A Concord Pastor Comments: Monday Morning Offering: MARCH 23

Coffee in the Morning by George Mendoza

Simply Living Lent - Week Five
Each Monday morning in Lent you'll find here, for the coming week, a prayer for the Morning and the Evening and reminders for fasting and caring for the poor. You might use this prayer to plan you week or return to it every day...

MORNING PRAYER

Dear God,
Please send the spring time!
I need the warmth of the sun and the new life it births.
I need to see the greening and flowering of life
which has spent the winter buried beneath the snow.

And because I believe it's you, Lord,
who bring the earth back to life each year
I believe you can bring the world back to peace
if you would make of us, all of us,
if we would let you make of all of us,
channels of your peace...

And bring a spring time to my mind and heart, Lord:
restore, refresh and bring to flower
what this long winter chilled and put to sleep...

Bring a spring time of new faith,
new hope, new trust
and the promise of your presence, light and warmth...

And I have a special favor to ask of you, Lord, here it is...

You won't forget the people closest to my heart
who need your help, Lord,
but lest I fail to remember them today,
I lift up their names to you now...

Lord, in your love and mercy, hear my prayer.

Our Father...

NIGHT PRAYER

Night and day you watch over those you love, Lord:
you are always awake to our needs.

Your watchful care gives me reason to fall asleep in your arms,
and to trust that you will be with me when I wake in the morning.

Bless my night with good rest and touch my dreams with your peace.

Watch over those who are afraid this night
and who may be troubled with difficult memories and dreams.

Stand guard with those who serve and protect us,
and with all who are in harm’s way this night.

As a mother tucks in her child,
tuck in your world, Lord, under a blanket of peace.

Give me good rest that tomorrow
I'll respond generously and graciously
to those in need whose paths cross mine...

Hail Mary...

FASTING
•This week,

the particular food or beverage I'll go without is...
•This week,
the particular activity or pleasure I'll give up is...
•This week,
the old, bad habit I’ll try to let go of is...

CARING FOR THE POOR
•This week
I’m donating groceries to the local food pantry ___
•This week
I’m shopping for the Parish Easter Giving Tree ___
•This week,
I’m contributing to my Lenten offering box
or my favorite charity ___
•This week, I'll reach out to those in need by ___

You might print this post and place it where it will be at hand.
Adapt the options for Caring for the Poor
to your particular circumstances.