Mon

24 Mar

The theme for this week is The Lord’s Prayer taken from Matthew 6:9-13. Click here to listen to Eleanor Calder read the Bible reading and some questions to help you to engage with it.

Prayer before Scripture:
Be present Spirit of God as we listen to these words of Scripture.
Open our ears that we may hear the call to embody Christ to the world.
Open our minds to be challenged to new ways of thinking and being.
Open our hearts that we may be formed for mission in your world.
We ask these things in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

At the end of the reading:
Whakarongo ki te kupu a te Wairua ki te Haahi.  Whakapaingia te Atua.

 

Tue

25 Mar

We invite you listen to and learn the te reo māori Lord’s prayer here.

 

 

 

Wed

26 Mar

Your kingdom come.

Looking at the state of our world, we desperately need God’s presence and peace. We think of families suffering loss and displacement in the midst of war and conflict; communities affected by severe climate disasters of storms, floods, wildfires and droughts; our global neighbours who are trapped by abject poverty and trampled by global inequalities.

It can feel overwhelming to come to terms with the reality and depth of the suffering and pain in our world. St Augustine said: “Hope has two beautiful daughters: their names are anger and courage. Anger that things are the way they are. Courage to make them the way they ought to be.”

Explore the range of courageous actions suggested by the Anglican Mission here and choose one action to take or commit to today.

 

 

Thu

27 Mar

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

One of the five marks of mission is Care of Creation. Take a shopping bag with you on your travels today and whenever you see rubbish on the street, pick it up. With each piece of rubbish you collect, repeat this phrase from the Lord’s Prayer.

 

Fri

28 Mar

Give us this day our daily bread.

What is your spiritual diet like? Are you hungry? Do you need more nourishment? What form might that take? Is there a pattern you want to increase or begin?

Here are some links that might help you to broaden your spiritual diet.

 Tuia  is a daily prayer app based on A New Zealand Prayer Book He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa

Pray as you Go is another way of engaging with Scripture daily.

 

Sat

29 Mar

Lead us not into temptation.

Wikipedia defines temptation as “a fundamental desire to engage in short-term urges for enjoyment, that threatens long-term goals. In the context of some religions, temptation is the inclination to sin.”

“Short-term urges” can get in the way of our relationships with God, with friends and family, and with our true self.

What “long term goals” might be under threat?

Write in your journal.

 

Sun

Lent 4

30 Mar

This photo is the sanctuary of All Saints in Ponsonby.

Click here to be led through The Examen.

Concluding Prayer:

God, you call us to serve you with all the strength we have:
you are faithful to those you call;
may Jesus’ resurrection raise us if we stumble,
the Christlight beckon us if we lose our way,
and we shall have strength once more
to walk with you to the cross. Amen.