Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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“You are my refuge and my stronghold, * my God in whom I put my trust.” Psalm 91
Rev. Marilyn urged us to understand that the underlying message is clear, refuge is not only a physical place, but also a moral imperative, a tangible expression of God's covenant with God's people. This covenant is characterized by promises of protection and provision, reinforcing that the idea of refuge is both physical and spiritual, and is a divine gift. How comforting is it to know that somewhere there is a refuge for the sinner, for the one who has made the mistake. How comforting is it to know that our God cares enough about each one of God's children to provide for them for each one of according to their need.
We were asked to sing. “And He will raise you up on angel’s wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of His Hand.” Additionally we each received an envelope with a Lenten "Prayer Partner” so that we might throughout the week also provide comfort through prayers for others in our parish.
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And of course we got Pretzels for Lent: The common pretzel was originally designed for use during Lent. Sometime during the Middle Ages, when Lent was accompanied by strict bans on dairy products and meat, people subsisted largely on breads, pastries, soups and vegetables. Bakers in Germany decided to create a food that would even look religious - the pretzel. The crossed arms of a pretzel represent a Christian in prayer. Place the palm of each hand on the opposite shoulder, so that your forearms cross. That's the shape of a pretzel.
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At the end of today's service a new St Paul's Directory was distributed to all.
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