We Wonder

Did you know there’s a craft for today’s story? Join us as a patron at patreon.com/wewonder to download and print out crafts for every Wednesday episode

Welcome to We Wonder: Lent. This is the first week of Lent: just as Israel wandered in the desert for forty years, and Jesus fasted in the wilderness for forty days, we will spend the next five weeks walking with Jesus toward the cross.

Scripture passage: Mark 4:26-32

I wonder why Jesus said the kingdom of God is like a seed? Can I sit and wonder about that word-picture?

I wonder how the work God does in me is like the work God does in a seed that is planted deep in the ground?

I wonder if there are places in me that feel hard or closed-up, like an unplanted seed? What do I want to say to God about those parts of myself?

I wonder if I can trust God to bring new life out of the dry, hard places in my heart? I wonder if I can trust that God loves all of me, and that God’s love is a safe place to be planted?

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?

Loving God: Jesus was planted in the ground, and raised to new life. Help me to be like a tree that is planted near living water, and that bears the fruit of your love and life.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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.

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!

We Wonder: Lent begins on February 26, Ash Wednesday.

“Lent” is also an old English word for “springtime.” 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.

Every Monday during Lent, we will set aside time to pray and rest in God, and practice looking for where God is already coming close to us in our everyday lives. You can re-listen and pray along with these episodes every day of the week, if you’d like.

Every Wednesday in Lent, we’ll share a story or psalm from Scripture, and wonder about God’s good words together.

Starting on Palm Sunday, we’ll have special episodes for each day in Holy Week, as we walk together toward the cross with Jesus.

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.

------

We want to hear from you! Go here and fill out a quick survey, and enter to win a set of Jesse Tree ornaments: https://sarahdahl.typeform.com/to/skoJJN

Thanks for listening!