shall return". This Holy Day begins the season of Lent and focuses our
minds on our mortality. Included in the texts for the day is Psalm 51
from which stems an oft-used offertory: Create in me a clean heart, and
renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and
take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of your
salvation and uphold me with a right spirit…a beautiful prayer.
Lent is a time of repentance and renewal – maybe we could think of it as a
time of repair as well – seeing to what is out of focus or out of
proportion in our lives. Often people give something up, concentrate on
doing good deeds, or become more dedicated to scripture reading, worship,
and time in prayer. All of these can benefit both our souls and our
companions in life. But this year I am going to work on that word
"repair"…What things do I need to fix in my life? What can I do better?
How can I be more faithful? What things am I ignoring? Who do I need to
pay attention to?
I can't begin to fix them all but I can choose a couple of things and
begin. That is the important step. I like the categories of choices the
Mayo Clinic Health Assessment suggests when encouraging participants to
make life changes in exercise, eating, stress level, etc: "I'm thinking
about exercising more, I'm planning to exercise more, I have begun to
exercise more…."
Pastor Janet has chosen the theme of The Lord's Prayer for our 2010 Lenten
focus and will begin this preaching/teaching series at Ash Wednesday
worship. I thought it interesting to look up a couple of different
versions of this prayer which is mentioned in both Matthew 6 and Luke 11:
Matthew 6:9-13 (The Message)
7-13"The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are
prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice,
peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for
that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows
better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can
pray very simply. Like this:
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what's best— as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Matthew 6:9-13 (Contemporary English Version)
9You should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
help us to honor
your name.
10Come and set up
your kingdom,
so that everyone on earth
will obey you,
as you are obeyed
in heaven.
11Give us our food for today. [a] 12Forgive us for doing wrong,
as we forgive others.
13Keep us from being tempted
and protect us from evil. [b]
Matthew 6:9-13 (New Century Version)
9 So when you pray, you should pray like this:
'Our Father in heaven,
may your name always be kept holy.
10 May your kingdom come
and what you want be done,
here on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us the food we need for each day.
12 Forgive us for our sins,
just as we have forgiven those who sinned against us.
13 And do not cause us to be tempted,
but save us from the Evil One.' [The kingdom, the power, and the glory
are yours forever. Amen.][a]
Lent is upon us. 40 days plus weekends. Let's make the most of it and
live in both the shadow and power of the cross as we pray Psalm 51 and The
Lord's Prayer. I'll be praying for you and I would appreciate your
prayers for me.
In Christ,
Carla Vanatta, Associate in Ministry
Salem Lutheran Church, Sycamore, IL
Salem reminders:
• Ash Wed. worship 7 p.m. Feb. 17th
• Pray for 18 3rd graders who will celebrate their First Communion on this
first Sunday in Lent at 10:30 worship Feb. 21st
• Salem midweek Lenten schedule begins Feb. 24th with a 2:00 p.m. worship
option followed by pie and conversation, a 5:30-6:30 p.m. Soup Supper, and
a 7:00 p.m. worship option of Holden Evening Prayer
• Lenten service opportunities include donating new or gently used shoes
of any size for Haiti and other places in need as well as content for
health kits
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