Reflection & Points For Prayer
Prepared by the Congregational Prayer Group
St. Columba’s, Pont Street, & St. Andrew’s, Newcastle.
Sunday 13th March 2022, Second Sunday of Lent
Introduction
“Lent is a sacred treasure hunt.” In this season we do not give up something up for the sake of giving something up – but to make room for something wonderful. This Lent we use a mixture of scripture & poetry to lead us into silent prayer. The scriptures reflect those selected by the Revised Common Lectionary, which we use at Morning Service. Once the silence begins let yourself be drawn to a particular verse, or even just a single word. Try to savour that.
“Above all do not spend the whole time of prayer talking yourself. Bring the needs of the world, and the problems of your life, before God; then leave them with Him and wait for a while in silence not only from speech, but as far as possible from thought, just desiring with all your force that in these things God’s will may be done, and resting in the quiet assurance of His love and power. There is no limit to what God will do by means of us If we train ourselves to trust Him enough.” Archbishop William Temple (1881-1944)
Opening Prayer
Gracious God, let the words of this week fall silent:
kind words – that have encouraged us;
cruel words – that have corroded us;
pointless words – that have emptied us;
powerful words – that have uplifted us.
Into speechless time and gentle silence,
let your unspoken words
of kindness and rest
enfold us in blessing,
and with us,
this word-weary world.
Word of Life,
we pray that in this stillness,
new strength may come
and sentences of love be formed
to fill the day that is to come. Amen.
Scripture: Psalm 27:1-4
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes– they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.
One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.
Poem: The Avowal, Denise Levertov (1923–1997)
As swimmers dare
to lie face to the sky
and water bears them,
as hawks rest upon air
and air sustains them,
so would I learn to attain
free fall, and float
into Creator Spirit’s deep embrace,
knowing no effort earns
that all-surrounding grace.
Prayer Points
- Pray: For time and space in Lent for Christians to remember the sacrifices Jesus makes on his journey towards the cross; and to contemplate how our own actions can better reflect his way.
- Pray: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Luke 13:34
- Pray: For peace in places of conflict and violence (those known via the news & those overlooked or forgotten.)
- Pray: For those continuing to face the demands of the COVID pandemic – medical staff, carers, researchers, mental health services; the sick, the isolated, the dying, the bereaved.
- Pray: A thanksgiving for all that has been good in the past week.
- Pray: For any particular concerns or hopes for the week ahead.
- Pray: A time of listening silence – “just desiring with all your force that in these things God’s will may be done, and resting in the quiet assurance of His love and power.”
- Pray: The Collect for Second Sunday of Lent:
Almighty God,
whose most dear Son went not up to joy
but first he suffered pain,
and entered not into glory
before he was crucified:
mercifully grant that we,
walking in the way of the cross,
may find it none other
than the way of life and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen - Pray: The Lord’s Prayer
Blessing
Word of Life, heal, forgive, comfort, bless.
Be still, be glad, and be at peace. Amen.