Sunday, February 17, 2013 - First Sunday in Lent

 

 

First Sunday in Lent

Worship: 8 & 10:45 am   Adult Forum: 9:30   "Common Hope" The Ruff Family

Deut. 26:1-11; Ps. 91:1-2, 9-16; Rom.10:8b-13; Luke 4:1-13

 

Lord, bless to me this Lent.

Lord, let me fast most truly and profitably,

            by feeding in prayer on your Spirit;

                        reveal me to myself

                                    in the light of your holiness.

 

Suffer me never to think

            that I have knowledge enough to need no teaching,

                        wisdom enough to need no correction,

                        talents enough to need no grace,

                        goodness enough to need no repentance,

                        devotion enough to need no quickening,

                        strength sufficient without your Spirit;

            lest, standing still, I fall back for evermore.

 

Show me the desires that should be disciplined,

                        and sloths to be slain.

Show me  the omissions to be made up

                        and the habits to be mended.

And behind these, weaken, humble, and annihilate in me

            self-will, self-righteousness, self-satisfaction,

            self-sufficiency, self-assertion, vainglory.

 

May my whole effort be to return to you;

            O make it serious and sincere,

            persevering and fruitful in result,

                        by the help of your Holy Spirit

                                    and to your glory,

                                                my Lord and my God.   Amen

 

(Dean Eric Milner-White, 1884-1963, in My God, My Glory)