Congregational Prayer Resources For Lent
St Columba’s, Pont Street
Scripture Reading: John 12:1-8: Mary anoints Jesus
12 Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
Prayer/Meditation
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, Otche nash (Our father in Ukrainian) You went to eat with friends before you faced a terrible ordeal, which you knew you had to endure, in order to show mankind what a sacrifice was to be made, for our eternal life.
You ate with Lazarus who had been raised from the dead – a precursor of Your own destiny. His sisters, Martha and Mary were dear friends.
Did You know that Mary would show her love and acknowledgement of your holiness by her gesture of love and humility? You used it to compare her love, and Judas’ meanness; perhaps an indication of how you understood how each of them would be opposing elements of your death.
May we follow the example of the family in Bethany in their love and hospitality for all, especially at this time when so many people are forced to be refugees. We cannot all offer our homes but inspire us to find other ways in which we can show our sorrow and support. Amen.
A poem for Easter, Laurie Lee
Wrapped in his shroud of wax, his swoon of wounds,
still as a winter’s star he lies with death.
Still as a winter’s lake his stark limbs lock
the pains that run in stabbing frosts about him.
Star in the lake, grey spark beneath the ice,
candle of love snuffed in its whitened flesh,
I, too, lie bound within your dawn of cold
while on my breath the serpent mortal moans.
O serpent in the egg, become a rod,
crack the stone shell that holds his light in coil.
O grief within the serpent sink your root,
and bear the flower for which our forked tongues wail.
Cold in this hope our mortal eyes forgather
wandering like moths about the tomb’s shut mouth;
Waiting the word the riven rock shall utter,
waiting the dawn to fly its bird of god.
Prayer
Let us pray: For the people of Ukraine and all victims of civil conflict round the world. Be careful, Our Father, of the innocent, give them protection.
Spare us from evil men who have no pity but only see the world as an enemy. Give us courage to face evil. Give us compassion for others that we need in these difficult times of displacement.
Let us pray for those whose lives are limited by illness, by disability, by circumstances, by bereavement, by addiction.
Remembering the hospitality of Martha and Mary and Lazarus to their friend, Jesus, let us, too, be generous in our hospitality, be thankful for those who offer us hospitality, whether it be a cup of tea or coffee or a generous lunch. Let us remember the teams at St Columba’s who freely offer these benefits to the congregation, and to those who sleep in cold places.
O Christ, our only Saviour, so dwell within us that we may go forth with the light of hope in our eyes, and the fire of inspiration on our lips, thy word on our tongue, and thy love in our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
“To work is to pray [Martha] and to pray is work [Mary]” said John Wesley. We need both Marthas and Marys in our lives.