Starter Prayer: God Who is Light, teach me to know your love and to experience the Light of Life, wave upon wave.

Focus Phrase: Light Wave

From the painter, Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity: For God so loves, that light light, God keeps traveling to reach us with that redeeming love.

The image in her painting and these words pair nicely with our anchor verse for the weekend messages, Lamentations 3:22-23:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, 
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

Be encouraged in your practice.

Katie Martinez

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE:

• Read and reflect on p. 27-28 of Again & Again. The link is in every Journey email. If you’re not getting those, register here. 
  
• Try this variation on “centering prayer”: Read Lamentations 3:22-23 aloud to yourself. Then Pray the starter prayer aloud. Then breathe deeply and enter into silence for several minutes. I like to set a chime on my phone to break the silence after 3, 5 or 20 minutes, whichever time frame I choose that day. When your phone chimes, breathe deeply in and out, and slowly open your eyes. Stop the chime. Then gently end your prayer time by saying the starter prayer again. Centering Prayer is for “being still” not for “doing”. When thoughts enter your mind, gently let them pass by like leaves floating downstream in a river.
  
• Questions for journaling and spiritual conversation:
  
  • How is the experience of “centering prayer” different from your usual prayer practice?
    
  • What do you find challenging and/or refreshing about silence and meditation?
    
• Make your plans to participate in the Good Friday Experience at Crossroads, in-person, online or on demand. We will reflect upon the hidden wisdom and true power of Christ’s Love. For the in-person option, a reservation is necessary.
• As the week unfolds, what word or phrase captures your attention? Weave your word into the prayer wall at the Taft Avenue facility; or text your word to 970-500-0970, and the prayer team will weave it into the wall for you.

ENDNOTES:

• For daily texts with the Focus Word, Starter Prayer and link to these daily posts, text the word “lent” to 970-500-0970.
• Join Ryan on Facebook Live, every weekday morning at 10am for spiritual conversation on these Lent themes.
• Looking for the link to the digital devotional or your copy of the print version? Register here.
• Join the Orange Dots of Hope Facebook Group for spiritual conversations.

This is part of Again & Again: Journey of Lent 2021 with Crossroads Church. The theme, devotional booklet, poetry and art is the work of the creative community of theologians and artists at A Sanctified Art. Crossroads is grateful for this resource!

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