#PlanksOfLament – Lenten Young Adults, Youth & Young Families Challenge

Prayer, fasting, and alms-giving are all traditional spiritual practices during Lent, but this year Immanuel invites you to take on a new spiritual and physical challenge this season, Planks of Lament. You’re invited to try daily planking (an exercise where you hold your body in the upright pushup position) while reading a Psalm of lament. We have created a calendar below so that each day the Psalm will get a little longer (and, accordingly, a little more physically challenging). We’ve even included a few other types of Psalms (not just laments) toward the end of the challenge!

Although this is a just-for-fun exercise meant to draw attention to the often-overlooked Psalms of lament, we hope that it will also spark meaningful conversations about the emotional ranges of prayer in the Bible. Look for classes and conversations about that in Eastertide! We’ll also be focusing on Psalms of lament in a slightly less silly way during Immanuel in the Evening. During Lent, we’ll read and sing these lamenting Psalms during evening worship (join us for that on Sundays at 5:30 pm).

 

If you’re not physically able to do a plank or planks just aren’t your thing, you’re invited to create a challenge that’s right for you. You might try reading the daily Psalm while walking or running or doing a chair exercise.

 

Share your #PlanksOfLament photos and videos using the hashtag or by emailing Rev. Billy Kluttz at bkluttz @ ipcmclean . org. And make sure to challenge a friend or neighbor!

 

#PlanksOfLament 2020 Calendar

  • 2/26 – Psalm 61
  • 2/27 –  Psalm 14
  • 2/28 – Psalm 13
  • 2/29 – Psalm 70
  • 3/2 – Psalm 52  
  • 3/3 – Psalm 43
  • 3/4 – Psalm 142 
  • 3/5 – Psalm 54
  • 3/6 – Psalm 3
  • 3/7 – Psalm 4
  • 3/9 – Psalm 141
  • 3/10 – Psalm 42
  • 3/11 – Psalm 57
  • 3/12 – Psalm 5
  • 3/13 – Psalm 140
  • 3/14 – Psalm 85
  • 3/16 – Psalm 41
  • 3/17 – Psalm 56
  • 3/18 – Psalm 86
  • 3/19 – Psalm 10
  • 3/20 – Psalm 88
  • 3/21 – Psalm 51
  • 3/23 – Psalm 77
  • 3/24 – Psalm 9
  • 3/25 – Psalm 25 
  • 3/26 – Psalm 55
  • 3/27 – Psalm 71
  • 3/28 – Psalm 22
  • 3/30 – Psalm 39
  • 3/31 – Psalm 69
  • 4/1 – Psalm 89
  • 4/2 – Psalm 78
  • 4/3 – Psalm 18
  • 4/4 – Psalm 119
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