"Lord, Teach Us to Pray!"

Lent, the forty days of preparation prior to Easter, begins this year on February 6. During this season, many people participate in various spiritual disciplines or practices - scripture reading and prayer, fasting or self-denial, and penitence - focusing on the temptations of Jesus prior to His public ministry and His suffering and death at the conclusion of His earthly life. 

Throughout His ministry, we find numerous examples of Jesus spending time in prayer, often alone - in deserted places, on a mountain, and in a garden, to name just a few locations.  The disciples recognized the strength Jesus received from these times He spent in conversation with His heavenly father and once they said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."  And Jesus proceeded to teach what today we call (Luke's version of) the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:1-4). 

I have selected "Prayer" as the theme for the Sunday worship services during Lent.  Each week we will focus on different prayers from the Bible and church history, as well as various approaches to prayer.

May this Lenten season provide opportunities for each of us to replenish our spiritual "wells" through increased prayer, scripture reading, meditation, or some other religious practice.

Pastor Martha Dominy