Lenten Prayer Journey

Program Details

As we prepare for Easter, we invite you to join Rolling Ridge for an ONLINE Lenten Prayer Journey. During the Vesper Hour from 6:00 to 7:00 pm, beginning February 21st, the Sunday after Ash Wednesday, for 7 weeks through Easter on April 4th, we will offer Taize-style worship, a prayer loom, reflections, and contemplative sharing based on the book, Show Me the Way: Daily Lenten Readings by Henri Nouwen. (Purchase link for book)Special Triduum Vespers will also be held on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday at 6:00 pm.

Although optional, the book, Show Me the Way, will guide the weekly Vespers with daily readings and prayers from selective works by Henri Nouwen.

Along with weekly vesper experiences and the daily Nouwen readings, we encourage you to journey through this season with a Spiritual Director. Spiritual companionship will make this Lenten Prayer Journey an at-home, online directed retreat with up to seven weekly meetings. Weekly spiritual direction is optional, but encouraged to allow you to experience Lent and the journey through Holy Week in a new way this year.

Many of our "Rolling Ridge approved" spiritual directors are offering their services as a gift, so that there is no charge for weekly spiritual direction through this online retreat. Thus, all financial donations for this Lenten Prayer Journey will go to support the ministry of Rolling Ridge.

If you have never experienced spiritual companionship in a one-on-one context, this becomes a good entry point and opportunity to "test" it out with no strings attached during this holy season. For more information on what spiritual direction/companionship is about, check out this video from Spiritual Directors International.

"Praying is first and foremost listening to Jesus, who dwells in the very depths of our heart. He doesn't shout. He doesn't thrust himself upon you. His voice is an unassuming voice, very nearly a whisper, the voice of gentle love. ... Ten minutes each day with Jesus alone can bring about a radical change in your life." (Henri Nouwen from Show Me the Way, page 10)

We invite you to walk with Jesus and journey with us this Lenten season so to experience Easter in a life transforming way.

About the Leaders

Lawrence Jay

As Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Lawrence Jay guides the vision and direction of Rolling Ridge. As well as working with our staff to ensure the best possible guest experience, he partners with retreat leaders to provide excellent programming at the Ridge. A trained spiritual director and ordained American Baptist pastor, Larry (as he is known by friends) is a graduate of UCLA, Golden Gate Seminary, Franciscan School of Theology, American Baptist Seminary of the West, and the Gateways to God Missional Spiritual Direction Program. He is also Adjunct Faculty at Merrimack College in the Masters of Spirituality and Spiritual Direction programs. Eco-spirituality is his passion (and was the subject of his doctoral dissertation), encouraging everyone to live into the fullness of our connection with nature, God, and all people.