MEDITATION Lectio Divina: Praying Scripture Read: Select a passage of scripture to read and   reread Reflect: Let God’s word speak to you Respond: Decide what changes God wants us to make in our lives Rest: Be still in God’s presence Adapted from Prayer and Temperament,  Chester P. Michael, Marie C. Norrisey March 12, 2022

PRAYER “To pray is to change” Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster, p 33. Lord, teach us to pray March 9, 2022

12Yet even now, says the Lord,  return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;  13rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God,  for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,  and relents from punishing.Joel 2: 12,13

The word shrove is a form of the English word shrive which means to obtain absolution for one’s sins by way of Confession and doing penance. Shrove Tueday was thus named after the custom of Christians to be “shriven” before the start of Lent. Mardi Gras – “Fat Tuesday” – derives from the custom of eating celebratory meals prior to beginning the fast of Lent. March 1, 2022

Look into the vast night sky at the stars, planets, meteors and comets, and praise God for stirring our awe, wonder, curiosity, humility and imagination.                                           Prayer Ventures, Living Lutheran God our creator, as we are made in your image, We give you thanks for the seed of creativity you planted in each person. We praise you for the cleans lines of sculpture, the complexity of the concerto, the beauty of the poet’s words.

Pray that the story of Joseph forgiving his brothers, which mirrors God’s love and forgiveness of us, will inspire us to forgive those who have caused us offense, anger or distress, and that we might seek forgiveness and grace from people we have hurt.                        Prayer Ventures, Living Lutheran, February 22, 2022

Pray that the Spirit will help us understand and follow the ways, desires and commandments of God that protect our well-being in daily life.                        Prayer Ventures, Living Lutheran, February 17, 2022 Almighty God, by our baptism into the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, you turn us from the old life of sin. Grant that we who are reborn to new life in him may live in righteousness and holiness all our days, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.                        ELW, p86.