ASH WEDNESDAY 18 TH February 2015 Taking stock giving, praying, fasting

ASH WEDNESDAY Into the desert with Jesus

We remember the 40 days spent by Jesus in the desert in preparation for his ministry.

We allow the light of Christ to shine into the darker corners of our lives

Through giving, praying and fasting, we come back to the Lord

We will now listen to Paul’s words when he wrote his second letter to the people of Corinth.

Paul’s words when he wrote his second letter to the people of Corinth. We are ambassadors for Christ; it is as though God were appealing through us, and the appeal that we make in Christ’s name is: be reconciled to God. For our sake God made the sinless one into sin, so that in him we might become the goodness of God. As his fellow workers, we beg you once again not to neglect the grace of God that you have received. For he says: At the favourable time, I have listened to you; on the day of salvation I came to your help. Well, now is the favourable time; this is the day of salvation.

Let us listen now to the way that Jesus wants us to approach this time of repentance

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you. ‘And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you. ‘When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.’

We say together; Lord, bless us as we ask for your help and forgiveness. May we keep this Lenten season in joy as we prepare for Easter. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. AMEN

Lent Challenge Disconnect with things that distract Re-connect with God Sign up for daily s during lent

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PRAYER Lord Jesus, as we celebrate this season of Lent, may we turn back to you. Through our prayer, our fasting and our giving, may we become more thoughtful towards others, more honest with ourselves, and more faithful to you. As we take stock of who we really are, we disconnect with the distractions of our daily lives, and re-connect with you. Amen

Taking stock giving, praying, fasting