Choteau, Brady and Dutton UMCs in Montana try new ways to connect with God during Lent

Story and photos submitted by Zach Bechtold
Pastor, Choteau, Brady and Dutton United Methodist churches, Montana

This season of Lent, I have encouraged my churches in Choteau, Brady, and Dutton to fast from their busyness. The overall goal was to make room to connect with God, with people, and with themselves in a way that we couldn’t because of what keeps us busy. Each Thursday throughout the 40 days of Lent, we gathered together in community around the table and celebrated a meal and Holy Communion together.

We ate breakfast as Ken Koome, our Angola Missionary shared about the important work going on in Angola. We intentionally took a lunch break and had conversation centered on rest. We gathered in one of our local bars for Bar+Church and celebrated Holy Communion with honest conversation of who God has called us to be. Our Lenten Gatherings concluded with Dinner Church, we set aside our busyness once more to come together, just as we are, to celebrate community and Holy Communion together. All were present at the table from the youngest in our churches to our living saints, all welcome and willing to set their busyness aside and be present with God, one another, and themselves.  

That is what this Lenten season is about, intentionally finding moments to be present.  For us it has been to hear the invitation to the table, the Lord’s Table and the dinner table.