After taking some time to recover from Advent and Christmas, I am ready to turn my attention to planning for the new year (thank God for spreadsheets and colorful sticky notes). Did you know that there are only eight weeks between Christmas and Lent? It is easy to get overwhelmed when thinking ahead, which is why having reliable and theologically grounded resources is such a gift. I want to share one of those resources with you–a new Lenten devotional–so that you can mark one item off your to-do list.
This year, I am eager to use Grace Poured Out: A Lenten Reflection on Water, Wine, and Oil, a daily Lenten devotional written by members of Young Clergy Women International. The devotional brings together women from diverse denominations, geographic locations, and ministry contexts, each offering reflections on God’s abundant grace. These meditations invite readers into practices of introspection and holy contemplation. Each day includes a scripture passage, a reflection, and a closing prayer or embodied practice, creating a rhythm that is both accessible and spiritually nourishing.
Historically, I have struggled to find Lenten devotionals that are theologically responsible and spiritually enriching. I have spent much time researching devotionals online and scouring pastor Facebook groups. Too often, I encounter problematic theology, exclusively male language for God, or readings that are either so brief they feel superficial or so lengthy they become burdensome. It is also important to acknowledge that the devotional market has long been dominated by conservative theological perspectives and by white male authors. Grace Poured Out stands apart from this pattern. Its diversity of voices, depth of theological reflection, and ease of use make it a resource that is both refreshing and necessary.
What especially draws me to this devotional is its attentiveness to the realities of ministry and everyday life. The readings are thoughtful without being overwhelming, making them well suited for a quiet morning with coffee or a rushed break between evening meetings. Rather than demanding more from an already crowded season, Grace Poured Out offers a steady and sustainable practice of reflection.
The devotional’s overarching focus on grace deeply resonates with me. During Lent, my attention is often pulled towards logistical demands–planning services, coordinating schedules, ordering Easter flowers–and towards the stark theological themes of our pending mortality and return to dust. Grace can easily recede into the background. Yet this is precisely when grace is most needed. As the Rev. Diane Kenaston writes in her reflection, “grace springs up.” Grace Poured Out offers a daily reminder of that truth, inviting readers to notice where God’s grace is present and active, even in the midst of busyness and weariness.
The contributors explore images of grace poured out like water, oil, and wine, substances that are central to scripture’s reflections and expressions of grace. As the introduction explains, water is both life-giving and dangerous, reflecting the awe-filled and creative power of God. Oil is practical and sacred, used for daily nourishment as well as for anointing, much like grace that meets us in both ordinary and holy moments. Wine (or grape juice) draws us back to the table, back to the central Christian story of grace poured out for all, at a table expansive enough to fit us all.
This Lent, I invite you to join me in reading and engaging with Grace Poured Out. May it help us attend to where and how grace is present in our lives, even amid the intensity of the season. Perhaps, through this shared practice, we may find ourselves living more grace-filled lives, better equipped to extend that abundance to our families, congregations, and communities. Let’s go a different way this Lent, towards a well that is overflowing with abundant grace.
