The final paragraph of LP’s prayer*** includes struggles, prevailing and more…

Lenten Prayer – Rev. Dr. L.P. Jones

Guiding God, we are traveling the Lenten road. We are ready for it to end. We prefer celebration to reflection and self-examination. On the table, pulpit, and lectern, we prefer pure white, festive red, hopeful blue, or gentle green to Lent’s pensive purple. We know our sins are many, but why must we confess them so often? Remind us, gracious God, that you call us to confession not to burden us, but to free us. Help us to offer you every fear, failure, and sin, so that your forgiveness can calm and cleanse us and your steadfast love can draw us to new beginnings.

We thank you, God of wonders, for countless blessings. We thank you for those special people whose embrace, friendship, and accepting eyes ease our burdens and heighten our joys. We thank you for the songbirds who greet the dawn with exuberant melody. We thank you for the ability to laugh: to laugh at ourselves when we are mistaken; to laugh with our friends when we take ourselves too seriously; to laugh for the pure pleasure it brings. We thank you for eyes that see familiar friends and a new face in the crowd, savor a peaceful sunrise or sunset, and note a hand in need of our touch and open arms waiting to receive us.

Because we are so blessed, help us to respond faithfully to life and its goodness. Because people and relationships are so important, help us to look beyond ourselves and share our plenty with those in need. Help us to build a community known for the risks it takes to help others experience your loving presence. Because life can be so abundant, help us to be a community as joyous in our celebrations as we are committed to service in Jesus’ name. Because not everyone sees your blessings so readily, help us to comfort the bereaved, accompany the lonely, offer hope to the despairing, and reach for a better world for all.

We pray for all whose needs and concerns touch our hearts. We pray for those in need whom we cannot or do not see. We pray for new members and those preparing to receive baptism. We pray for all making difficult decisions. We pray for those enduring illness of body, mind, or spirit, and those who struggle to hope. We pray that we will complete our Lenten journey by seeing our brokenness borne by and entombed with Jesus, which will prepare us to hear anew the almost unimaginable proclamation that the tomb is empty, Jesus is risen, and life and love prevail. These and all our prayers we offer with confidence, for we bring them in Jesus’ name. Amen.

POTENTIAL ACTIONS:

• Reflect on the fourth paragraph.
  • Which sentence catches your attention the most? Can you make that a memory phrase for the remainder of Lent?
  • Who among your family could use prayers of support this day?
  • Some report that they pray when hearing ambulance sirens. Maybe that’s worth a try today?

This upcoming Sunday, some of us may be waving palms, heralding the entry of our King.

Yet we read prophesy very different from an “entry of a King” from Roman times:

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.”

~ Zechariah 9:9-10

In The Rising: Living the Mysteries of Lent, Easter, and Pentecost, Wendy M. Wright writes:

“But we do not get the leader we have anticipated. For instead of entering the holy city on a warhorse, this Jesus comes deliberately on an ass’s colt, thereby calling up our collective memory of the prophesy in Zechariah which paints for us a picture of a monarch who bans implements of war, whose rule is gentle and whose reign is peace.” p. 77

Imagine the shock and surprise. Maybe some embarrassment too?

Even in today’s age, as we share our king Jesus with others, may it be with a powerful stance of gentleness and peace!

Praying for Creation is the title of THIS 2017 Richard Rohr meditation focusing on the Joint Message of Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. This joint statement highlights the need for concerted efforts to save our earth and society – well worth the read and the prayer if you have time.

The song Fairest Lord Jesus provides some beautiful creation lyrics about the sunshine, moonlight, meadows, etc… (a more contemporary, 3-part harmony version is HERE.) Interestingly, there is very little in that song about human actions to help creation, though there is the line about Jesus: “Who makes the woeful heart to sing.” Maybe this relates a little to what Pope Francis is encouraging?

ACTION: Are there ways this week that you can “hear the cry of the earth, … attend to the needs of the marginalized, … heal … our wounded creation?”

Thanks to our friend Steven for a reference to this article from Presbyterian Outlook on The Lord’s Prayer. Prayers we say so many times over a lifetime run the risk of being said using rote memory with little thought to the meaning for this day. Spending the 5 minutes reading this article will allow you plenty of perspective to how this fits the world today.

The third paragraph of LP’s prayer*** focuses on responding…

Lenten Prayer – Rev. Dr. L.P. Jones

Guiding God, we are traveling the Lenten road. We are ready for it to end. We prefer celebration to reflection and self-examination. On the table, pulpit, and lectern, we prefer pure white, festive red, hopeful blue, or gentle green to Lent’s pensive purple. We know our sins are many, but why must we confess them so often? Remind us, gracious God, that you call us to confession not to burden us, but to free us. Help us to offer you every fear, failure, and sin, so that your forgiveness can calm and cleanse us and your steadfast love can draw us to new beginnings.

We thank you, God of wonders, for countless blessings. We thank you for those special people whose embrace, friendship, and accepting eyes ease our burdens and heighten our joys. We thank you for the songbirds who greet the dawn with exuberant melody. We thank you for the ability to laugh: to laugh at ourselves when we are mistaken; to laugh with our friends when we take ourselves too seriously; to laugh for the pure pleasure it brings. We thank you for eyes that see familiar friends and a new face in the crowd, savor a peaceful sunrise or sunset, and note a hand in need of our touch and open arms waiting to receive us.

Because we are so blessed, help us to respond faithfully to life and its goodness. Because people and relationships are so important, help us to look beyond ourselves and share our plenty with those in need. Help us to build a community known for the risks it takes to help others experience your loving presence. Because life can be so abundant, help us to be a community as joyous in our celebrations as we are committed to service in Jesus’ name. Because not everyone sees your blessings so readily, help us to comfort the bereaved, accompany the lonely, offer hope to the despairing, and reach for a better world for all.

We pray for all whose needs and concerns touch our hearts. We pray for those in need whom we cannot or do not see. We pray for new members and those preparing to receive baptism. We pray for all making difficult decisions. We pray for those enduring illness of body, mind, or spirit, and those who struggle to hope. We pray that we will complete our Lenten journey by seeing our brokenness borne by and entombed with Jesus, which will prepare us to hear anew the almost unimaginable proclamation that the tomb is empty, Jesus is risen, and life and love prevail. These and all our prayers we offer with confidence, for we bring them in Jesus’ name. Amen.

POTENTIAL ACTIONS:

• Reflect on the third paragraph.
  • what “sharing your plenty” opportunities do you see this season?
  • are there risks you can overcome with God’s help this season (and someone in your midst who can be part of the solution too?)
  • do you know someone who could use a call, note or other sharing of support and prayer? Maybe today you can act?
• Consider making this prayer part of your regular, Lenten practices…

The second paragraph of LP’s prayer*** focuses on thanksgiving…

Lenten Prayer – Rev. Dr. L.P. Jones

Guiding God, we are traveling the Lenten road. We are ready for it to end. We prefer celebration to reflection and self-examination. On the table, pulpit, and lectern, we prefer pure white, festive red, hopeful blue, or gentle green to Lent’s pensive purple. We know our sins are many, but why must we confess them so often? Remind us, gracious God, that you call us to confession not to burden us, but to free us. Help us to offer you every fear, failure, and sin, so that your forgiveness can calm and cleanse us and your steadfast love can draw us to new beginnings.

We thank you, God of wonders, for countless blessings. We thank you for those special people whose embrace, friendship, and accepting eyes ease our burdens and heighten our joys. We thank you for the songbirds who greet the dawn with exuberant melody. We thank you for the ability to laugh: to laugh at ourselves when we are mistaken; to laugh with our friends when we take ourselves too seriously; to laugh for the pure pleasure it brings. We thank you for eyes that see familiar friends and a new face in the crowd, savor a peaceful sunrise or sunset, and note a hand in need of our touch and open arms waiting to receive us.

Because we are so blessed, help us to respond faithfully to life and its goodness. Because people and relationships are so important, help us to look beyond ourselves and share our plenty with those in need. Help us to build a community known for the risks it takes to help others experience your loving presence. Because life can be so abundant, help us to be a community as joyous in our celebrations as we are committed to service in Jesus’ name. Because not everyone sees your blessings so readily, help us to comfort the bereaved, accompany the lonely, offer hope to the despairing, and reach for a better world for all.

We pray for all whose needs and concerns touch our hearts. We pray for those in need whom we cannot or do not see. We pray for new members and those preparing to receive baptism. We pray for all making difficult decisions. We pray for those enduring illness of body, mind, or spirit, and those who struggle to hope. We pray that we will complete our Lenten journey by seeing our brokenness borne by and entombed with Jesus, which will prepare us to hear anew the almost unimaginable proclamation that the tomb is empty, Jesus is risen, and life and love prevail. These and all our prayers we offer with confidence, for we bring them in Jesus’ name. Amen.

POTENTIAL ACTIONS:

• Consider making this prayer part of your regular, Lenten practices…
• Reflect on the second paragraph.
  • which of your blessings seem most relevant for thanksgiving today?
  • has the interaction with a special friend “made your day” recently?
  • heard the birds singing in the last day?
  • laughed at yourself recently? 🙂
  • what wonders have your eyes noted in the last hour?

How’s the Lenten journey going? Still looking for something to “take on for Lent” or other ways to make the journey better? This Guideposts short contains a really nice perspective-building  idea of connecting with others who brighten our lives. As the author says:

“So many people said they were touched to be remembered out of the blue that Lenten season. But I’m thankful for their kindness all year.”

In this technological age, this “note card” can take several different forms:

• physical note card in the mail or hand-delivered
• a text message
• text message containing a picture of your handwritten note, an audio or video message
• an email
• an email with an attachment containing a picture of your handwritten note, an audio or video message 
• a phone call
• face-to-face conversation
• another creative approach

We all have people in our lives who deserve a – “I wanted to write to tell you how much I appreciate you. You really bless my life!” – note… Can you identify a few today and get the message across?