Ash Wednesday 21st February 2007.
This season of drawing closer to God, returning, repenting, renewing is upon us. My grandad who is a vicar once advised me in preparing for Lent to not divulge what you are promising to anyone else as it is between you and God. I was reminded of the pharisees in the New Testament who stood on the corner declaring loudly how much they prayed and how holy they were.
Matt 6 v 5-6
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
So I won’t shout too loud about what I am committing to do and only say that in their blogs Maggi Dawn and Christine at the Abbey of the Arts have captured my thoughts and feelings about Lent far better than I could.
At church, a c.d. of 40 ’thought-for-the-day’ 5 min talks has been produced (including a couple of days’ contribution from my lovely husband – see he actually does do some work!) Accompanying it is a prayer leaflet that even on the first day has proved to be an enormous help in making space for prayer and quiet time. The emphasis is on healing as this year, it was felt by the church leaders, we need to ask God for restoration for our land, our community and for individuals who have been suffering too long.
Finally today, our congregation is lifting up someone close to us who is undergoing extremely serious investigative surgery and their family. As I write, he is under the surgeon’s knife and we will find out later on this evening if there is any news.
I read all of Psalm 107 at lunchtime and it was a comfort to be reminded of the cyclical way we are taught and learn about God, how we grow in faith and how we falter yet the Lord is listening, he is faithful and holds us in everlasting arms. Here is my prayer for the patient mentioned above:
Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could settle.
They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way
to a city where they could settle.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men
