The memorial in the Ghetto in Venice to Rabbi Adolfo Ottolenghi, Chief Rabbi of Venice (1919-1944), who was murdered in Auschwitz in 1944 (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)
Patrick Comerford
During Lent this year, I am using the USPG Prayer Diary, Pray with the World Church, for my morning prayers and reflections. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the end of the Holocaust, so I am illustrating my reflections each morning with images that emphasise this theme.
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 (15-21 March), the USPG Prayer Diary is focussing on the theme of ‘Standing with Indigenous Communities in The Philippines.’ This theme was introduced in the Prayer Diary on Sunday.
Wednesday 18 March 2020:
The Prayer Diary suggests for today:
Let us pray for all the speakers and attendees at USPG’s ‘Rethinking Mission’ conference, taking place in London this weekend.
However, the conference was cancelled on Thursday last as a precaution because of the Covid-19 or Corona Virus pandemic.
Instead, I am praying this morning for all who are disappointed by the cancellation of this conference, the organisers, the international speakers coming from Kenya, the Philippines, the Middle East where transit controls are strict, and Brazil, and those who had planned to attend, and giving thanks for those who accepted the responsibility of making a decision about this conference before people began to travel to London.
Readings: Deuteronomy 4: 1, 5-9; Psalm 147: 13-21; Matthew 5: 17-19.
The Collect of the Day:
Merciful Lord,
Grant your people grace to withstand the temptations
of the world, the flesh and the devil
and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only God;
through 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.
Continued tomorrow
Yesterday’s reflection
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