Lent 2021
|
REGIONAL MINISTER MARY TAYLOR writes: - "DURING the Christian season of Lent, we want to encourage churches in the YBA to adopt three spiritual practices which we hope will prove invaluable as we contemplate a new future, post pandemic. These three practices are: LISTENING...LEARNING...LOVING Recent events have proved enormously difficult and challenging – and distressing for those who have lost loved ones. Yet strangely, they also provide a window of opportunity for us as God’s people - to reimagine a different future and be ready to be people of hope in the communities in which God has placed us. We sense that for many of us our need may well be that we rediscover our security and safety in the love of God through Jesus. So, we suggest that in this season of Lent 2021 our focus is on coming before the Lord in prayer, with fasting and open hearts. We’ve all had to stop our regular activities, so before we reinstate anything, we’re suggesting a time of reflection where we can:
What might this look like as a regular personal or church discipline? We invite you to add these three practices to your life through Lent.
What will the YBA be offering to help you? We don’t wish to fill your diaries further but rather have some intentional times when we connect and pray together as we approach Holy Week and Easter.
Thursday Zoom prayer events
7.30-8.30pm Zoom prayer for Eastern Area Thursday 4th March 7.30-8.30pm Zoom prayer for Craven Area Thursday 11th March 7.30-8.30pm Zoom prayer for Huddersfield area Thursday 18th March 7.30-8.30pm Zoom prayer for Leeds Area Thursday 25th March 7.30-8.30pm Zoom prayer for Bradford Area Thursday 1st April 7.30-8.30pm Zoom prayer for Halifax and Calder Valley Area (Email Joolz - click here - and she will forward the Zoom links for these events)
Download the Wednesday Prayers - click here These are the Wednesday Bible readings with links to Bible Gatweay:- Wednesday 24th February – Learn 1 Kings 3:5-9 Wednesday 3rd March – Love 2 Kings 5:1-5 Wednesday 10th March – Listen Luke 10:38-42 Wednesday 17th March – Learn Matthew 7:24-29 Wednesday 24th March – Love John 12:1-8 Wednesday 31st March – Listen, Learn, Love John 13:1-20 |
Listen Spend 15 minutes quietly waiting on God. Enter into this space knowing you are welcome and loved. Begin and end with a simple prayer that asks for the Holy Spirit to come. Afterwards notice any strong thoughts or feelings, words of scripture, pictures or prophecy or simple be thankful for the quiet and rest. You can do this exercise with others and share your thoughts with them. Or write them in a journal.
Learn Be curious and make a plan to learn something new. This could be by having a conversation with someone you don’t know very well; take time to watch one of the many webinars from BUGB or YBA; ask someone to recommend a book; do one of the Just like Jesus challenges. Be open to where the first step of learning might lead you.
Love Take time in your everyday life to notice the needs of those around you and choose a simple action that will express love and care for them. Let yourself be Jesus to that person.
Thursday 25th February