Parish Events

Lent is a season of turning our attention away from temptation and distraction and towards God and God’s will for our lives and the world. We make space to make our relationship with God a priority, taking stock of the ways in which we have failed to do that and the ways in which God nonetheless continues to be faithful to us.

This year, you are invited into a particular Lenten discipline of gratitude. Fast from complaining and grasping and focus instead on the good and growing things God has placed in your life. Find ways to see God at work even in the hard things. Let your gratefulness overflow in acts of love and generosity. 

Some specific practices to consider:

• Keep a daily journal, in which you record not only the things for which you are grateful but the experience of discovering and naming them.
• Say grace at every meal. (download a selection here)
• Send a thank you note to at least one person each week.
• Find ways to share those things for which you are thankful with people who may not have such easy access to them.
• Use these weekly reflections and prayers, drawing on the Psalms appointed for use in Lent.
• Join in an Evening Prayer service every Wednesday at 7:30 pm in Lent, March 9-April 13. Contact Karen McBride for the Zoom link.

---

download a pdf of these prayers

Be pleased, O God, to deliver us.
Make haste, Holy One, to help us.                                                                                   

A reading from 1 John 3:19-20

Little children, let us love, not in word or speech but in truth and action. By this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before God whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and God knows everything.

silence

God of love,
Our hearts are heavy, filled with worry and sorrow for the people of our city.
We pray for all who are exhausted, worn down by the noise and chaos of occupation.
We pray for all who are fearful, made into targets because of their race, gender, sexuality or vulnerability.
We pray for all who are angry, whether with the protesters or the police or both.

take time to add your own prayers

Our hearts are heavy, filled with worry and sorrow for the health of our communities.
We pray for all whose bodily well-being has suffered during this pandemic.
We pray for all whose mental well-being has suffered during this pandemic.
We pray for all whose economic and social well-being has suffered during this pandemic.

take time to add your own prayers

Our hearts are heavy, filled with worry and sorrow for the state of our nation.
We ask for deliverance from racism and the sin of white supremacy.
We ask for deliverance from misinformation and political manipulation.
We ask for deliverance from dehumanization and hatefulness.

take time to add your own prayers

Our hearts are heavy, O God; we turn to you. 
Give us eyes to see your ways.
Give us ears to hear your word.
Give us lips to speak your truth.
Give us hands to do your work.
Give us hearts to trust your presence.
Amen.

As Jesus taught us, we gather our prayers together and say:

Our Mother, our Father in heaven
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.

We go forth in the name of Christ
Thanks be to God.

prayers composed by Rhonda Waters