When the wind of Winter Blows

Bringing lent we’ve come to know 

Fill the silent icy night be our hearts compassion 

Holy light warm our night 

Warm this Lenten journey 

Holy light warm our night 

Warm this Lenten journey 

One: The dark of lent shadows our hearts 

All Our hearts are but snow and icicles 

One Melt the snow and this ice in your love of God 

All Nothing but your love can free us from this iced time.  

One: The iced indifference of this world shroud the cross We journey from darkness to light owning our faults, lamenting the sins of the world  We light this candle to lament the sense of privilege . 

All: Cold darkness of night is dispelled by your promise of a coming light O God. 

All: We pray for your world of God which has been frozen in a sense of privilege. Where the individual sees things as a right, and not a gift. Where the advantages of life the success of life are expected and not appreciated or earned.   

Save us from the sin of assumed privilege,  endow us with a sense of gratitude in the work that we undertake but temper it with a humility that reflects your love.  Amen  

Assurance of Pardon 

Song Come now, O God of second chances

      May we forgive ourselves 

      May we become your living sign 

      Children of God’s love 

One: we Know our God as a God who renews broken covenants, who offers blessings, and who has the power to make each of us a blessing to others. Despite our frailty and weakness, when we turn toward God, God accepts us and offers us forgiveness

 Finding our way our direction can be very hard.  

I sit at my desk watching dying days of winter knowing that it will be dark again in the morning and we must once more move back towards the light  Here at the beginning of lent it is like being in the dark of the early morning, or the dusk of the evening.  The road ahead seems shrouded in a darkness that grows deep as the night begins its journey.  

It is an in- between time not light but not dark.  Not cold but not warm, Not pristine white or verdant green, but greys and browns. It is a time of being. It is knowing the way but at the same time being lost.   

What do we know about being lost… Then you stop take a few breaths stay still take stock and move forward.  

Is this what is happening in the Gospel. Jesus Lost in the wilderness tempted, shown  different way to go. Road tempted to travel and yet the road not taken.  Sure Jesus comes back with the quick quotes but was there a moment of pondering or wondering?  When the decision was made Jesus saw that he would not take the easy road, He kept on going looking ahead not worrying about what was behind or a head. He heard the voice calling his name.  You are my son with you I am well pleased.  Jesus moved forward.  

 I had one of those conversations with a colleague this week. It was one of those “if people would just listen to us all would be well” The rub is that even though you can say to them this is the best way for you to carry out ministry they can’t let go to that which is holding them.  One could say they were not afraid of dying but truly afraid of living.  In our lives there will be times that we see the way forward but if those whom we are called to journey with cannot see that way that way is lost.  The journey forward at times means letting something go.  Jesus knew that is following the road that God had set out for him, he would have to give up a lot.  

Jesus was strengthened by his faith and was prepared.  Lent is a time for us to ponder and perhaps to prepare.  

I remember the first time I went rock hunting  I made sure I had some waterproof matches and a whistle.  Just in case I got lost.  

 We have moved beyond the mountain top that glimpse of what might be. We have taken that vision and now it’s time to study the map.  Our journey as a community of faith is taking us in a new direction. There is much that we must navigate.  There will be challenges, this is a truth.  

 In 1939 the British government created a propaganda poster that was to become a rally cry.  Keep Calm and Carry On.  As we begin this new journey we are called to set our trust in God as Jesus set his trust in the wilderness and keep calm and carry on.  

 The Spirit moves within us a shining star in our soul, whose strength can make our souls invincible. For who are we? We, are God's children. Who here in the dusk of the night on the edge of the journey, known and unknown, when life is good when life is at its darkest we carry on for God is with us and we are not alone   

Here we are in the in-between times. The Lenten journey has begun, we are not where we have been but not yet at where we are headed.  It is a time of discernment, a time of reflection. It is a time of questions. As God sent the Angels to tend to Jesus so God sends the Spirit to tend us. From the old we travel to the new a time of awakening and knowing that We are not alone thanks be to God.   

Prayers of the people

Hear our prayer we humbly offer

Grant to us your peace O God

Hear our prayer we humbly offer

Grant to us your peace O God.

Prayer 

 God of beginnings be with us as we begin our Lenten journey. May you Spirit encourage us to for even a moment quiet our minds to seek the center. The point of balance in our lives.  Your great divine design is one of balance. For we see around us in all of creation that balance. Yet the world in its dark desires has moved away from the center a toters on fall. We offer prayers for your world and creation.

We pray for those who long for the center of wholeness of body and of mind. Those that have lost dear and most loved one. They long for that centering and need your courage a guidance. But most of all they need to know your love.  May we have the courage to walk with those whom we know.

We thank you in how you have journeyed with us as a community of faith and we pray that you will continue to walk with us on our journey.  We trust the prayers of our hearts to you  We come together in a common prayer saying Our Father…