What We Do
We vow to pray daily for the spread of Christ’s Kingdom, for God’s blessing on the work of our Order, for the spiritual growth of our parish. Let us pray for the many projects in the Church and community.
Opening Prayer
Gracious God, you are calling us on this Lenten journey to see anew, to name new realities and to act with integrity and justice. Give us the courage to not only take time to reflect on your presence in our current reality, but also to share with one another our thoughts, our anxieties, our joys, our wonderings as well as our “What ifs…”
On our journey help us to become servant leaders, to “think big,” to reverence the earth, to be builders, not destroyers, to be conserving creators and not poisoning consumers, to proclaim hope in the face of darkness; and to be one with God who finds joy in sharing this earth with us. We ask this in the name of Christ Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Beginning our Lenten Journey
The season of Lent is one of thoughtful reflection. During this time of the church calendar, Christians ponder the unfolding events that led to Jesus’ condemnation and crucifixion: His triumphal march into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday; His firm words of warning about the events to come; His sham trial, brutal scourging, and horrific crucifixion. No day could be any darker; no travesty more calamitous than the slaying of God’s own Beloved Son. And yet, that’s what we find on Golgotha: our sins demanding His death on a cross to satisfy the Father’s righteous judgment.
Taken from the cross, the lifeless form of Christ was placed in another man’s tomb. With that action the world thought the ordeal complete, the savagery it had witnessed something it could now put behind it. But God’s work wasn’t quite done. Three days later, out of a sealed tomb—guarded to prevent theft—Jesus rose from the dead. And with that thunderous crescendo, mankind’s disgrace and ruin, which had destined it for eternal slaughter, is forgiven through the blood of Christ.
Help Us to Pray
Almighty God, help us to pray so faithfully that we may draw near to you and learn your will. Help us to serve so joyfully that others may be drawn to you. May your Holy Spirit guide us each day that all we think, do, or say may be acceptable to you. We ask all for the sake of Him whose cross we wear, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Almighty and everlasting God, in whom we live and move and have our being, we here dedicate our whole being to you and your service in faith and joy and love. In this dedication we pray that you will confirm and strengthen us, O merciful God, that as we grow in age we may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our King, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
The Prayer of the Order
O Eternal Father, you have sent us your Son to teach us things pertaining to your heavenly Kingdom. Give your blessing to our Order wherever it may be throughout the world. Grant that we, your Daughters, ever may discern your truth and bear the cross through the battles of our earthly life. Give us strength to overcome temptation and the grace to work to spread your Kingdom and to gather your scattered sheep within your fold. Pour out upon us the sevenfold gift of the Holy Spirit that we may always remember it is your work we are called to do, that all we think, do or say may be pleasing in your sight. We ask it all For His Sake, our King and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer for Faithfulness
Collect
Devotion and Reflection
Reading Joel 2:15-18 Reading for Ash Wednesday
“Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an assembly; Gather the people, notify the congregation; assemble the elders, gather the children and the infants at the breast; Let the bridegroom quit his room and the bride her chamber. Between the porch and the altar let the priests, the ministers of God, weep, and say, "Spare, O God, your people, and make not your heritage a reproach, with the nations ruling over them! Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?' “Then God was stirred to concern for the land and took pity on the people.
The Word of the Lord.
Imtercessions
For the community of the Church, that our Daughters will respond to the call of the prophet and discover God’s presence in new ways this Lent. We pray to the Lord.
Lord, give me a caring heart.
With Caring hearts, let us pray the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples…… Our Father
Prayer For a Daughter Who Has Died
Dear Heavenly Father, we bless You for all those who have departed this life in Your faith and fear. Through their loving service to others and the Order and their way of prayerful living they endeavored to perfect Your will in their life. May their deep faith be an inspiration to all and so illumine the hearts of women and girls to find You along their earthly pilgrimage. Grant that the light of Your presence and Your eternal peace be their great and everlasting reward. Amen.
Prayer For Members Who are Ill
O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers, mercifully accept our prayer and grant to all the help of your power, that their sickness may be turned to health and our sorrow to joy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer For Healing
Our Heavenly Father, by whose loving kindness and mercy our souls and bodies are renewed, look upon your children for whom we pray. Knowing you are interested in personal needs, we bring to your altar those who are perplexed or afraid, as we ask you to take away fear; those who face physical suffering, as we ask you to give them courage to endure; those who seem burdened with indecision, as we ask you to lift the pall of confusion. We also bring those who are lonely, for whom we ask companionship. We ask guidance and comfort for those to whom death has brought sorrow and despair. Amen.
Prayer For Peace
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father, to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
The Holy Cross
Almighty God, whose beloved son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption: Give us courage to take up our cross and follow Him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
The Motto of the Order
For His Sake...I am but one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
What I can do, I ought to do.
What I ought to do, by the grace of God I will do.
Lord, what will you have me do?
Prayer for Peace in Troubled Times
A Lenten Litany of Fasting and Feasting by William Arthur Ward
The Prayer of Saint Frances of Assisi
"Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.
Gracious God, encourage us, support us, and be with us on our Lenten journey. We ask this in the name of Christ our brother and friend, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Lord Almighty grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end. AMEN.
