Mid-Lent greetings,
As we find ourselves already halfway through March and Lent, I'm happy to share what's in this edition with you. My hope is that among the content, you'll discover a word or phrase to savour and carry with you.
Sample a full Prayer Bench Retreat called Pilgrim in Residence and check out the new Easter Retreat, called Beating Hearts.
Read Featured Post Reflection for Lent 4.
Two prayers to use in Lent from Jane Doull.
Group Stroll + Group Rambles = $65 (Limited time)
1. Beating Hearts: An Easter Retreat AND Pilgrim in Residence
There are beating hearts in the garden of life, and we hear echoes of other stories in our tradition in this Easter story. By holding them side by side and pondering on them, we gain insight into the true meaning of Easter. 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 will nourish us during the 50 Great Days of Easter.
What 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 journalling, 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.
You can sample a Prayer Bench Email Retreat by downloading the Retreat from June 2020. Here it is: Pilgrim in Residence.
There is no right or wrong way to make this Easter retreat. I suggest that you scan it to get a sense of what it is about. Then, let your heart decide how to intentionally use the 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.
You might also want to create an Easter altar-table for your Easter retreat space. Think about what objects support a celebration of Easter for you. What might symbolize Light? What might represent cast-aside burial clothes? Could you place a prayer stone? What is your symbol of new life? Perhaps as you work through the retreat, you’ll write quotes or scripture sentences to add to your space. May the words of this retreat and your inner work bring you heart to heart with the One who is Love.
PLEASE NOTE: Prayer Bench PERSONAL AND GROUP subscribers will receive this Retreat as part of the 2023 Subscription packages.
2. Featured Post for Lent from the Prayer Bench
I’ve been posting on the website each Monday in Lent. This week is called Sight and Insight.
Here is an invitation to let your eyes fall on the quotes until your heart signals it would like to linger with one. Then rest there and let the words fall into your heart. Read more here. You can catch up with past and future ones here.
3. Two Lent Prayers by Jane Doull
Jane writes: I encourage you to adapt these prayers for yourself or for your spiritual community, as long as you credit my work.
A Prayer of Searching
We sing of being one.
But how can that be?
We do not always understand even the people we love.
We want the freedom to be ourselves, not just what someone else wants us to be.
We want to live out our own dreams, not someone else’s expectations.
We do not want to be told we are too young, or too old.
We do not want to have to be the same as other people.
We want to be listened to- but who has time to listen?
We want to learn, we want to try new things- but is it safe?
And how can we talk about hard stuff, without hurting each other?
How can we really trust each other?
We seek to listen, to watch, to pray, open to the wisdom we need.
We remember , Holy One: your law of love is written on our hearts.
We remember Jesus’ words- seek and you shall find.
We remember, and we trust, and we hope.. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God , you so love this world, but today our world seems very unloved- full of war and violence and greed. We offer in silence that which troubles us about this world. [pause for silent prayer]
Many of us struggle to believe your love includes us- perhaps we feel as if we are in the wilderness, without help for that which wounds us in body and soul. We offer in silence that which troubles us about our own lives. [silence]
Many of us struggle to love one another. Perhaps we feel distant and estranged from someone we care about. We offer in silence that which troubles us about our relationships with each other. [silence]
Hear the Prayers of our hearts, O Beloved One. May your healing power touch our deep selves, our relationships and this beloved world. Amen.
Words of Encouragement. God loves us without limit or condition. God weeps with us in our troubles and the world’s pain. God desires healing for broken hearts, broken communities, broken world. Breathe in the healing and forgiveness , the new and abundant life which is God’s gift to you. Let peace and joy be born anew within you!
Watch for more information about "Let Us Pray: A Digital Collection of Prayers” by Jane Doull.
Group Stroll + Group Rambles = $65
Here is an invitation for newsletter subscribers to sign up unlimited participants in these two programs. Sign up participants once for both programs.
You can learn more about Stroll For Your Soul here and Autumn Rambles here. You won’t find this price in the shop. Let me know (before March 29th) if you are interested in this combination and I’ll send you follow up information. Email Janice
Both programs are also available separately for $50 each for groups and $20 for individuals.