St. Paul C.M.E. Church
"A Church for all Generations"
4644 S. Dearborn St. Chicago IL 60609
Lenten Season
Fast Information & Meditation Scriptures
LENTEN SEASON
Liturgical Color ~ Purple
Season ~ Penitence
Fast, Meditate and Pray
Week One - Mar. 2, 2023
REPENTANCE AND SALVATION
2 Chronicles 7:14
Eliminate all Candy and Sweets
Week Two - Mar. 6, 2023
ANOINTING OF PASTOR AND CHURCH
Luke 4:18
Eliminate Chips and Popcorn
Week Three - Mar. 13, 2023
INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Ezekiel 36:27
Eliminate all drinks except water
Week Four - Mar. 20, 2023
HEALING
Isaiah 53:4-5
Eliminate fried foods
Week Five - Mar. 27, 2023
CHURCH GROWTH
John 12:32
Eliminate all dairy products and processed foods
Week Six - Apr. 3, 2023
100% TITHING CHURCH
Malachi 3:10
Eliminate all meats except fish
Week Seven - Apr. 10, 2023
PEACE FOR CITY, STATE, NATION
John 16:33
Total Daniel Fast
Fasting with Meditation & Prayer
Holy Week Daniel Fast
Almighty and gracious God our Father, we gather together in unison to praise you for what you have done for your church, our families and ourselves. You have truly been our bridge over troubled waters. You have made a way for us when there was no way. Lord you have been the peacemaker and you have stood in the gap for us when we could not stand for ourselves.
We bow in humble submission to you Lord, for you are the Great I Am, You are the Almighty king of kings and the Lord of lords and we thank you.
Lord God, we ask now that you would search our hearts and if you find anything that does not please you, that you might take it away and cause us to repent and turn towards you again.
Lord God, forgive us for our lack of gratitude, our impatience, our judgmental spirits and our lack of showing love to our brothers and our sisters. We pray for your grace, mercy and your abounding love, even though we know we deserve your righteous judgment.
Lord, in this season of penitence, we stand on one accord in one place to petition you for forgiveness, then for you to heal, anoint and bless us, this we ask in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent is about remembering why our Lord Jesus died. He died for the sins of all mankind, which ultimately are reduced to ashes one day. Ashes are a symbolic reminder that we come from the dust and that so much of what we do, and what we are, will return to dust sooner rather than later.
Return to the Lord your God even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing.
In preparation for Easter Sunday, consider how we might experience our own part in the passion of Jesus.
We, like the disciples have fallen asleep as Jesus prayed in the garden for deliverance. We like Peter, have denied knowing the Lord Jesus by our self-centeredness and believing in our own righteousness.
Deeply consider those things that takes away time from being with the Lord of our lives. Sacrifice those things identified as being none essential to God’s plan of salvation and draw nearer to God.
Ask, and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocked it shall be opened unto you. Matthew 7:7-8