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Notable Feast Days this Week

February 13 - Modomnoc, Bishop of Ireland, 6th century
February 14 - Ash Wednesday
February 14 - Valentine, Martyr, 270
February 15 - Onesimus, Philemon v.10, (Eastern)
February 15 - Philemon and Onesimus (Lutheran)
February 16 - Onesimus, Philemon v.10, (Roman Catholic)
February 17 - Finan, Lindisfarne, 661
February 18 - Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome, 461 (Eastern)
February 18 - Martin Luther, 1546 (Lutheran)

Revised Common Lectionary

Genesis 9:8-17
Psalm 25:1-10
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:9-15

Daily Readings (RCL)
Liturgical Color - Purple

Forward

------- First Sunday in Lent ------- February 18, 2018 (Year B)

God's Covenant

Help us to know your ways, Lord; teach us your paths (Psalm 25:1-10). God has made a covenant with us (Genesis 9:8-17) and sent the Holy Spirit to guide us (Mark 1:9-15). We follow Jesus' example and are baptized for the repentance of our sins and the promise of eternal life (1 Peter 3:18-22).
-Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional

Psalm of the Week

Scripture Readings

Psalm 25:1-10

In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths...

Commentary on Psalm 25
Augustine, Calvin, Spurgeon,
Doug Bratt (Preacher's Commentary)

Audio
Psalm 25, Genesis 9,
1 Peter 3, Mark 1

Genesis 9:8-17
A sign of God's covenant

1 Peter 3:18-22
Saved through water

Mark 1:9-15
The baptism and temptation of Jesus

Daily Readings
Revised Common Lectionary

Daily Readings
Book of Common Prayer

The Entire Bible in One Year

Chronological

The Origins of Lent

The tradition of Lent can be traced back to the 2nd century. During this season, new Christians would prepare for baptism through fasting and study. By the year 325 AD, the time of preparation had been extended to 40 days and entire congregations practiced Lenten disciplines as a sign of Christian discipleship. Church consensus determined that the Lenten period of renewal should correspond to Christ’s forty-day fast. These Christians counted forty days back from Easter (excluding Sundays), to determine the time frame of the Lenten journey.

Ash Wednesday (February 14)

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Return to God

Isaiah 58:1-12
The fast that God chooses

Psalm 51:1-17
A cry for mercy and forgiveness

2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
Now is the day of salvation

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Practicing our faith

A Prayer for Ash Wednesday (The Book of Common Prayer)

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Resources for Lent

There is a “bright sadness” to the Lenten journey - a distinct awareness, begun with ashes, that we are frail. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday with an honest look at ourselves and the world. We are called to embrace humility and repentance instead of hubris and pride. Ashes remind us of our mortality and need of forgiveness.

We are on a journey toward Easter. What begins with ashes ends with resurrection.

A Prayer for the Lenten Journey

God of wilderness and water, your Son was baptized and tempted as we are. Guide us through this season, that we may not avoid struggle, but open ourselves to blessing, through the cleansing depths of repentance and the heaven-rending words of the Spirit. Amen.

Quote

"I want to be in a church of the faint-hearted...who feel the wretchedness of their sins and who believe in the forgiveness of sins.” -Martin Luther

Books

The Good of Giving Up - Fr. Aaron Damiani
Lent for Everyone: Mark - N.T. Wright (Video)
Great Lent: Journey to Pascha – Alexander Schmemann
God for Us: Rediscovering Lent and Easter - edited by Greg Pennoyer

Articles

Praying in Color: Lent Calendar Coloring Templates (Free Download)
"How to explain Ash Wednesday to children" - Robin Floch
Lent Resource Guide - Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Suggestions for Lent Devotionals with Arts Component - Art and Theology Blog
Message for Lent 2018 - Pope Francis

Poetry

T.S. Eliot - Ash Wednesday
Walter Brueggemann - Marked by Ashes
George Herbert - Lent: Ash Wednesday
Robert Herrick - Lent
Ephraim of Syria (4th century) - Lenten Prayers, Week 4.
May Sarton - Now I Become Myself

Practicing Prayer

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan; Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. -The Book of Common Prayer

Contemplative Prayer (View and Download)

Morning Prayer (View and Download)

Further Prayer Resources

Morning and Evening Prayer (Church of England-Protestant)
Liturgy of the Hours and Sung Breviary (Roman Catholic)
Sung Morning Prayer by Calvin Peters (Eastern Orthodox)
Audio Prayer Meditation (Pray as You Go)

Psalm Playlists

Singing Psalms and Hymns

Commentary on Mark 1:9-15

The dove is not for sale;
it is given gratis.
Hence it is called grace.
-Augustine

More Historic Commentary
(View and Download)

Music for Listening

Thematic Art

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