations of the Cross, Saturday 5:00 p.m. Mass, and Sunday 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. John's. Set aside special family time for prayer and family talk. 4. Make time for daily personal prayer: We Catholics are taught to offer everything we do to God, first thing in the morning. Spend at least 5 minutes in prayerful reflection before you go to steep, looking over the day to notice where God was with you in special ways. 5. Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation: Examine your life more deeply and celebrate God's forgiving mercy by receiving the Sacrament of Forgiveness. You can make an appointment to do this privately, or come to our Communal Reconciliation Service at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, April 1, with General Absolution. 6. Plan now and schedule your calendar to participate in the Sacred Triduum - Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday Night Easter Vigil. These are the three most important days in the whole Church year to help you renew and deepen your identity in Jesus Christ. 7. Turn these 40 days over to God. It's not a time to toot your own hom; not a self- improvement exercise. As Lent begins and progresses, we pray, "God, in your goodness you give us this time of renewal. Lead me, guide me. I give you my life. I want your Spirit to work new life in me. I want to live in Christ."

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