bath & wells: services for children and young people
schools & colleges

Seasonal Prayers - A Lenten Journey

Ideas for Lent, following the involvement of Simon Peter.

Lent is a spiritual journey from darkness to light, accompanied by the lengthening of the days. It takes us from the penitence of Ash Wednesday to the joyful dawn of Easter Day. It is good to have companions on the journey and this year we suggest that we share the journey with one of Jesus' closest companions, Simon, son of Jonah, later known as Peter. We draw on some of the experiences from his journey with Jesus to help us on ours.

The suggested symbols are physical artefacts, to be laid at the foot of a Lenten cross (perhaps made from a former' Christmas tree).

Alternatively, project images onto a screen at the front of the sanctuary.

Click on images for larger printable version.

Lent 1: Put out into the deep  Luke 5.1-11 Symbols: a simple fishing boat and/or fishing net. Lay the boat at the foot of the Lenten cross and drape the fishing net across it

Prayer

Jesus our teacher,
help us to come to you, to learn from you, to learn of you.
Jesus, journey with us.

Jesus our Lord,
help us to obey your commands, to put out into the deep, to let down our nets to see what we will catch.
Jesus, journey with us.

Jesus our Saviour,
forgive us our sins, for we are sinful men and women, who do not learn easily, who do not obey fully.
Jesus, journey with us.

Jesus our God,
help us to leave what is unimportant behind, and follow you.
Jesus, may we journey with you. Amen.

Lent 2: He entered Simon's house  Luke 4.31-9 Symbol: A 'Welcome' doormat.

Prayer

Jesus, teacher, welcome to this house.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Jesus, healer, welcome to this house.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Jesus, Lord, welcome to this house.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Jesus, friend, travel with us to our homes.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
As you came to serve us may we serve you in others.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Amen.

Lent 3: He said, 'Come.'  Matthew 14.22-33 Symbol: A lifebelt

Prayer

When the night is dark and the wind is against us, you come to us unexpectedly, to encourage us.
We thank you and worship you, for you are the Son of God.
You call us to come to you, to fix our eyes on you.
We come to you, for you are the Son of God.
But we falter and fail and fear for our lives.
We call to you to save us, for you are the Son of God.
You reach out to catch hold of us and call us to have faith in you.
We trust in you, for you are the Son of God. Amen.

Lent 4: From whom do kings of the earth take toll?  Matthew 17.24-27 Symbol: A bag of coins

Prayer

Lord, when our minds are filled with the things of this world, including money, and bills and tax returns,
help us to remember the price you paid for the salvation of this world,
and fix our minds on what matters most.
Lord, focus our minds on you and your kingdom.

Lord, when we get caught up in religious ritual
rather than remembering our relationship with you,
help us to remember all that is represented in this act of worship.
Fix our minds on what matters most.
Lord, focus our minds on you and your kingdom.

Lord, when we are more worried about what others think about us
rather than how we stand before you,
help us to see ourselves as you see us and become what you would have us be.
Fix our minds on what matters most.
Lord, focus our minds on you and your kingdom. Amen.

Lent 5: The keys  Matthew 16.13-20 Symbol: A bunch of keys.

Prayer

You are the Christ… the anointed one,
anoint us with your Spirit
so that we might praise you as we should and serve you as we ought.
You are the Christ.

You are the Son of the living God,
reveal the Father to us
so that we might be adopted into his family.
You are the Son of God.

Reveal yourself to us.
Redeem us, rename us.
Enable us to build your Church,
to extend the boundaries of your kingdom,
to storm the gates of hell
and unlock the gates of heaven to all who would come.
Come, Jesus Christ, Son of the living God.

The Lenten journey may be interrupted here if a more traditional Holy Week theme and liturgy is preferred. If you wish to continue this journey through Holy Week to Easter use the following material.

Palm Sunday: It is well that we are here  Mark 9.2-7 Symbol: Tree branches, or picture of a mountain.. You may prefer to use this prayer at the end of the service.

Prayer

It is good for us to be here, but not to stay here.
Help us to put our energies into preparing the way for others to meet with you rather than building shelters for us to stay with you.
Hosanna in the highest,
and in the depths be praise.

Help us to remember the events on the mountain top
when we are struggling in the valley,
to remember the glimpse of your glory
when we are in the darkness of despair
Hosanna in the highest,
and in the depths be praise.

Assure us of your continued presence with us
as we travel from mountain top to mountain top,
through fertile valleys, and barren canyon.
Hosanna in the highest,
and in the depths be praise.

From the Mount of Transfiguration, to the Mount of Olives,
to the hill of Calvary and beyond,
may we journey with you, Jesus.
Hosanna in the highest,
and in the depths be praise. Amen.

Maundy Thursday: Lord, do you wash my feet?  John 13.3-15 Symbols: Basin of water and towels for foot washing. (If foot-washing is to occur in your service, return the basin to the foot of the cross afterwards.)

Prayer

Lord of all who became the servant of all,
Lord Jesus, teach us to serve.

Lord of all who poured out his blood for all,
Lord Jesus, wash us clean.

Lord of all who gave his life for all,
Lord Jesus, live in us.
Amen.

Good Friday  John 18.1-27 Symbols: A sword and a cockerel's feather.

Prayer

We proclaim our loyalty to you, prince of peace,
yet we too easily take up the sword in anger.
Lord, forgive us.
Christ, forgive us.

We proclaim our devotion to you, faithful friend,
yet we deny you by our words and deeds.
Lord, forgive us.
Christ, forgive us.

We proclaim our love for you, loving Lord,
yet we do not love you with our all or our neighbours as ourselves.
Lord, forgive us.
Christ, forgive us.
Amen.

Easter Day: They have taken the Lord out of the tomb  John 20.1-8 Symbol: Lengths of white cloth to represent grave clothes.

Prayer

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
We run to the empty tomb
but what do we expect to find there?
Signs of a grave robbery?
The final insult?
Our loss compounded?
Or do we expect
signs of victory,
the last enemy defeated,
our hopes fulfilled?
May the stone be rolled away from the entrance to your heart
and may you know alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The Sunday after Easter: Do you love me?  John 21.1-17 Symbol: An ichthus symbol.

Prayer

Jesus our Saviour, the God of the second chance,
meets us on the shore and asks:
'Do you love me?'
Yes, Lord, we love you.
He tells us, 'Feed my lambs… the flock of my pasture.'
(pause)
He asks again: 'Do you love me?'
Yes, Lord, you know that we love you.
He tells us, 'Look after my sheep… my wandering sheep.'
(pause)
He asks again: 'Do you love me?'
Yes, Lord, you know everything there is to know about us.
You know that we love you.
He tells us, 'Tend my sheep… wherever you may go.'

More Seasonal Prayers