NASHVILLE (WordNews.org) Feb. 19, 2012 — Lent is just around the corner and to help churches commemorate the time of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, the makers of the new Common English Bible are making PowerPoint slides available for free

Ash Wednesday is Feb. 22. The slideshow contains Bible readings and scenes of nature. They can be found at CommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/LentDownloads and slideshare.com/CommonEnglishBible.

The slides can be used both within church services as well as in blogs, websides or emails.

“On the church liturgical calendar, Lent is the Christian season of preparation 40 days before Easter,” says Paul Franklin, associate publisher of the Common English Bible. “This presentation beautifully helps church leaders and others guide viewers into scripture verses they can quickly comprehend in 21st century English so they can enjoy a time of personal reflection, prayer, and a change of heart and life.”

In addition to the PowerPoint presentation, a Lenten blog tour is being planned and a Lenten Bible reading marathon is being coordinated with churches, schools, and civic organizations (to participate, email jpetersen@somersaultgroup.com).

The Common English Bible is a collaboration of 120 Bible scholars and editors, 77 reading group leaders, and more than 500 average readers from around the world. The translators – from 24 denominations in American, African, Asian, European, and Latino communities – represent such academic institutions as Asbury Theological Seminary, Azusa Pacific University, Bethel Seminary, Denver Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, Seattle Pacific University, Wheaton College, Yale University, and many others.