LENT 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers - Day 18

[Pray]

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

LENT 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers - Day 17

[READ + MEDITATE]

Read Jeremiah 7:21-27.

“Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people.”
What does this simple yet profound truth mean for you in this season of your life?

LENT 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers - 3rd Sunday

[CELEBRATE]

“When life is all about me, I am blinded from the reality of my complete dependence upon my Creator. The noise of arrogance and anxiety deafens the call to lean on the everlasting arms. We are designed by God to be doubly dependent. First, directly upon God, and second, indirectly upon God through those people God brings into our lives. Our existence is to be one of interconnection, not isolation.” ~ Karen Sloan

Let’s come to church today with grateful hearts. Grateful that we have a community of fellow followers to worship, grow, and fellowship with. And may our gratitude cause us to experience even more interconnectedness as we are used of God to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).

LENT 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers - Day 16

[PRAY]

A prayer by Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray and to concentrate my thoughts on you;
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness, but with you there is light;
I am lonely, but you do not leave me.
I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help.
I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience.
I do not understand your ways, but you know the way for me.
Restore me to liberty, and enable me to live now that I may answer before you and before men.
Lord, whatever this day may bring, your name be praised.
Amen. 

LENT 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers - Day 15 (St. Patty’s Day)

[PRAY]

The following is St. Patrick’s “Breastplate" — a beautiful Christian prayer/hymn attributed to Patrick. Writing during his Irish ministry in the 5th century, the cause of its composition was to protect Patrick and his monks against deadly enemies that lay in wait for the clerics. And this is a corslet of faith for the protection of body and soul against devils and men and vices.

I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through the belief in the threeness, through confession of the oneness of the Creator of creation. 

I arise today through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism, through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial, through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension, through the strength of his descent for the judgment of doom. 

I arise today through the strength of the love of cherubim, in obedience of angels, in the service of archangels, in hope of resurrection to meet with reward, in prayers of patriarchs, in predictions of prophets, in preaching of apostles, in faith of confessors, in innocence of holy virgins, in deeds of righteous men. 

I arise today through the strength of heaven: Light of sun, radiance of moon, splendor of fire, speed of lightning, swiftness of wind, depth of sea, stability of earth, firmness of rock. 

I arise today through God's strength to pilot me: God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me, and God's host to save me from snares of devils, from temptations of vices, from everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and anear, alone and in multitude.  

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils, against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul, against incantations of false prophets, against black laws of pagandom against false laws of heretics, against craft of idolatry, against spells of witches and smiths and wizards, against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul. Christ to shield me today against poison, against burning, against drowning, against wounding,  

So that there may come to me abundance of reward. 

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. 

I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the threeness, through confession of the oneness, of the Creator of Creation.

LENT 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers - Day 14

[PRAY]

A prayer to God the Holy Spirit by Augustine of Hipppo:

"Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love only what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy."

Take some time today to ask God the Holy Spirit to:
Breath life into me.
Draw me closer to you.
Strengthen me spiritually.
Guard my heart + mind.

LENT 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers - Day 13

[GIVE]

There are people with needs all around you. We don't have to go very far to find some need that we can actually do something about.

Maybe it's the giving our time to talk with someone going through a difficult or confusing season. Maybe it's offering to help a friend or neighbor who needs a helping hand. Maybe it's to offer forgiveness to someone who you have been at odds with. Maybe it's helping the underprivileged in your community. There's opportunity to serve + renew all around us.

May God give us eyes to see and courage to do.

Lent 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers Day 12

[READ + MEDITATE]

Read John 15:1-5.

It is only in connected communion with Jesus that we experience spiritual growth and formation.  We know it, yet we do not live it. Somehow we often live as if there are other sources of life and growth we must explore, outside of Jesus. But Christ keeps calling us back, "Come back to me, abide in me, give me your cares, burdens, anxieties, and fears. Trust that in me and with me you may find growth, grace, and peace."

Take some time today to review a past sorrow and find one positive outcome. Discipline yourself to exercise gratitude for this positive outcome several times throughout the day. "Look even in the smallest corners to nurture a thankful heart." (Henri Nouwen)

LENT 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers - Day 11

[READ + MEDITATE]

Read Hebrews 12:1-3.

Following Jesus requires sacrifice and perseverance. What is the call to follow Christ asking of you today? How can you use “the joy set before you” as a motivation to press on?

LENT 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers - 2nd Sunday

[CELEBRATE]

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.” (Psalm 133:1)

Charles Spurgeon once referred to the Church, imperfect as she is, as the “dearest place on earth." He continued, "...All who have first given themselves to the Lord, should, as speedily as possible, also give themselves to the Lord’s people. How else is there to be a Church on the earth? If it is right for anyone to refrain from membership in the Church, it is right for everyone, and then the testimony for God would be lost to the world! The Church is the nursery for God’s weak children where they are nourished and grow strong. It is the fold for Christ’s sheep—the home for Christ’s family.”

Come to church today with a gratefulness for Christian community and attempt go out of your way to thank those who helped make it happen today - teachers, greeters, set-up people, musicians, leaders, nursery + children’s volunteers, etc.