Continuing the tradition since 2001, Goshen College will again offer online devotions for the Lenten season. They will be available from March 9, Ash Wednesday, to April 24, Easter.
Students, faculty and staff will contribute the daily devotions that are based on the theme “Becoming Human: Called and Shaped by Jesus.” The daily Bible passages and themes come from worship resources developed for Mennonite churches around the nation. The passages come from the common lectionary and are used by several denominations.
According to Bob Yoder, campus pastor, the devotions serve both the campus and the larger community.
“If a person does not belong to a church that utilizes either the common lectionary or Mennonite Church USA worship resources, then the devotions are simply a wonderful tool people can use in their private devotions to help them through the Lenten season,” Yoder said.
The devotions also benefit the writers as they thoughtfully reflect on a Bible passage. Jessie Gotwals, a second-year student who has written several devotions since coming to Goshen College, appreciates the opportunity to write.
“Writing a devotion requires me to sit with a passage of scripture, an idea, and actually process it,” Gotwals said. “Writing is an important aspect of spirituality for me because there's something good that comes from having to articulate my thoughts and beliefs in order for other people to understand.”
The daily devotions then allow others to share with the writers in thinking about the Lenten season.
“The Goshen devotionals are helpful because each writer offers the readers a fresh perspective on a passage,” Gotwals said. “They also keep people accountable and focused during the 40 days.”
You can subscribe for a daily email of the devotions at www.goshen.edu/devotions or if you google “Lenten Devotions,” Goshen College’s devotions are first on the list.
