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This is the first of our daily guided Examen prayer episodes! The Examen is a way of focusing our attention on how we have moved through the day, looking to see where God has been at work and with us in all of the mundane moments of daily life.
This episode will release every afternoon for you to use for daily prayer every day this week: we’ll have a new Examen (same format, different prompts and music!) every Monday.
We Wonder is written and hosted by Sarah Dahl, and is produced by Richard Clark. To learn more about We Wonder, go to wewonderpod.com, or you can stay connected on Instagram and Twitter (@wewonderpod).
Our theme music is by Schwarzsound; the music for our Examen this week is “What Can Ever Come,” by John Lucas.
A big thank-you to the fourth and fifth graders at City Church San Francisco for offering our responsive prayers this season!
Want to help create more beauty and wonder? Support us as a monthly patron! Go to patreon.com/wewonder to learn more about how you can become a partner in this work. -
Welcome to We Wonder: Lent. Today is Ash Wednesday, the very beginning of the season that helps us get ready for Easter. Just as Israel wandered in the desert for forty years, and Jesus fasted in the wilderness for forty days, we will spend the next forty days walking with Jesus toward the cross.
“Lent” is also an old English word for “springtime.” This is the season when the earth begins to come back to life after winter. Ice melts, the earth thaws, and things that were dead begin to bloom and grow again. During Lent, we name the things in our hearts and in our world that are dead, and we wait to see how God will raise them to new life with Jesus. Join me, as we watch, and wait, and hope in God.
Today is Ash Wednesday: the day when we remember that we are like ashes. Without Jesus, we are like fires that have gone out.
Scripture passage: Psalm 51:1-6, 10-17
I wonder if I have ever felt like a blown-out candle, or like cold ashes that can’t spark to life? What do I want to say to God about that?
I wonder if God is still close to me when I feel far away? I wonder if I can trust that faithful love is always waiting for me?
David says to God, “you will gladly accept a heart that is broken because of sadness over sin.” I wonder: what things do I see in myself and in the world that break my heart? Can I trust God to be kind to my sad heart?
Lent happens in springtime: the earth that was frozen and dead blossoms into life again. Dry, helpless seeds are planted in the ground, and plants push up out of the ground. Jesus goes into the grave, and is raised to new life. It is a time of sadness for all that is wrong in us and in the world, and also of hope that it can all be made new. Can I ask God to come close to me in the sadness? Can I ask God’s Spirit to whisper words of hope to me in the dark?
Closing Prayer:
Open our lips, O God, and our mouths will proclaim your praise. Create new hearts in us, O God, and renew us and our world. Give us the joy of your saving help again, and sustain us with your Spirit who breathes life.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Our theme music is by Schwarzsound; other songs are “Trace”, by Roary and “Hold to the Light,” by Brooke Annibale.
Also: a huge, heartfelt thank you to our patrons Debara and Mary for making this episode happen!
You can help us create more beauty and wonder by supporting us as a monthly patron: go to patreon.com/wewonder to learn more about how you can help this podcast grow! -
Every Monday during Lent, we are going to release a prayer episode that walks each of us -- young and old -- through the Examen in a simple and inviting way. You can re-listen to the same episode to pray daily through the week. All you need is about ten minutes and a place where you can get quiet and comfortable.
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Matthew 2:1-12
In Epiphany we see that Jesus is God, come to live among us. We watch Jesus to see what God’s glory and character are like. And during Epiphany, we see that Jesus is not someone hidden away, for only the good people or the right people to find. Jesus is the light that bursts into our world, shining with God’s glory and love for everyone.
I wonder what the wise men saw in the light of that star that captured their hearts so that they followed it on such a long journey?
I wonder what the wise men saw in the face of the child Jesus that brought them to their knees?
Have I ever felt the light of God’s love shine on me so powerfully that I wanted to kneel, or give gifts, or sing with joy? Can I ask God, right now, to help me see that love in Jesus’ face?
The gospel of John tells us that in Jesus, God’s light is shining in the darkness and the darkness cannot put it out. Where do I need to see God’s light and love shining today? Do I need that light in my heart? In my thoughts? In my family? In my school?
Can I believe that Jesus shines God’s love into the world, and that the light of that love will never go out even in the darkest, saddest places? What do I want to say to God about that?
God of peace, in the name of Jesus who came as the light of the world,
We pray that your light will shine in the world and the darkness will not overcome it.
God, in your love, hear our prayer.
God of hope, in the name of Jesus whose first crib was the animals’ feed trough,
We pray for everyone who does not have a warm place to sleep or enough food to eat. Please provide, and use our offerings and our lives to share your love.
God, in your love, hear our prayer.
God of joy, in the name of Jesus who came to live among us, light up our hearts and our lives, so that we will be full of your life.
God, in your love, hear our prayer.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
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Thanks for listening! -
1 Kings 18:21-39
Today’s symbol is fire. When Israel turned away from God and worshipped other gods, Elijah the prophet called them back. God sent fire down on Elijah’s sacrifice, to show Israel that he heard Elijah’s prayers and wanted to hear their prayers, too.
I wonder if I can imagine being in the crowd, watching the priests of Baal call out to their god? I wonder how the people felt, knowing that their king was on Baal’s side? I wonder what it was like, to see Elijah alone standing against them? Can I imagine how I would have felt?
I wonder why Elijah poured water all over his sacrifice?
I wonder if I can imagine seeing the fire come down from the sky and burn up Elijah’s altar? What would I have done if I were there?
I wonder how God’s people felt when they realized that God, not Baal, was near and waiting for their prayers? I wonder if they were afraid? Sorry? Ready to turn around and follow when they remembered who God is, and what God had done?
We may forget about God, but God never forgets us. God is always near, and waits patiently for us to remember and return. I wonder how I can remember that God is close to me today?
God, you listen for the prayers of your people. You want us to call on your name and you hear us when we cry out. Hear us now, O Lord, and come quickly to save us.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
