Lent Isn’t About Giving Up Candy
During Lent, Christians are called to embrace a 40-day period of reflection, repentance, and preparation for Easter — invited to deepen their faith through prayer, fasting, and acts of service. While many associate Lent with giving up small luxuries—such as sweets, dining out, or social media—its true purpose runs much deeper. Lent is not just about making fleeting personal sacrifices. At its heart, Lent calls us to draw nearer to God by serving others and taking intentional actions that reflect the love and compassion of Christ.
While sacrifice and self-denial are essential, they should not be isolated acts confined to our personal choices or the comforts of our homes. True service goes beyond giving up small indulgences; it calls us to action in the world around us.
So, this Lent, let us not only reflect on personal sacrifice but also embrace our call to care for creation. By responding to the needs of the world — through acts of service, environmental stewardship, and active compassion — we honor God’s love and fulfill our role as caretakers of creation.
Turn away from Fast Fashion: Opt for second-hand or sustainable brand clothing which reduces waste, prevents toxic pollution, and supports ethical fashion. Learn more at EARTHDAY.ORG’S Fashion for the Earth Campaign.
Reject Plastic: Plastic pollution harms the environment and your health too, through the inhalation and ingestion of microplastics. Swap plastic for reusable options. Learn more at EARTHDAY.ORG’S End Plastics Campaign.
What’s The Beef: Industrial beef production contributes to air and water pollution, and drives deforestation. Learn how to shrink your food print.
Go Public: Cars are major emitters of pollution. If you can, opt for public transit or look into carpooling, or maybe try and use a bike on the weekends, not your car!
Cleanup With The Great Global Clean Up: Join our EARTH ACTION DAY campaign by organizing or participating in local clean-up events. Whether it’s cleaning up a park, a beach, or your own neighborhood, every piece of trash collected brings us closer to a cleaner, healthier world.
Give back to Creation with the Canopy Project: Join EARTHDAY.ORG’S global tree-planting initiative that restores ecosystems and fights climate change. By participating in tree-planting efforts or supporting the project financially, you can actively contribute to the health of the planet. This mirrors Lent’s call for renewal — not just of our hearts but of the Earth itself.
Sign On: Advocate for positive environmental change by signing petitions that support policies to protect our planet. Sign-on in just a few minutes — Promote Renewable Energy and the Global Plastics Treaty petition.
Faith First: Gather your community, church group, or local organization to host an Earth Action Day Roundtable which includes attending Blessed Tomorrow’s National Faith + Climate Forum.
These last 4 weeks of Lent, let us not just give up things like candy, but also things that harm our planet. Let us include creation in our prayers. And let our service honor Christ’s love while protecting and caring for planet Earth. Let this season be one of renewal and hope — for ourselves and the world around us.
This blog was adapted from earthday.org with permission. Read the full article.
Other Lenten Actions
Become a Blessed Tomorrow Climate Ambassador by taking the free, self-paced, online training, start the training today.
Join One Home One Future, a multi-faith campaign to strengthen vitality, relevance, and community connection across generations in local congregations nationwide. Be part of a visible effort to invite creation care and climate action, no matter if you are just getting started or already engaging.
About the Author:
Libby Bunch, US Campus Outreach Associate, EARTHDAY.ORG
Additional Resources:
Register to Watch: American Climate Leadership Awards 2025
Join the Campaign: One Home One Future
Mental Health and Our Changing Climate: Children and Youth Report 2023