Lent is a season of reflection and meditation on God's word, to understand the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross. Lent is also a time to practice prayer, fasting (or sacrificing or restraining from specific foods and habits), and almsgiving.
To help you connect more meaningfully with the rhythms and practices of our faith, and to understand what it means to love and give in service of others, we launched 40 Days of Hope in 2022. This Lenten calendar is filled with simple and creative activities that encourage you to pray, serve, and give. We hope you follow, share, and remember this calendar as a way to love our community well!
Plus:
- Don't want to check this calendar daily? You can now receive weekly 40 Days of Hope reminders. Sign up: hfny.org/getconnected
- Follow us on Instagram and use #HFNY40DaysofHope to tell us on how you're engaging with our calendar!
FEBRUARY | MARCH | APRIL
FEBRUARY
DAY |
ACTION |
| Ash Wednesday | Pray over the Lenten season. Ask God for an open mind and heart for all that he may teach us as we prepare for Easter. |
| Thursday, February 23 | During this cold month, remember men and women experiencing homelessness. Follow this prayer from Tricia Dietz. |
| Friday, February 24 | Sign up (with a friend or community group) to serve a meal! hfny.org/volunteer |
| Saturday, February 25 | Read the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10). Reflect on what the parable teaches you about generosity. |
| Sunday, February 26 | Meditate on the words shared during church service. |
| Monday, February 27 | What does biblical justice mean? Hear from our affiliate partners. |
| Tuesday, February 28 | HFNY supporter Raymond Tieu reveals a personal story of how volunteering changed his life. |
MARCH
DAY |
ACTION |
| Wednesday, March 1 | Listen to Tim and Kathy Keller share why they still support HFNY, even 30 years later. |
| Thursday, March 2 |
Understand the urgent needs in our city. Sign up for the weekly email: hfny.org/getconnected |
| Friday, March 3 | Learn the name of a homeless neighbor in your community and pray for who you meet. |
| Saturday, March 4 | Spend 5 minutes writing about the generosity you have received over the past week. |
| Sunday, March 5 | Meditate on the words shared during church service. |
| Monday, March 6 | YSC leader Daniel Fowler considers why Lent helps us refocus on the needs of others. |
| Tuesday, March 7 | What does biblical hope mean? Hear from our affiliate partners. |
| Wednesday, March 8 | Find a way to serve in the borough where you live: hfny.org/volunteer |
| Thursday, March 9 | Print 3 copies of the HFNY resource card and look for opportunities to hand them out: hfny.org/resourcecard |
| Friday, March 10 | Follow these 23 short and powerful prayers for our city. |
| Saturday, March 11 | How would you reimagine New York City? Watch a special performance from That One Ensemble. |
| Sunday, March 12 | Meditate on the words shared during church service. |
| Monday, March 13 | Reflect on Will Anderson's words on fasting, inspired by Isaiah 58:6-9. |
| Tuesday, March 14 | Three long-time affiliates share how they provide Hope Day and Night. |
| Wednesday, March 15 |
Commit to joining The Hope Exchange, our monthly giving community: hfny.org/hopeexchange |
| Thursday, March 16 | Pray for our 14 church partners to continue loving our neighbors in need. |
| Friday, March 17 | Board Member Joe Selvidio reveals why supporting HFNY is important. |
| Saturday, March 18 | Missed Don't Walk By? Serve an organization that supports New Yorkers living on the streets: hfny.org/volunteer |
| Sunday, March 19 | Meditate on the words shared during church service. |
| Monday, March 20 | Pray for children and families with Safe Families for Children. |
| Tuesday, March 21 | Watch this Story of Hope featuring Precious from Young Lives. |
| Wednesday, March 22 | Be inspired by four dedicated HFNY volunteers. |
| Thursday, March 23 | Spend 5 minutes praying for the needs in your neighborhood. |
| Friday, March 24 | Read the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Then, journal about what it means to be a neighbor. Who are the neighbors you can serve? |
| Saturday, March 25 | Use our monthly Prayer Guide to pray for the needs of the city throughout the year: hfny.org/pray |
| Sunday, March 26 | Meditate on the words shared during church service. |
| Monday, March 27 | Pastor Brandon Cobb of Renaissance Church reveals what Lent has to do with helping people in need. |
| Tuesday, March 28 | Sign up to serve the immigrant community: hfny.org/volunteer |
| Wednesday, March 29 | Pray for "renewed delight in community" with The Bowery Mission. |
| Thursday, March 30 |
Donate the cost of your morning coffee to HFNY: hfny.org/easter |
| Friday, March 31 | Rev. Graham Girard prays about how God strengthens us to serve. |
APRIL
DAY |
ACTION |
| Saturday, April 1 | Want to receive prayer requests from our affiliates? Sign up for our quarterly newsletter: hfny.org/getconnected |
| Palm Sunday (April 2) | Meditate on the words shared during church service. Say a Palm Sunday Prayer. |
Holy Week |
|
| Holy Monday | Read Mark 11:12-14, 20-25. Pray for the fruitfulness of the church. |
| Holy Tuesday | Read Mark 11:15-19. Pray for the purity and obedience of the church. |
| Holy Wednesday | Listen to the hymn, When I Survey The Wondrous Cross. |
| Maundy Thursday | Read Mark 14:12-72. Then, listen to Boldly I Approach by Rend Collective. Afterwards, pray a prayer of confession and thanksgiving. |
| Good Friday | Read John 18:28-19:37. Spend 3 minutes in silent prayer reflecting on Christ’s sacrificial love on the cross. |
| Holy Saturday | Read Mark 16:1-9. Reflect on how your relationship with Jesus has deepened this Lent. And pray a prayer of praise and petition for more intimacy in your relationship with him. |
| Easter Sunday (April 9) | Hosanna, He is risen! Celebrate the good news at church today. |
Watch more Easter Stories of Hope and consider giving sacrificially for Easter to support
our affiliates serving neighbors in need! hfny.org/easter