A Concord Pastor Comments: Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 2/20

Artwork: Amads Cristobal

First a little survey... then a pause for prayer...

Check all that apply:

___ I had no idea that February 18 was Ash Wednesday.
___ I knew February 18 was Ash Wednesday - but I forgot!
___ I remembered February 18 was Ash Wednesday
- but I was too busy to get to church.
___ I went to church on Ash Wednesday.
___ I went to church on Ash Wednesday and have been
faithfully praying, fasting and serving the poor
for three days now.
___ I went to church on Ash Wednesday
but haven't thought much about it since.

No matter which one(s) you checked,

you can be sure of 3 things:

• The Lord loves you...

• The Lord welcomes you to the season of Lent...

• The Lord wants you to deepen your spiritual life
in this season of renewal...

So, if you haven't begun,
or you got off to a rough start,
it's not too late

to start living the season of Lent - today!

Take a few minutes now to decide
• how you might be more faithful to prayer this Lent...
• how you might give up or let go
some creature comforts you rely on...
• how you might, in the 6 weeks ahead,
be generous to those in need...

Pause for prayer:

Lord, however faithful or jumbled
has been the beginning of Lent in my life,
I trust that you still call me to live this season
and to grow in faith, hope and love...

Keep me from being discouraged by my mistakes
and open my eyes to all the ways
you wait for me and want to help me grow...

Help me remember that it's no sin
to be a few days late

in beginning the season of Lent

that the greater mistake would be to just give up
and let this opportunity for grace pass me by...

If I've made a good start, Lord,
   make me stronger in my resolve.

If I've made a half-hearted beginning,
   jump-start my efforts.

If I've not yet begun at all,
   send your Spirit to get me moving.

O God of second chances and new beginnings,
   help me find in the weeks ahead
         a season of grace and prayer and peace.