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Prayer for the Second Sunday of Lent
Creator of All, Tree of Life, Spirit among us: as we wander deeper into the wilderness of this season, searching for paths among the woods, be our companion along the way less traveled. The forest is calling us: come. Come, stand among us. Come where light and shadow dance as branches sway with the wind. Come in wonder and worship, you powerful and powerless, come, children and elders, come, from all directions, come, learn the secrets of life: dormancy and growth, interconnection and community, rootedness and reaching upward. We confess our devotion to independence, our belief we can go it alone, and our me-first mentality. Heal us from our short sightedness so we might see the forest for the trees, recognize our dependance on you, and our interdependence with all life from mycelia to majestic pines. Shelter us, O God, in the safety of your strong branches. Nourish and strengthen us, but keep us humble of heart. Tune our ears to your timbered voice, and tune our hearts to praise. Amen. - Wendy Janzen
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Prayer for the First Sunday of Lent
From the depths of our souls we call out to the Source of all being: deep calls to Deep, hear our cries. We are born of water, watery wombs hold us then spill us out into this world of light. At times - like now - it is easy to feel like life has us in over our heads. We are treading water and growing very weary. The vastness of the sea, with no shore in sight, waves and storms, sea monsters, real or imagined, all threaten us. Buoy us, O Presence. Preserve us from the storms, have compassion on us, embrace us with mercy. Hold us, so that we might stop our striving, at least for a bit, catch our breath, regain our strength, find hope in our waiting. Calm our weary souls that we might find true rest. And, when the time is right invite us to dive beneath the surface, down to the deep, and discover the treasure that awaits. Amen - Wendy Janzen Ash Wednesday Prayer
Wounded Christ, On this day we remember that we are stardust, that we share death in common with all that lives, that from dust we came, and to dust we will return. Walk with us on every step of this sacred journey, and help us not turn away from heartache, pain, and loss. In our vulnerability may we also find strength, in our sorrow may we know the depths of love, in our living, may we learn to die. Keep us from grasping at that which holds us back, and don’t guarantee life anyways. Grant us peace of spirit even as our flesh grows weary and worn. In your mercy, hear our prayers. Amen. - Wendy Janzen Blessed be red tailed hawk
and clear blue sky. Blessed be the glowing yellow branches of weeping willow. Blessed be brilliant white snow and deep shadows. Blessed be wind and sun, flowing river, and frozen soil. Blessed be the tilt of the globe, the orbit of earth, and the expansive cosmos. Blessed be the life cycle, seeds, decay, birth, death, and all the moments in between. Blessed be God, Mother of all, Lover of all. Blessed be our love for life and all that is alive, for our world, our watershed, our particular place, and all those with whom we share it. - Wendy Janzen God of all creatures,
today we praise you for groundhogs, unassuming rodents who carry the tradition and mystery of forecasting spring. From their elaborate burrows they rise, half dead: groggy from hibernation, hungry, alone, stressed; awakened by an inner clock synchronized with the rhythms of the seasons that tells them it is time to explore and prepare for the next generation. We pray for all creatures who count the days until the weather changes, until winter loosens its grip, until they can reconnect with others. We pray for all who are tired, who are hungry or dissatisfied, who are lonely or isolated. In this time between solstice and equinox reassure us that sooner or later spring will come. Grant us patience to see the gifts of this particular time, and to savour the stillness. In our exhaustion release us from stress so that we might find rest. In moments of hunger or dissatisfaction remind us that there is enough. In our isolation be a comforting presence. We pray that whether the sun shines or the sky is grey, we will count each day as a gift with moments of wonder. Let hope rise up in us, as we align our bodies and spirits to your greater purposes beyond what we see this day. Amen. - Wendy Janzen |
AuthorReflections, poetry, prayers, and resources written by Wendy Janzen and occasional guests. Archives
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