Decorate your tree with purple. You can do purple bows, purple balls, purple paper crosses or crown shapes.
Explanation: Purple is the symbolic colour used in churches throughout this season of Lent. The colour purple – the colour of bruising, reminds us of both the pain and suffering that Jesus went through as well as the suffering of the whole world because of sin. But purple is also the colour of royalty, and so we look forward to celebrating the hope of newness and that Jesus conquered all death and sin in the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. This Sunday Megan sang us a song she wrote on this theme and we looked at beautiful pictures that went with it.
‘Your Love Overcomes’
by Megan Woods
I’ve heard how people have suffered
Since we turned our backs on the Father
And chose our own despair
And I’ve heard how we’re burning this world down
I see it everywhere
Since we turned our backs on His calling
Destroying earth for our greed and wealth
Pre Chorus:
But I know Jesus has risen
And I know He has conquered death
I know our sins are forgiven
And I know we can start again
Chorus:
Hallelujah You have called us
To bring life where
there’s death and fear
And no power can
stand against Your love
Your love, that overcomes
Chorus:
Hallelujah You have called us
To bring life where there’s death and fear
And no power can
stand against Your love
Your love, that overcomes
Bridge:
Your love is wider than our sin
Your love is deeper than our fear
Your love, Your love,
has overcome
For Adults: Creating ‘a morning dedication.’
George Stewart in his book ‘The Lower Levels of Prayer’ from 1939 talks about something called ‘a morning dedication.’ He says this..
“It is of vital importance that the first waking moments of each day be directed towards God. Instantly, with the return of thought and awareness after sleep, the good and evil influences which affect life become operative in a specially forceful way. Many a day is made or marred by these first moments and by the response we make then to the calls of life…If God is in our first thoughts, the day will be coloured and affected by that choice through all its hours… He challenges us to “Begin the day by offering it and yourself to God..”
We invite you to write down a short form of morning dedication that you can recite or read each morning, that has meaning to you at this time and helps you to orientate your thoughts and your ways to God. Here is one old pattern George suggests that you may like to follow;
“Lord of my life and God of my salvation, I offer this day to you. I seek in all things to do your will, and use its hours as you would guide.”