I hate, I reject your festivals;
    I don’t enjoy your joyous assemblies.
If you bring me your entirely burned offerings and gifts of food—
        I won’t be pleased;
    I won’t even look at your offerings of well-fed animals.
Take away the noise of your songs;
        I won’t listen to the melody of your harps.
But let justice roll down like waters,
        and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
— Amos 5: 21-24 (CEB)

Lent is a time of reminding ourselves who we are called to be in this world. Our Lenten series is inspired by Amos, a prophet whose message is that God calls us to let “justice roll down like waters.” Worship without justice is not acceptable, rather our songs must move us to action on behalf of the oppressed. Through the powerful music of Mark Miller and the remembrance of our rituals of baptism (the origins of Lent), this season will offer us reflection and renewed inspiration to let our voices be turned to the heart of the Gospel — proclaiming God’s love for all people. What prejudices are we challenged to “give up” as a Lent practice of abstinence, and further, how are we willing to “give” of ourselves for the sake of the world?