Good Afternoon and Blessings
Today is Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Tuesday, and is the day before Ash Wednesday. This is a time to indulge in food before the fasting days of Lent. Traditionally, we give up (fast) a favourite food item, usually a sweet that we eat too much of, for 40 days and 40 nights. Rather than giving up something, you may wish to attend to a spiritual practice such as sitting in silence each day for a period or have a daily intentional prayer.
We will be celebrating an Ash Wednesday Service and I invite you to burn your own ashes safely at home and to watch the virtual service at 6:30pm.
Note: If you prefer, you may wish to use oil for the service instead of ashes.
Keep safe, Keep connected.
Rev. Mary,
You breathed Love into our very being and we came alive. May the Loving words of God be among us, in our homes, and within us. May our hearts be filled with words of loving gentleness and reflect them to all we meet.
Blessings and the strength of Love be with you.
Reading Mathew 4:1-4 (MSG)
The Test
Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Tempter was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Tempter took advantage of in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.”
Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”
Prayer
Holy Spirit
We are grateful that You are with us during all our trials and temptations. May all our temptations be to benefit the life of others and are presented with Love. May we remain aware of your presence as we journey through this Lenten season. Spirit of promise and encounters, bless us this day, this night and always,
Keep Us in Love.
Amen