Sunday, March 10, 2013
Lenten Reflections
Christian Formation Commission

Greetings!

Thank you for joining us in prayer and reflection during the season of Lent.This Sunday we will share the Gospel and a prayer and invite you to share in reflection and prayer in the community of your congregation.
 
Christian Formation Commission

Scripture

  

Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, 'This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.'

 So he told them this parable:

 

 Then Jesus said, 'There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me." So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, "How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.'" So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son." But the father said to his slaves, "Quickly, bring out a robe, the best one, and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!" And they began to celebrate.

 

 'Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, "Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound." Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, "Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!" Then the father said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found."'

Luke 15:1-3,11-32  



Prayer
 
Undignified God, spirit of dangerous feasts,
inviting the unclean to your table: 
find us in the far country of hopelessness and greed;
free us from the prison of resentment and envy and
bring us back to life; through Jesus Christ,
the friend of sinners.  Amen.



from
Prayers for an Inclusive Church
by Steven Shakespeare


 

The Christian Formation Commission invites you to click these links and explore more resources:

 

 

           

Lenten Study Resource - Fill Me, Use Me...for the Work of Ministry from the Office of Black Ministries, The Episcopal Church

 

Resources for Lent  - from Episcopal Relief and Development 

 

Resources for Lent 2012 - from GodSpace  

 

Praying Lent 2012 - from Creighton University (A Jesuit Catholic University)  

   

Holy Week and Good Friday Resources - from The Episcopal Church   

         

Prayers and Liturgies for Lent - from Faith and Worship   

 

Feeding and Fasting-Reflections for the Lenten Season - from CREDO 

 

Meditations written by Young Adults - from The Episcopal Church Office of Young Adult & Campus Ministries

 

Resources for Lent - from "Vital Practices" - Episcopal Church Foundation

 

Lenten Giving Calendar - from Jenifer Gamber

 

Lenten Resources - from Building Faith

 

Lent and Easter Ideas to Use at Home - from Barnabas in Churches (UK)

 

Labyrinth for Lent - from Barnabas in Churches (UK)

 

Lent and Easter Plays for Children - from Skiturgies  

 

 

 

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