17th February–3rd April 2010 Joining God at the Edges Prayer and BiBle Study Book Copyright © 2009 Lent Event Lent Event PO Box 2738 Carlingford NSW 2118 e: [email protected] p: 1300 536 838 Permission to reproduce this book 17th February–3rd April 2010 Lent Event is keen to make this Prayer & Bible Study Book widely available. Permission is granted to reproduce and transmit this material, provided Lent Event is acknowledged as the resource originator. Copies of Lent Event resources can be downloaded without charge from Joining God at the edges www.lentevent.com. Copies of the Prayer & Bible Study Book can be purchased from www.lentevent.com or by calling 1300 536 838. All proceeds from the sale of the Prayer & Bible Study Book go towards running Lent Event. Scripture quotations in the Prayers are from HOLY BIBLE, Prayer & Bible Study Book NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright © 1973, Lent Event 2010 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. Bible study by Rev. Dr Chris Budden All rights reserved. Daily prayers by Rev. Kent Crawford Scripture quotations in the Bible Study are from the Good with Rev. Dr Kerry Enright (Sunday prayers) News Bible, Today’s English Version, published by the Bible Society in Australia. Photography by UnitingWorld (Relief and Development Unit) Editing by Ken Goodlet Graphic design by Paul Cattanach Design Printed in Australia ISBN: 978-0-646-51640-0 Contents About Lent Event 6 Welcome to the Daily Prayers 8 Daily Prayers Ash Wednesday 11 1st Sunday 13 2nd Sunday 17 3rd Sunday 22 4th Sunday 29 5th Sunday 34 6th Sunday 38 Easter Sunday 43 Welcome to the Bible Study 45 Bible Study Study 1 52 Study 2 60 Study 3 67 Study 4 74 Study 5 81 Study 6 88 Lent Event Projects 98 Donation Form 100 Lent Event – Prayer & Bible Study Book 5 about lent event saved to support projects that offer Nevertheless, we do have a a better future to our brothers and responsibility and the choices we What good is it, my brothers, sisters in some of the world’s most make every day influence, one way if a man claims to have faith but impoverished nations. or another, this global catastrophe. has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister Lent Event has become a popular Extreme poverty is not just is without clothes and daily food. movement that has a direct and an economic problem: it is also If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish lasting impact on communities that a theological one. Lent Event came you well; keep warm and well fed,’ most need help. Participation aids about as a unique way of but does nothing about his physical vital development projects that addressing this problem while needs, what good is it? In the educate and empower people living the call to lent event promoting the reconciliation of same way, faith by itself, if it is not in extreme poverty. To date, Lent peoples and resources. It is no less than the act of assisting God accompanied by action, is dead. Event has raised over $1.3 million God’s call to mission has been in the resurrection of forsaken James 2:14-17(NIV) for the transformational projects heard by Christians throughout communities. sponsored by UnitingWorld’s Relief the ages, but the way in which Lent Event is a God-inspired and Development unit. Conducted this call is answered depends on Most modern day Christians vision that invites Australians to by partner churches in selected many factors and varies greatly. live busy lives and juggle many re-evaluate their lifestyles while regions, these projects focus on Ultimately though, mission is about demands. It can be a challenge helping some of the world’s ensuring ownership and self- God working through us for the to find the time to participate in poorest people in the forty days determination by local people. benefit of all creation. mission. Taking part in Lent Event leading up to Easter. Traditionally requires no major life changes, Lent is a time of profound spiritual In 2010, Lent Event has the The worldwide movement to only minor adjustments that could significance for Christians. Lent opportunity to bring about positive overcome extreme poverty is well prove personally beneficial. Event brings Lent into the 21st change in communities in Papua evidence of the Holy Spirit at work Even so, it is a powerful expression century by giving individuals and New Guinea, Solomon Islands, in the world today. The causes of of the Christian spirit and a chance tion communities from all walks of life South India, Sudan, Timor-Leste poverty are many and complicated to act as ambassadors of Christ. C an opportunity to follow the and Zambia. and it is difficult for those of us We are invited to forego something example of Jesus by making a who are relatively wealthy to of our choice during the 40 days real difference in the lives of others. For more information please comprehend the reality of living of Lent as an entry to the broader visit www.lentevent.com or call in extreme poverty. It’s all too spiritual disciplines of Lent — Lent Event simply involves giving 1300 536 838. easy to become overwhelmed of reflection, study and prayer — and in doing so to reconsider up a luxury or two for the Lenten with a sense of powerlessness our priorities, lifestyle choices period and donating the money in the face of images of suffering. and values. INTRODU 6 Lent Event – Prayer & Bible Study Book Lent Event – Prayer & Bible Study Book 7 Lent Event is a journey of body, Welcome to the daily Prayers And so, it is a privilege to be asked Can I encourage you use the mind and spirit. Embraced by the Lent Event team to lead you following prayer method to spark holistically, it can bring about Thus says the Lord: Stand at the in prayer. It is an enormous task your own experience of prayer: personal as well as global crossroads, and look, and ask and a deep honour and I have • Settle in to a prayerful space transformation. This Bible Study for the ancient paths, where the sought to bring my best to the task. and moment & Prayer Book has been written good way lies; and walk in it, and • Read the Bible Passage as a tool to guide you along find rest for your souls. But they Prayer is but one of the spiritual • Read the Prayer the way and help you grow said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ disciplines that we are invited • Seek connections between in Christian faith. Godspeed. Jeremiah 6:16 to deepen our practice of during your life, the passage and Lent. Spiritual disciplines are the prayer Blessings, It is a privilege to be asked to lead difficult in many ways to practice. • Pray the Prayer slowly in prayer. Our modern lives don’t easily and intentionally accommodate times of silence • Feel free to repeat any or Whenever I stop even for a moment and reflection. Often our character all steps Sarah White to reflect on what it means to lead resists the humbling of our will • Reflect upon the impact Lent Event Program Director people in prayer I am deeply moved to the will of God. Yet in each of this prayer time on your by the honour that it is. I am being spiritual discipline, and certainly discipleship journey invited to lead people more deeply in prayer, there is a deep gift to into an awareness of the presence be found, for in practicing the My hope for all of us who and purposes of God. presence of God we rediscover over participate in Lent Event 2010 and over who and whose we are. is that we would experience As a leader of prayer I am stepping deeper into the flow responsible for shaping words I have deliberately varied the of God’s grace in this world by and phrases that seek to connect use of ‘I’ and ‘We’ throughout walking more closely in the way with the lived experience the collection for I am personally of Jesus Christ and opening tion of amazingly diverse people. convinced that both are vital, ourselves to the transformation C I am seeking through inconspicuous and that to use either exclusively of the Holy Spirit. May God’s poetry to name the moment, would render the experience Kingdom come! whatever that might be, and incomplete. Whether used in groups to somehow through words or in private, the variation of the and silence, engage the hearts personal pronoun is deliberately and minds of those searching after intended to help us engage at both a deeper connection with God a corporate and individual level Kent Crawford in that moment. in the experience of Lenten prayer. Daily Prayer author INTRODU 8 Lent Event – Prayer & Bible Study Book Lent Event – Prayer & Bible Study Book 9 Wednesday, February 17th Ash Wednesday Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 As this journey begins, teach me more about who and whose I am. Let me be open to receive the gifts you have to offer through the spiritual disciplines of Lent: gifts of correction, encouragement, obedience, simplicity and clarity. Ready me to declare my allegiance to Christ, not just with my lips but by my example and witness. Draw me closer to you, Mighty God, that I may have the courage and strength needed to truly walk the way of Christ. Amen. thursday, February 18th 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10 Who are we that you would call us to act as Christ’s ambassadors? Isn’t that a high ranking for ordinary disciples like us? Don’t we need years of experience and expertise to qualify for the title – ‘ambassadors’? We know that Jesus called ordinary folk to follow, and that he handed to them the authority to continue his mission and ministry.