Thirst for Justice, Hunger for Peace

Dear God,

Renewed by Advent hope,
We hear you call our name
Inviting us to walk with you to the
Mountaintop.
We join with the catechumens
And listen to your Word,
In hope of knowing You and ourselves better.

We rub dirt on our foreheads
And step forward, reluctantly,
Resisting,
Uncertain what lies ahead these forty days.
We are tired of work, life's routines, failures,
Each other and even ourselves.

Guide us so that in each situation, encounter,
Task before us
We find a path to you.
Help us to start this moment, where we are.
Give us patience with each other's failings
Judgments based on hearsay,
Labels that harm can cause us to lose a valued friend.
Taking the easier path
We long to postpone
The helping hand and caring heart.

Nourish us with your daily bread
Which satisfies, humbles us
Yet makes us hunger for more.
Help us not to neglect the grace we have received
In the waters of baptism.
Show us how to empty ourselves
Give us the strength to forgive and ask forgiveness
In the hard work of loving.

Through promises of rainbows after storms,
You love us for who we are
But command us to know who we can be.
Through prayer and faith visible and lived,
Help us to break out of old patterns of behavior,
To live lives of patience and mutual respect
Give us a vision of the world as love would make it.

Help us to become the food and drink we receive
So that water mixed with dirt and clay will hold the promise of a new creation.
What good is it if the bread remains unchanged?
You prove your holiness through us,
With the gifts we have been given
May we become creators of justice and peace.

Amen.

As we begin our Lenten journey as a family of faith, we wish to share with you what we will be reflecting upon in Children's Liturgy of the Word. In the Lenten readings, we will listen to stories about ashes and rainbow covenants, forgiveness and healing, thirst and living water, ordinary life and transfiguration.

As we reflect on the Lenten readings, we will talk about hunger, thirst, justice and peace. We will see how hunger and thirst affect health and well-being and talk about how it feels to be hungry and thirsty. We will discuss how meals shared-of laughter, stories, expressions of feelings, failings, understanding-heal and lessen the hunger to belong and to be loved. Our smallest acts-a friendly note, call to join, listening to understand not judge, a welcome smile-help our faith though only the size of a granule of yeast, to rise, swell and double in size. With bread broken and drink shared we nourish our world with goodness and kindness.

As expressions of our Lenten reflections, the children will be invited to bring food for the St. Charles Food Pantry as they gather for Liturgy of the Word and place their offerings in food baskets located on the altar. Each child will be invited to take an Operation Rice Bowl and encouraged to join our parish soup dinners once a week, donating the cost of a meal to better the lives of families all over the world.

Using a poster from Operation Rice Bowl, we will reflect on how Lenten prayers and actions bring a community to life. Each Sunday we will hear about mothers, fathers, families and children who have received new life opportunities because of monies received through Operation Rice Bowl. Colorful pictures of nourishment (livestock and gardens), clean water, and safe homes will be added to the poster as we create a sustainable world of justice and peace.

As a special part of the 9am and 11am Palm Sunday liturgies, the children will be invited to join with the celebrant in the procession of palms before Mass.

Thirst for Justice, Hunger for Peace! In Joy and Hope, let us renew the face of the Earth!

—9 AM and 11 AM Children's Liturgy of the Word Leaders