Lent Is time to experience God’s goodness in prayer (Week 4)
This week OUC’s Stewardship Conversation invites everyone to experience God’s goodness in our personal prayer lives. It’s so good that we have this blessing of pausing at any time of any day and opening our hearts to God in whispered conversation. Dedicate a few extra minutes every day this week and say “Hi!” to God.
| Mon Mar 24 | Watch for one good thing that happens to you today. When you see it whisper, “Thanks, God.” |
| Tues Mar 25 | Say the Lord’s Prayer. Throughout the day focus on the one phrase in which you sense God’s goodness. |
| Wed Mar 26 | Write a simple prayer of thanks in 10 words or less. Keep it close today and pray it often. |
| Thur Mar 27 | Do a good deed for someone else today as your prayer of “thanks-living.” |
| FriMar 28 | What does “God is good” mean to you? What difference will that phrase make in your life today? |
| SatMar 29 | Say “Good morning!” to someone and imagine you are sharing God’s blessing with them for the day. |
| SunMar 30 | Sunday’s are for celebrating and praising God!Think WORSHIP. |
Lent Is time to appreciate God’s goodness in nature (Week 3)
This week OUC’s Stewardship Conversation invites everyone to explore God’s goodness in the physical world around us. Where do we see examples of God’s goodness in nature? Can we take a moment to stop and not only “smell the roses,” but give thanks for them, and show our love for them too? Here are some ideas, or you can use your own good ones!
| Mon Mar 17 | Thank God for 3 things in nature. Reflect on how these things add goodness to your life. |
| Tues Mar 18 | Spend some time outdoors today. See, smell, listen, feel. How does being outside make you feel? |
| Wed Mar 19 | Imagine you have been given an extra hour a week to spend in nature; what would you do? with whom? |
| Thur Mar 20 | Spring begins! Make a point of being in awe at nature today and thank God for sharing them with us. |
| FriMar 21 | Read Psalm 19. What is God’s creation telling you? Who can you talk to about what you hear? |
| SatMar 22 | Contemplate using some of your gifts and goodness to give back to nature and try just one of them. |
| SunMar 23 | Sunday’s are for celebrating and praising God!Think WORSHIP. |
Change for Change for School Breakfast Program
Thank you to everyone who faithfully collected their spare change last week and added it to our big collection jar for the School Breakfast Program. In only one week you gave enough to provide 45 nutritious breakfasts for children in Ottawa who go to school hungry. Congratulations! Every dollar provides one breakfast. Over 11,000 Ottawa children in 154 schools begin each school day with a nutritious meal provided by the School Breakfast Program. OUC children in the Discovery Garden challenged us to collect enough throughout Lent for 256 breakfasts. Watch the breakfast count grow each Sunday when you add your change to our big jar. Pick up your own change collection container in the narthex, put it on your table and use the short grace for children which is printed on the label. May all be fed. May all be healed. May all be loved.
Lent Sermon 3
Lent is time to reflect on how we embody God’s Goodness (Week 2)
This week OUC’s Stewardship Conversation encourages everyone to explore God’s goodness in us. How is goodness expressed in us and in what we do? Can we take a moment to appreciate our own goodness and that of others around us? Here are some ideas, or use your own good ones!
| Mon Mar 10 | Reflect on the goodness Jesus sees in you. How can you express that goodness today? |
| Tues Mar 11 | Thank someone for the goodness you see in them or for the good they do. |
| Wed Mar 12 | Remember a time when you helped someone. How has that affected you both? |
| ThurMar 13 | Contact a distant family member or friend to ask how they are. |
| FriMar 14 | Clean up some personal “clutter” that gets in your way of sharing your own goodness. |
| SatMar 15 | Encourage someone who has a hard task; or offer to pick up some small part of their load. |
| SunMar 16 | Sunday’s are for celebrating and praising God! Think WORSHIP. |
Change for Change for School Breakfast Program
Lenten collection for School Breakfast Program
During Lent this year, OUC’s Outreach Ministry wants you to save your pocket change and help change the lives of kids in Ottawa who go to school hungry. The School Breakfast Program strives to ensure that every child has access to a healthy breakfast in a safe environment. Over 11,000 children in 14 schools in the four Ottawa school boards begin each school day with a nutritious meal provided by this program. Collection containers will be available for children and families to pick up on March 2 to take home and put on your own table. Each Sunday during Lent you can take your spare change to church and add to our big Change for Change jar. Each dollar contributed provides one child’s breakfast. Join us in the library after church to help count and roll the coins so we can keep track of how many breakfasts we are contributing!
Lent Sermon 2