Lent

Prayer for the season of Lent

We are bound by the lack of time

We are bound by fear of the future

We are bound by the limitation of poor health

We are bound by poverty

We are bound by our grief

We are bound by our addictions

God of Freedom,

You remove all that holds us bound into patterns of death

And breathe new life into every worn-out soul.

We cry to you for release from all that binds us.

Roll away the stones that block;

Loosen the tightness of our lives;

Call us forth from the tombs of our despair into the newness of life.

We ask this prayer in the name of your Son, Jesus,

Who is the Life of the World.

Amen.

Lenten prayer

God of endless kindness and mercy,

Open our hearts in this time of Lent.

Give us courage to look at our lives with honesty;

Give us strength to deal with what we find;

Help us to forgive ourselves and each other,

so that we may return to you with all our hearts,

We make this prayer through Christ Jesus.

Amen.

Prayer of the faithful in the season of Lent.

Leader: Having taken the sign of the Ashes and all that they symbolize, let us pray for each other and for Christians everywhere, that we may be visible signs of, and witnesses to, the merciful love of God for all creation.

Reader 1: That this Lent, we will become people of prayer, seeking to put on the mind of Christ in all we do. For this we pray:

All:Hear us, our merciful God.

Reader 2: That this Lent, we will take steps to stand in solidarity with people who suffer injustice, marginalization and oppression. For this we pray:

All:Hear us, our merciful God.

Reader 1: That this Lent, we will be quick to forgive and to seek forgiveness for our own failures to live up to the challenges and demands of the gospel. For this we pray:

All:Hear us, our merciful God.

Reader 2: That this Lent, we will become mindful of those around us who are in need of comfort and support and a hand of friendship and care. For this we pray:

All: Hear us, our merciful God.

Leader: Loving God, we ask your graceful presence in our lives in this Lenten season, so that we may rise to the challenge to become people of gentleness, generosity, compassion and peace. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, our model and guide. Amen.