Lent daybook, 1: In the parched places
A Lent daybook for these 40 days of prayer. Join me, won't you?
Is this your first time to practice Lent? Here's a simple introduction: How we prepare for Lent.
Today's image: Community members search for spilled grain on the site of a World Food Program airdrop in Ganyiel, South Sudan, on March 10, 2016. Ganyiel is a small community that has become a safe haven and a center for relief distribution for over 90,000 people in the conflict-torn nation of South Sudan. (source)
Song for today: Together in the Harvest by Sandra McCracken
Listen to all of the Lent Daybook 2017 songs at this playlist on Spotify: Lent 2017
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.
The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.
Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.
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Have mercy on [us], O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out [our] transgressions. Wash [us] thoroughly from [our] iniquity, and cleanse [us] from [our] sin.”
Prayer for today:
“Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
Spiritual practice for today:
Attend an Ash Wednesday service. If you live in the Fairfield County area of Connecticut, you are most welcome to join us at Church of the Apostles. (7 PM at Roger Ludlowe Middle School Auditorium, Fairfield)
You can read the scripture and prayers for the Ash Wednesday service in the Book of Common Prayer here.
(see all Lent daybook posts from 2016 here)