Hello Prayer Bench friends,
Here is a small newsletter for Holy Week with a couple of resources for you to use.
A Holy Thursday Reflection
A Good Friday Prayer
And two other resources that may be helpful to you:
Easter Retreat “Beating Hearts”
Worship Sheets for leaders of worship or personal use.
Thursday of Holy Week
Written by Janice MacLean, published March 2022.
Scripture: Matthew 26:17-56
Are You Willing to Wake Up?
“Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” – Matthew 26:40-41
Throughout Lent I begin my day by asking, “Am I willing to wake up?” I don’t mean yawn, stretch, and get out of bed. I mean, am I willing to meet this day by inhabiting whatever fruit of the Spirit is mine to share in the unfolding circumstances of the day. Am I willing to confront with goodness whatever habits and behaviours make me less than who I can be?
Every. Single. Day. Indeed, like the disciples, every hour we are practicing staying awake. We are willing our spiritual hearts to wake up and pay attention. We are losing our little self so we can find something so much more.
Inner awakening is the work of transformation. We awaken to the Divine flowing in all things. We awaken to the true core of our Self that looks in the inner mirror and knows itself beloved. We awaken to the part of us that isn’t tarnished and never dies.
Awake, we drink from the Cup of deepest forgiveness, awakening joy.
Awake, we taste the Bread of utter brokenness, awakening compassion.
We linger in the Garden waiting, the tune of hymns haunting us with hope.
Over and over, we fall asleep.
And yet.
Love is always calling.
Waking the longing in us.
Over and over, we fall asleep.
And yet.
Love is always present.
Love never dies.
Lord Jesus, stay with us,
for evening is at hand and the day is past;
be our companion in the way,
kindle our hearts and awaken hope,
that we may know you as you are revealed in scripture
and the breaking of bread.
Grant this for the sake of your love. - The Book of Common Prayer
A Prayer for Good Friday
Written by Janice MacLean, published March 2022, adapted.
Where there is sadness, loneliness, and pain
Let there by company.
Where there is dying, leaving, and letting go
Let there be balm.
Where there is violence, betrayal, and hatred
Let there be action.
Where there is covid, cholera and waterborne disease
Let there be remedy for all.
Where there is washed away crops, diminishing food
Let there be aid.
Where there is war and missiles, nuclear threat
Let there be peace.
Where there is racism, the hidden bodies of Indigenous children
Let there be sight.
Where there is climate fear and environmental impacts
Let there be hope.
There where God is sorrowing
May we be also.
Easter Retreat “Beating Hearts”
An Easter Retreat (Digital Resource)
There are beating hearts in the garden of life. We come heart to heart with the ever-seeking Mary Magdalene and the two early morning runners and learn how to see. We ponder what spiritual practice might nourish us during the 50 Great Days of Easter.
You receive a nine-page Retreat Guide offer suggestions for creating a space for settling into your retreat, a reflection on the theme, Beating Hearts, several prompts to evoke reflection, art or journaling, and three suggestions for spiritual practice during the Easter season.
You have permission to share this retreat with others for the purpose of retreating together in the same space.
There is no right or wrong way to make this Easter retreat. You might want to set aside an hour or a half day of quiet time. You might want to get up at sunrise, matching your setting with the time of the story. You might want to work with the retreat over a few days, allowing it to work in you. You will know what your heart needs and what fits with the realities of your life.
Worship Sheets
This is a new project and I just finished it. This collection of 10 meditations is designed for various use: for worship leaders seeking inspiration, for occasional leaders of worship, for small groups, or for personal reflection. You can get the first one here as a sample of how they are organized.