Prelude to Joy

LENT_real_rest_FRONTPAGE 
Mark 6:11-44; Mark
14:22-25; Luke 24:28-31


Prayer for the day:

Lord Jesus, your prayers brought life. With your blessing the simple meal fed thousands, and with similar words you gave thanks and offered us all the bread and cup of life. We confess that all too often we overlook our own prayers of blessing so that we might get to what we think really matters. Turn our wandering minds back to your blessing so that we might see joy in the fullness of your grace. Amen.

Question for reflection:
What are your practices of giving thanks or offering a blessing?

~ Josh Brockway, Director for Spiritual Life and Discipleship

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lenten Devotional written by Duane Grady, pastor of Cedar Lake Church of the Brethren (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats). Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Duane’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Just Breathe

Lent 2013 Cover  Exodus 6:1-13

Question for reflection:
How is breathing a part of your time of prayer? Do you pay attention to how taking a deep breath changes your perspective?

Prayer for the day:
Gracious God, even to breath is grace. In the hurried pace of our lives your gift of life comes with each breath, and yet we take it for granted. With the few breaths of this moment remind us that you are present, blessing us with the sustaining air around us. Blow into us the creative presence of your Spirit so that with each simple breath we might proclaim you are the giver of all life.
Amen

~ Josh Brockway, Director for Spiritual Life and Discipleship

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lenten devotional, The Practice of Paying Attention, written by Dana Cassell, Minister of Youth Formation at the Manassas Church of the Brethren. (Available from Brethren Press in print and E-Book formats) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Walt’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.