A Broken Road.

 One: Christ walk the Lenten road alone, his shadow the only thing that understands.

All: In the shadow of Christ we follow.

One: The path is punctuated by brokenness

All: As we walk this path we are called to reflect on broken hopes.  Dreams of life not lived, expectations not realized. We confess that in our own pursuit of our hopes and dreams we have failed to recognized our opportunities to empower others to purse their hopes and dreams 

One: When we fail to empower Hope for those that journey with us, the light of Christ is dimed as we come to know that all paths lead to the cross. 

First Candle extinguished

Prayer

God whose love created hope we ask that as we walk this Lenten path  forgive us for those moments that we have failed to empower others.  Your world cries as it gazes upon fractured hopes and dreams broken through vision that is obscured by personal wants. 

With a contrite heart we come and ask for forgiveness 

Personal Prayers of Confession

Song Come now, O God of second chances

          May we forgive ourselves

          May we become your living sign

          Children of God’s love

One: God who takes away the sin of the world have mercy

All: Christ who takes on the brokenness of the world be with us

One: Spirit of wholeness bind us together once more. 

All: God comes to find us beyond the shattered pieces of our lives.

One: God comes to make all things whole. This is our hope. The path that leads to the cross is our assurance of forgiveness

    Lent is a  time of the road before us naming those thing that will cause us to be become lost in in our lives. not settling in our lives in our faith but challenging it.

When I decided to go out actually rock hunting out in the wilds of Bancroft   I made sure I had some waterproof matches and a whistle.  Just in case I got lost. 

When lost, stop,   take stock,  and continue on

We for some of us at this moment is time  of feeling lost.  Sure we have heard the stories of shrinking congregations, Churches closing congregations disbanding. And we have always said surely not us. 

 Stop.  Stop right there.  We are not lost in the wilderness God has taken us firmly by the hand and says I am going to show you a way. We will not be tempted in the desert to despair. For as God sent the Angels to tend to Jesus, so God will send the Spirit to lead us forward. 

There is a song a group called Fun, called Carry on  the bridge and chorus goes

Cause we are, we are shining stars we are invincible, we are who we are on our darkest day when we're miles away so we'll come We will find our way home

if you're lost and alone or you're sinking like a stone carry on

may your past be the sound of your feet upon the ground carry on

Jesus carries on.  We shall carry on, with each heart beat we move closer to our future. 

 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   

Prayers of the people

 When we shiver in despair when the chill of death comes near,

Hold us Spirit, calm our fear while the evening deepens.

Holy Light, warm our night warm the time of winter

Holy night warm our night warm the time of winter 

Dear Lord, As the sun with longer journey melts the winter’s snow and ice with its slowly growing radiance warms our souls, may the sun of Christ’s uprising give us strength for the journey.  We come to you in this time of waiting, watching at times the wilderness of our own lives seeking the comfort of your presence.  In all the uncertainty, the fear of this time.  In the face of disease and challenge. In the presence of truth welcomed and feared be with us. 

Assure us that we are not alone.  Send your Spirit of healing on those whose lives need to know that presence. Send strength to those that may be faltering on the journey.   Hope to those who look to you.   Be with us in this time of reflection and prayer.  Know the prayers of our hearts and in your time may they be answered.   God of the journey we offer you the prayer which binds us as one saying Our Father…..

Offering

We give thee but thy own.   The work of the Church continues and there are three ways you can continue to support that work.   Consider using PAR, use the donate button on our Web Site or drop your gift at the Manse.   Let us make our offering and give thanks.     

Prayer

 One Wandering in the wilderness we are sustained by our living faith. sign and symbol of that faith we present our offering to God for the work of Christ’ Church

Song

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Him all creatures here below; praise Him above ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

 Prayer  Gracious God, as we begin our Lenten journey , we present our offering. These are tokens of our love and commitment to Journey with you on the path of faith. Receive these gifts and use them to further your will here in our community and around the world. Amen