March 8, 2022
Dear friends,
Here’s a beautiful description of the season of Lent and a prayer to go with it:
Lent
Christ has humbled Himself and become obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.
The earliest Christians set aside days during which they prepared themselves to celebrate Easter. And it is Easter we are preparing for, not Good Friday. The purpose of Lent is to set before us our former captivity to sin, death, and the devil, and then to direct us to Jesus, who out of His great love for us rescues us from that captivity by His death and resurrection. Thus during this season we meditate on our sinfulness, but always with an eye toward Easter, where the empty tomb tells us that our salvation has been accomplished.
Prayer for the Lenten Season
O Lord Jesus Christ, innocent and spotless Lamb of God, You have suffered the shameful death on the cross for us, and would have us always remember this. We again, from our inmost hearts, thank, praise, and magnify You, that You have redeemed us poor sinners by the price of Your holy sufferings and death, and were obedient to Your heavenly Father even to the death of the cross. You also shed Your precious blood to wash away and blot out our sins, and gave Your life for us, that we might be safe from eternal death. O faithful Savior, how much You have suffered for us! What unspeakable torture and pain you endured in body and soul, that we might be exempt from them forever. O Lord Jesus, patient lamb of God, You take away the sins of the whole world, we confess that we have caused You all this labor and Your death with our numerous and grievous sins. Be gracious and merciful to us, and do not let Your bitter and painful sufferings and death be in vain for us. Grant us grace that we may be mindful of this all our days, heartily praise and thank You for the same, and that by contemplating Your pains and crucifixion we may crucify and mortify all fleshly lusts and evil desires of our corrupt flesh. And because You have suffered for us, grant that we take up our cross, which we daily and richly deserve with our sins, and follow after You. For Your name’s sake, may we patiently endure all things, and in the blessed hereafter be and forever remain with You and all Your elect in heavenly joy and bliss. Amen.
Excerpt from: Book of Family Prayer, by Nils Laache (1831-1892)
You can read it online here: https://archive.org/details/bookoffamilypray00laac, or you can find it in print here: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Family-Prayer-Meditations-According/dp/B00UDCLAO0
God bless and keep you,
Pr. Buchs
COMING EVENTS:
Family Night – Wednesday, March 9 @ 5:30pm
Elders and Council – Thursday, March 10 @ 6 & 7pm
Men’s Bible Study – Wednesday, March 17 @ 8pm