ASH
WEDNESDAY
18TH February 2015
Taking stock
giving, praying,
fasting
ASH WEDNESDAY
Into the desert with Jesus
We
remember
the 40 days
spent by
Jesus in the
desert in
preparation
for his
ministry.
We allow
the light
of Christ
to shine
into the
darker
corners
of our
lives
Through
giving,
praying
and
fasting,
we come
back to
the Lord
We will now listen to
Paul’s words when
he wrote his second
letter to the people
of Corinth.
Paul’s words when he wrote his second
letter to the people of Corinth.
We are ambassadors for Christ; it is as though God
were appealing through us, and the appeal that we
make in Christ’s name is: be reconciled to God. For
our sake God made the sinless one into sin, so that
in him we might become the goodness of God. As
his fellow workers, we beg you once again not to
neglect the grace of God that you have received. For
he says: At the favourable time, I have listened to
you; on the day of salvation I came to your help.
Well, now is the favourable time; this is the day of
salvation.
Let us listen now
to the way that
Jesus wants us
to approach this
time of repentance
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their
notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in
heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you;
this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to
win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward.
But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right
is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all
that is done in secret will reward you.
‘And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their
prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for
people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But
when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your
door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father
who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.
‘When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they
pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly,
they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head
and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except
your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who
sees all that is done in secret will reward you.’
We say together;
Lord, bless us as we ask
for your help and
forgiveness.
May we keep this Lenten
season in joy as we
prepare for Easter.
We make this prayer
through Christ our Lord.
AMEN
Lent Challenge
Disconnect with things that distract
Re-connect with God
www.40acts.org.uk
Sign up for daily emails during lent
40
ACTS
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To give up or give back?
At school this year, instead of giving up
things, we’re going to give back to each
other.
is a project that will help
us to think about each other and how
God would like us to treat others.
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In 2014, just over 200 schools in the UK took part in
Here are the thoughts from a few pupils who took part.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmvpBGPln
Xk
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40acts at school
In 2015, how are you going to make a difference
in your school?
Will you…
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It all begins…
February 2015
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PRAYER
Lord Jesus,
as we celebrate this season of Lent,
may we turn back to you.
Through our prayer, our fasting and our giving,
may we become more thoughtful towards others,
more honest with ourselves, and more faithful to
you.
As we take stock of who we really are,
we disconnect with the distractions of our daily
lives,
and re-connect with you. Amen
Taking stock
giving, praying,
fasting