A Concord Pastor Comments: Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 3/27

There are many opportunities to participate and share in the greatest liturgies the Church year offers us - whether in person at church or virtually at home. Plan now to take part in as many as you can - and with live stream, you can take part in our prayer at any time of the day or night. Your celebration of Easter will be all the greater and more joyful for having done so! In that spirit, let's pause for prayer...

Holy Week begins tomorrow, Lord...

In some ways, it will be an ordinary week,

well, an ordinary pandemic week!

I'll still have my regular work and duties.

I'll still need to care for my family and friends.

I'll still have to do the laundry and take out the trash.

I'll still have shopping to do and bills to pay.

I'll still have to deal with life's everyday problems:

such responsibilities won't diminish or take a break...

And I'll do all this in a world that largely ignores
    all we celebrate on these holy days:
       Palm Sunday
           Holy Thursday
               Good Friday
                   Holy Saturday
                       Easter!

So I ask you to help me, Lord,
    to make and keep this week holy...

I hope and pray this week will be peaceful -
    in spite of all I have to do...

I hope and pray these days will be prayerful:
    that I'll make time to spend with you alone
       and time to pray with the church on these holy days...

I hope and pray that in my mind and heart
    these days will be different from any others,
       in how I see and experience the world around me,
       in how I plan and spend my time...

Help me know and live this week of special days,

these solemn, sober, grace filled, joyful days:

a time to grow in faith, and hope and love,

a time to grow in my relationship with you...

More than all the weeks and all the days

of the rest of the year, Lord,

may the days of this week be truly prayerful

and, to your glory, truly holy...

Amen.