Readings for the Week of March 3

Psalm 16 • Genesis 22:1-14 • Romans 8:31-38 • Mark 8:31-38

“O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.“

Lent is recognized as a season of fasting. But, Lent is more than fasting. Lent is a season of sober engagement. We don’t merely remove things from our lives (fasting) but we thoughtfully add things. Let me emphasize that one word, thoughtfully. Don’t  mindlessly add things to your life but thoughtfully, carefully adopt new practices of prayer, reading Scripture, service, and rest.

As a beginning, let me encourage you to take up Scripture anew. Perhaps you can simply reflect upon the weekly readings. Another good activity to adopt is the practice of praying/reading the Psalms. For the Lenten season I consider Psalm 22 through Psalm 31 to be especially good.

Readings for the Beginning of Lent

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season. I encourage you to join us this Wednesday, Feb 22, at 7 PM for a service of prayer, repentance and the imposition of ashes. Some Christians call the season of Lent “The Bright Sadness”. While it is a season of repentance, reflection and mourning it is punctuated with weekly expressions of joy and celebration. It is a forced sadness that we bring upon ourselves as we begin the journey with Jesus to the cross (sadness) and through that to the resurrection (bright).

This post includes the Scripture readings for both Ash Wednesday and the 1st Saturday of Lent. If you don’t have a habit of reading Scripture this Lenten season is a good time to take one up. Prayerful reflection on the weekly readings that we use in our worship service is a good place to start. Volume is good but in depth reflection is better. Letting the words of Scripture sink down deep over the days of the week opens up those words to read our lives as we read the lines.

In addition to the Scriptures I have also included two traditional prayers that are associated with Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. These are great guides and prompts to our praying life. May God bless you as you pray and read, read and pray!

Scriptures for Ash Wednesday:

Isaiah 58:1-12 • Psalm 103 • 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10 • Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Scriptures for the 1st Saturday of Lent:

Genesis 9:8-17 • Psalm 25 • I Peter 3:18-22 • Mark 1:9-13

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan; Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings for the Week of February 18

Psalm 27 • 1 Kings 19:9-18 • 2 Peter 1:16-21 • Mark 9:2-9

Each of our readings this week have a reference to a “mountain top” experience. From being set “high upon a rock” while God protects the psalmist, to the earth-shattering experience of Elijah that reveals God’s voice heard not in the loudness but in the stillness, to the New Testament references to Christ’s transfiguration on Mt. Tabor, where Elijah and Moses are seen present to him.

Many of us remember similar “mountain top” experiences where we felt unusually close to God, or perhaps I should say that God felt unusually close to us? Reconsider those experiences today. What made them so valuable to you? What would that kind of experience with God be like for you today? Do you think you can “hear” God in the way you could then?

“O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”

Small Group Meeting ~ This Thursday Evening

This Thursday night a new small group will be gathering at the home of Paul and Calana Hill, 12306 E. Lincoln Ct., at 7 PM. Our first night will consist of prayer for one another and a brief discussion regarding the direction of the group. I hope you can join us.

If you have any questions or need directions give Paul a call at 992-1540.

Readings for the Week of February 11

Psalm 42 • 2 Kings 5:1-15 • I Corinthians 9:24-27 • Mark 1:40-45

“Almighty and eternal Father, a new day dawned when your only-begotten Son came among us. Grant that we who share in his human nature may also share in the kingdom of his glory. We ask this through the same Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.”