I found this prayer and have been using it to honor the church season of Lent. I hope you find it helpful as well.
“Dear God, during this Lenten season, help me to recognize my sins and turn my heart toward you in genuine repentance. Grant me the strength to make amends and grow in your grace. And please open my heart to the needs of others. May I reflect your love and compassion in my actions, serving those who are suffering or in need. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”
The last week of March contains the most significant Holy Days of our faith tradition. On Sunday March 24, Palm Sunday, we gather to remember Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. During our service of the palms, we enter church waving palms fronds to celebrate Jesus as the King of kings. Our service then dramatically shifts into Passion Sunday, when we read about Jesus’ last supper with his closest friends, his betrayal, midnight trial, beating, crucifixion, death, and burial.
During Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday, our hearts move quickly from joy into sorrow as we remember the last days of Jesus’ life. This week offers us many opportunities to pray alone and in community. Listed below are services on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. These are somber in tone until we rejoice in Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday March 31.
- Palm/Passion Sunday – March 24 at 10AM.
- Wednesday March 27 – Holy Eucharist with healing prayers at noon.
- Maundy Thursday March 28 – Holy Eucharist, optional washing of feet, and stripping the altar at 5:30 PM
- Good Friday March 29 – Stations of the Cross at 5:30 PM
- Saturday March 30 – The Great Vigil of Easter will be offered at Luke’s Episcopal Church, 426 E Fourth Plain Blvd, Vancouver at 7:30PM
- Easter Sunday March 31 – Holy Eucharist at 10 AM, followed by an egg hunt for children and brunch!
I hope that you can all participate in these services, God Bless you and those you love.
Annie+