CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Our most Gracious Creator, we come into your presence this evening to remember who we are. We have come to talk about repentance and renewal. We have come here to begin a journey which will lead to transformation. In this season of Lent we are seekers. We want to mature spiritually. We know that all growth takes discipline and commitment. Remind us to take time to partake of all the means of grace. Help us practice our praying. Prod us to read the scriptures and take some notes. We have known, since childhood, that if we don’t practice a skill regularly we get rusty. Today we confess that the same holds true when it comes to practicing our faith. Help us, Gracious Lord, in these 40 days to meet the challenges of holy living that are set before us. Empower our spiritual discipline, moving us toward self-discovery. If we get bogged down or distracted, bring us back on track and help us stay the course. Our prayer is that we will learn to love with the heart of Jesus and serve with the humility of Paul, seeking to be the Good News in our daily life. Lord, hear us as we pray in the name of the one who taught us to pray, saying: Our Abba Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
Have you ever wondered about the use of the word reconcile with reference to balancing your checkbook? When you balance your checkbook, what you are doing is reconciling the balance that you have in your checkbook with the bank’s balance. In order to stay on track and not bounce checks, you need your numbers and the bank’s numbers to be the same. It’s sort like re-establishing a close and balanced relationship between your checkbook and the bank. That is what the season of Lent is all about: re-establishing a close and balanced relationship with our creator, so we are both on the same page, so to speak.
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Loving God, creator of all things, from the dust of the earth you have formed us and from the dust of death you have promised to raise us up. These gifts are just one measure of our thanks for your steadfast love, mercy and forgiveness. During this season of Lent we pledge not only to examine our spiritual center, but we will also examine our commitment center. Show us the way of visionaries who can see with the eyes of faith all that we can and will do to glorify your name. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
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