March 13, 2019 - Lent 1 Wednesday Worship - Strange and Familiar Destinations

Singing Kelly Carlisle's Quiet Our Souls started our contemplative worship tonight. This first of our 2019 Wednesday services reminded me of past Lent services but became a unique evening contemplation as well.

The printed Blessing was a prayer to God acknowledging we were on a venture of which we cannot see the ending. Every Lent is familiar but, simultaneously a new venture. Each Lenten journey arrives at Easter but also arrives at it's own individual destination.

The Gospel Reading was Luke 4:1-13, Luke's account of the temptations. Pastor Ray preached how each temptation was, at heart, an attempt to undermine a deep trust in God and what he provides that we fear most to lose; food, sustenance and safety.

Before an Invitation to Prayer Around the Cross, where we were all gathered, we dipped our fingers in the Baptismal font, made signs of the cross on each other's foreheads and spoke to each other "Remember your Baptism. You are a beloved child of God" .

As we lit candles we sang Ubi Caritas and Jesus Remember Me. We left tonight's worship quietly and individually.