20 April 2019

Praying through Lent with
USPG (46): 20 April 2019

‘Jesus is laid in the tomb’ … Station XIV in the Stations of the Cross in the Chapel in Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2019)

Patrick Comerford

This is the last day of Lent this year [Saturday 20 April 2019]. Late this evening, when Lent comes to an end, I am celebrating and preaching at the Easter Eucharist in Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale, Co Limerick (8 p.m.) and Castletown Church, Kilcornan, near Pallaskenry, Co Limerick (10 p.m.).

Throughout Lent this year, I have been using the USPG Prayer Diary, Pray with the World Church, for my morning prayers and reflections.

USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel) is the Anglican mission agency that partners churches and communities worldwide in God’s mission to enliven faith, strengthen relationships, unlock potential, and champion justice. It was founded in 1701.

This week, Holy Week, the USPG Prayer Diary is focussing on the work of the Delhi Brotherhood Society (DBS) and its Women’s Helpline, which provides pastoral support and counselling to help families to resolve issues of gender violence or marital discord.

This theme was introduced on Sunday morning with a short article telling Meera’s story.

Saturday 20 April 2019:

Give thanks for the dedication and professionalism of the staff of the Women’s Helpline, for the support that they offer vulnerable women, and for lives changed by their intervention.

The Readings:

Job 14: 1-14 or Lamentations 3: 1-9, 19-24; Psalm 31: 1-4, 15-16; I Peter 4: 1-8; Matthew 27: 57-66 or John 19:38-42.

The Collect (Easter Eve):

Grant, Lord,
that we who are baptised into the death
of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
may continually put to death our evil desires
and be buried with him;
and that through the grave and gate of death
we may pass to our joyful resurrection;
through his merits, who died and was buried
and rose again for us,
your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Lenten Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God,
you hate nothing that you have made
and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent:
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may receive from you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Yesterday’s reflection

Series concluded

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