You're invited to practice
Season of Renewal at
New Hope Santa Cruz Church.
Ways to Fast
The goal of fasting is to draw nearer to God. Biblical fasting always has to do with eliminating distractions for a spiritual purpose; it hits the reset button of our soul and renews us from the inside out. It also enables us to celebrate the goodness and mercy of God and prepares our hearts for all the good things God desires to bring into our lives.
Your personal fast should present a level of challenge, but it is very important to know your body, your options, and most importantly, to seek God in prayer and follow what the Holy Spirit leads you to do.
Food Fast
When fasting is mentioned in the Bible, it is always in reference to fasting food. It is a spiritual discipline to remind ourselves of our need for Jesus. It’s not just our physical selves that need bread and water to sustain life. Our spirit-man needs the Bread of Life and the Living Water. Fasting is meant to help us focus on the Lord. In lieu of meals, we pray to God recommitting our lives to Him and asking Him for help and direction. While fasting food during the Season of Renewal is a wonderful option, and encouraged, we do not recommend a complete 40 day fast. Some people do a complete fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Perhaps you feel the Lord lead you to do the same. You may also pick a certain day of the week for a complete fast over the course of this season of Renewal. Of course, during a fast, be sure to drink plenty of water or include other liquids for sustenance. There are other fasting food options you can seek the Lord on as well, such as: Eliminating a meal a day and spending time in prayer instead. Removing certain elements from your diet such as meat, coffee, or sugar. This can serve as an act of sacrifice putting your desires into submission to God and minimizing overindulgence.
Soul Fast
This fast is a great option if you do not have much experience fasting food, have health issues that prevent you from fasting food, or if you wish to refocus certain areas of your life that are out of balance. For example, you might choose to stop using social media or watching television for the duration of the fast and then carefully bring that element back into your life in healthy doses at the conclusion of the fast.
Fasting during Holy Week
If forty days feels overwhelming, we invite you to join us for a concentrated fast during Holy Week—the final seven days leading into Easter. This was actually the earliest form of Lenten practice in the ancient Church. By setting aside this week, we synchronize our hearts with the final steps of Jesus: from His entry into Jerusalem to the upper room, the garden, and the cross.
Giving to the Poor
As part of our Season of Renewal, we are leaning into the practice of almsgiving by supporting our unhoused neighbors living on Coral Street through partnering with Andy and Diane Munoz. Our goal is to provide care packages for approximately 75 tents in the area. You can participate by donating the following items to help us fill these bags:
Hygiene Essentials (Travel Size Preferred):
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Shampoo, Conditioner, & Body Wash
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Lotion & Deodorant
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Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, & Floss
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Combs & Q-Tips
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Feminine Hygiene Products
Nourishment & Comfort:
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Easy-Open Food: Canned goods with flip-tops (no can opener needed).
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Snacks: Packaged cookies, crackers, and snacks.
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Drinks: Single-serving instant coffee or Gatorade packets.
Treats: Wrapped hard candies.
Scripture Reading
Again, part of the practice of Lent is scripture reading. This year we invite you to read with us 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed by Scott Mcknight which encourages us through select Scriptures & Jesus's life to live out the Shema: to love God and to love our neighbors.
FAQ: Season of Renewal
Here are some common questions you may have about the participating in Season of Renewal.
No. We don’t practice the Season of Renewal to earn God's favor or "fix" ourselves so that He will love us more. Salvation is a gift of pure grace that we could never earn. Instead, think of these spiritual disciplines as a gift—a tool the Holy Spirit uses to thin out the noise of our lives so we can hear God more clearly. We aren't checking boxes; we are creating space for a relationship.
Not at all. Think of it as a "bright sadness." While we do face the sobering reality of our brokenness and mortality, we do so with the joyful knowledge that Easter is coming. It’s like weeding a garden; the work is humble and sometimes difficult, but the goal is to make room for flowers to bloom. We aren't being miserable for misery's sake; we are clearing the path for true joy.
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The goal of fasting isn’t a perfect streak; it’s a posture of the heart. If you slip up, don't let shame pull you away. In fact, "failing" can be one of the most spiritual parts of the season because it reminds us how much we actually rely on things other than God. When you mess up, simply thank God for His grace and start again the next day. This season is about progress and presence, not perfection.
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Absolutely. While fasting traditionally involves food, the heart of the practice is "fasting" from anything that has too much of a grip on your imagination or time. You might choose to fast from social media, television, shopping, or even a habit like complaining. The question to ask is: "What is currently occupying the space in my heart that belongs to God?"
Yes! Historically, Sundays are never fast days—they are "Mini-Easters." Even in the middle of Lent, Sunday remains a day of celebration. We fast during the week to sharpen our hunger for God, and we feast on Sundays to celebrate His goodness. This rhythm helps us remember that even in a season of sacrifice, we are a people of the Resurrection.
The number forty represents a time of preparation and testing throughout the Bible. Noah was on the ark for 40 days, Israel wandered for 40 years, and Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days before beginning His ministry. By joining in this 40-day rhythm, we are stepping into a story much bigger than ourselves.
If you’ve never practiced a liturgical season before, start small. Perhaps choose one thing to "fast" from and one thing to "add" (like five minutes of morning prayer or reading one Psalm a day). The Holy Week Fast (the final seven days before Easter) is also a wonderful way to experience the rhythm of the season in a shorter, more focused timeframe.