2010 Lent and Holy Week Prayer Journal

Wednesday, February 17 through Saturday, April 3

The period of Lent has traditionally been a period of self-examination, penitence and preparation for Holy Week and Easter.  In prayer, we follow the story of Jesus and a renewed commitment to the church as a community of disciples.

 This prayer journal is designed to assist you in the discipline of prayer through the season of Lent and Holy Week.  These pages give you the opportunity to put your personal reflections down as you read the scripture and prayerfully consider the message God has impressed on your heart.  Journaling is one of the best ways to integrate your ideas with scripture and then reflect on the impressions from God.  The idea for each person is to Pray - Read - Reflect - Pray - Act.  Pray - ask God to open your heart to hear the spiritual message of the Bible.  Read - take your time and read the passage assigned for that day (All printed Biblical references are from the New Revised Standard Version and the complete text is available on our web site: www.heritagebaptistonline.com).  Reflect - take a few moments to let the words sink in to inspire and challenge.  Pray - again, ask God to enlighten your heart and mind with the knowledge and wisdom of the message you hear in the text.  Act - your action may lead you back to more prayer and study of the Bible and it may lead you to specific actions of cultivating healthy relationships, making a difference for others in some specific ministry opportunity, or some other meaningful expression that fulfills the action component of your spiritual journey through Lent and Holy Week.

 On Easter Sunday, you will receive a You've Got the Time CD (MP3 Format) recording of the New Testament (English Standard Version).  You've Got the Time is a 40-day commitment to listen to the New Testament for only 28 minutes a day.  In 40 days, you will hear the entire New Testament.  We are grateful to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Faith Comes By Hearing for the opportunity to share this spiritual gift with you.  We have recordings for Adults and Children.  Additionally, we want to thank Elizabeth Britt and Britt Industries for printing and publishing this prayer journal.

 This 2010 Lent and Holy Week Prayer Journal and the You've Got the Time gift we will receive this Easter will prepare our congregation to hear the Word of God in a new and spiritually enriching way. 

 With all my heart, I pray that this spiritual journey will challenge, enrich, and inspire you to represent the presence of Christ in your life.  As you read, pray, and write down your reflections (with the space available for each page), you may want to consider the questions on the following page and others that come to mind in your personal prayer time with God.  This prayer journal is also available on our web site: www.heritagebaptistonline.com.  If you prefer to use your computer, create a file for your personal reflections and action plan.  Whatever medium you use, let this season become an opportunity for you to discover a great spiritual reservoir in your life as you experience God in prayer and Scripture.

                                                                                     Rev. Henry Green, Pastor

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At a personal level, and in a quiet place, give consideration to and complete the following statements:

 For me, this really makes life worth living

I feel closest to God when I

In trying to find meaning to life, these things make most sense to me

I want my faith to be

I think my family life could be strengthened through my faith if

For me, faith is hardest when it comes to

Others help me find faith by

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Reflecting about our Church, answer the following questions with a mind to act in a way that will build our fellowship and encourage spiritual growth in others:

How would you describe your church to a friend?

What is most valuable to you about belonging to Heritage Baptist?

In the future, how might the church meet the needs of the community and how might we share God's love with others?

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Holy Week (Passiontide)

March 28, Passion/Palm Sunday

[Luke 19:28-40; Psalms 118] Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalms 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 22:14~23:56

Pray - Read - Reflect - Pray - Act

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 March 29, Monday of Holy Week

Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalms 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11

Pray - Read - Reflect - Pray - Act

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 March 30, Tuesday of Holy Week

Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalms 71:1-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; John 12:20-36

Pray - Read - Reflect - Pray - Act

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 March 31, Wednesday of Holy Week

Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalms 70; Hebrews 12:1-3; John 13:21-32

Pray - Read - Reflect - Pray - Act

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 April 01, Maundy Thursday

Exodus 12:1-14; Psalms 116:1-2, 12-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Pray - Read - Reflect - Pray - Act

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 April 02, Good Friday

Isaiah 52:13~53:12; Psalms 22; Hebrews 10:16-25 or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1~19:42

Pray - Read - Reflect - Pray - Act

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Seven Words

The seven words are expressions of Jesus from the cross, recorded for us in the gospels.  While there is no definitive order in which the words occurred, the following is the generally accepted order.  Today, read the suggested passages listed above.  After a time of reflection, ponder the words of Jesus from the cross and reflect on the significance of each phrase.  Listen, as Jesus, in the full expression of his humanity, fulfills the divine mission for our salvation.

Luke 23:34 :"Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."

Luke 23:43: "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

John 19:26-27: "Woman, here is your son." "Here is your mother."

 Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34: "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"

John 19:28: "I am thirsty."

 John 19:30: "It is finished."

Luke 23:46: "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."

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April 03, Holy Saturday (until sundown)

Job 14:1-14 or Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24. Ps. 31:1-4, 15-16. 1 Pet. 4:1-8. Matt. 27:57-66 or John 19:38-42

Pray - Read - Reflect - Pray - Act

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