Handbook for Lent

Handbook for Services in Lent by Rector Rev’d Andrea Jones

It continues to be a great disappointment that we cannot worship in our church building at the present time. We can only hope that this “fast” does not need to continue for too long now. Despite not being able to be in church for Ash Wednesday or meet in person for Lent groups, it is important that we keep the season Lent, a time for reflection, reappraisal and for penitence. Lent is about walking with Jesus as we journey with him towards His final days of Holy Week and to the Cross. It is a very good time to find some extra time to spend with God.

This booklet includes some words and prayers which you can use each day. Lent is a time for saying sorry but we must not see it as a time for “beating ourselves up”. It is not only a time to remember the things we regret doing, or not doing, as individuals, though we may want to do that. It is a time to lift up to God the injustices across the planet, the damage we are doing to each other and to the Earth, the structural sins which beset our world and asking God for guidance and healing.

Many people like to read a book during Lent and I list a few titles below that you might wish to consider.

I am aware that not everyone is on the internet or Facebook or can use Zoom but we are, in the absence of not being able to be in church, worshipping in the following ways:

Ash Wednesday: a Celtic service will be live streamed on Facebook at 12 noon.
Each week during Lent: Sundays 10 am Zoom Eucharist
Each Tuesday: 7pm Zoom Eucharist.
Every evening at 9.00 pm: a Celtic Service of Compline is posted on Facebook

Messy Church on Zoom – there will also be Messy Church in Lent and at Easter. Details will be given on Facebook and email. Our Facebook is St Deiniol’s Church in Wales Hawarden For a link to any of our Zoom services please email Revd Alan on 794alan@gmail.com

Best wishes, Revd Andrea Jones, Rector 01244 520992

Some suggested readings in Lent:

Saying Yes to Life by Ruth Valerio
Living His Story by Hannah Steele
Looking Through the Cross by Graham Tomlin
Thy Will be Done Stephen Cherry
Candles in the Dark Rowan Williams

Reading the Bible in Lent

Some people like to use the time of Lent to read a chapter of the Bible each day or to read a psalm (in addition to the one in the order of service below). Here are some suggestions taken from the Church in Wales Lectionary, that is the readings set for each day, and you might want to use whilst praying the short service below.

Wed 17 Feb Luke 15.11-end	Thur 4 Mar Heb 3.1-6	Fri 19Mar Hb 10.26-end
Thur 18 Feb Gal.2.11-end	Fri 5 Mar Heb 3.7-end	Sat 20 Mar Heb 11.1-16
Fri 19 Feb Gal 3.1-14	Sat 6 Mar Heb 4.1-13	Sun 21 Mar 2 Cor 11.16-12.10
Sat 20 Feb Gal 3.15-end	Sun 7 Mar2 Cor 5.20-end	Mon 22 Mar Heb 11.17-31
Sun 21 Feb 2 Cor.4	Mon 8 Mar Heb 4.14-5.10	Tue 23 Mar Heb 11.32-12.2
Mon 22 Feb Gal 3.23-4.7	Tues 9 Mar Heb 5.11-6.12	Wed 24 Mar Galatian 4.1-5
Tues 23 Feb Gal 4.8-20	Wed 10 Mar Heb 6.13-end	Thur 25 Mar Heb12.14-end
Wed 24 Feb Gal 4.21-5.1	Thur 11 Mar Heb 7.1-10	Fri 26 Mar Heb 13.1-16
Thur 25 Feb Gal 5.2-15	Fri 12 Mar Heb 7.11-end	Sat 27 Mar Jeb 13.17-end
Fri 26 Feb Gal 5.16-end	Sat 13 Mar Heb 3.1-15	Sun 28 Mar John 12.1-19
Sat 27 Feb Gal 6	Sun 14 Mar 2 Cor 9	Mon 29 Mar Col 1.18-23
Sun 28 Feb 2 Cor 5	Mon 15 Mar Heb 9.1-14	Tues 30 Mar Gal. 6.11-end
Mon 1 Mar 1 John2.1-8	Tues 16 Mar Heb 9.15-end	Wed 31 Mar Rev 14.18-15.4
Tues 2 Mar Heb 2.1-9	Wed 17 Mar Heb 10.1-18	Thur 1 Apr Eph 2.11-18
Wed 3 Mar Heb 2.10 – end	Thur 19 Mar Heb 10.19-25	Good Friday 1 Pet 2.11-end

A short service of prayers and reflection for use in Lent

Opening Prayer: God of our days and years. I set this time apart for you that I may be formed into the likeness of Christ and that my life my glorify you.

The Beatitudes
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Reading (See the readings listed above or choose a Bible reading): Psalm 130: Out of the depths I have called to you, Lord. | Let your ears be open to hear my voice. | If you recorded all our sins who could come before you? | There is forgiveness with you:therefore you shall be feared. | My soul is longing for the Lord, more than those who watch for daybreak. | O Israel, wait for the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy. | Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Confession and Forgiveness: Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God, though we have rebelled against him.Let us then renounce our wilfulness and ask his mercy by confessing our sins in penitence and faith. Wash away all my iniquity Lord, have mercy. Against you, you only have I sinned Christ, have mercy. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Lord, have mercy. May almighty God, who sent his Son into the world to save sinners, bring us his pardon and peace, now and for ever.

Intercessions: A time to pray by name for those people and situations that we want to especially place before God today.

The Diocesan Lent Prayer 2021: Sovereign Lord, all our beginnings and endings are encompassed by you. Help us follow in the footsteps of Christ and seek your Kingdom with all our hearts. In Jesus, may we find firm footing for our feet and clear direction to our travels. With his life and love breathed into our witness, may we stand with him, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Prayer: God of compassion, through your Son Jesus Christ you have reconciled your people to yourself. As we follow his example of prayer and fasting, may we obey you with willing hearts and serve one another in holy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.