Nothing hits home quite like the Litany of Penitence. Part of the liturgy for Ash Wednesday, the Litany of Penitence doesn’t mince words when it comes to naming those behaviors and preferences of ours which play a big part in our ongoing need for repentance and amendment of life; our ongoing need for salvation and healing through the blood of Christ; our ongoing need for the Cross.
Because most of us only see this Litany once a year, and then only if we go to church on Ash Wednesday, I’d like to commend a slow study of its various petitions to all of us as part of our Lenten meditation this year. The Litany is found in the Prayer Book on pages 267-269, but I’m going to include a part of it here – specifically, the portion found on page 268. Take some time with these:
We confess to you, Lord, all our past unfaithfulness: the pride, hypocrisy, and impatience of our lives,
We confess to you, Lord.
Our self-indulgent appetites and ways, and our exploitation of other people,
We confess to you, Lord.
Our anger at our own frustrations, and our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves,
We confess to you, Lord.
Our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, and our dishonesty in daily life and work,
We confess to you, Lord.
Our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to commend the faith that is in us,
We confess to you, Lord.
Accept our repentance, Lord, for the wrongs we have done: for our blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty,
Accept our repentance, Lord.
For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and for our prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us,
Accept our repentance, Lord.
For our waste and pollution of your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us,
Accept our repentance, Lord.
Ouch.
For looking more closely at, starting to deal with, false judgments, uncharitable thoughts, prejudice, and contempt...we offer our Tuesday evening Lenten series on “Forgiveness” – 6 p.m. Evening Prayer, 6:30 p.m. Soup and Salad Supper, 7:00-8:15 p.m., Presentation by Jim Calhoun of Salt Creek Associates, Mediator.
For looking more closely at, learning ways to deal with, waste and pollution and lack of concern...we offer the informative displays, activities, Geo-Quiz with prizes, and mimosa brunch of our first annual Earth Day Sunday Celebration, coming up on April 18. (One worship service only this day, at 9 a.m. – and please join the fun by wearing floral, animal, Hawaiian, or tropical print clothing.)
For learning about some of the available options in caring about those who come after us, we will be offering an evening on End of Life Decisions during the Easter Season; date and time yet TBA.
Like I said, “Ouch.”
March “Greenings” from Environmental Stewardship
Courtesy of “It’s Easy Being Green” by Crissy Trask
Helpful Hints
If you have latex paint you want to dispose of, leave the lid off the can until the paint is dry. Latex paint is not hazardous once it is solidified.
Cut up old t-shirts and use old towels for cleaning rags instead of paper towels.
If your drain is running slowly, pour ½ cup baking soda down the drain, then ½ cup white vinegar. Wait about half an hour, then pour in ½ gallon of boiling water. If this doesn’t work, try using a snake. Both methods are less toxic than traditional drain cleaners, easier on your pipes, and may save you $$ on a plumber.
Dear Church Family,