Building Bridges of Friendship in Lent

Leader: Jesus, we come together to ask your help in closing the gaps that separate us from others and keep us from being happy together.

Reader: Listen to God's Word. Come, my young friends, and listen to me. Do you want happiness? Then do good and strive for peace with all your heart. From Psalm 43: 11, 12, 14

Leader: Think about your friendships at home . . . in school . . . in your neighborhood. Are there any gaps between you and others that need to be closed? Bring them to Jesus in prayer.

All: Jesus, help us to make peace with from whom we feel separated. Help us to build bridges of friendship.

Leader: Building bridges of friendship takes effort, courage, and a special kind of love.

Reader: Listen to God's Word. My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action. From 1 John 3:18

Leader: During Lent, use the following prayer experiences to help you to build bridges of friendship.

Building Bridges Through Prayer
To enter into each prayer experience:

• Find a quiet place.
• Become very still.
• Breathe in and out slowly.
• Focus on closing a gap in friendship.
• Imagine you are on one side of a wide and deep hole. Your brothers and sisters or friends are on the opposite side. Talk with Jesus about some of the things that are keeping you apart. Ask Jesus to heal your feelings. Do something this week to build a bridge across the gap that separated you. Perhaps all of you could meet halfway on the bridge.
• Imagine you are on a mountaintop. Your parents, teachers, or other adults are on another mountaintop, facing you. The bridge between you is narrow and shaky. Tell Jesus about some of the things that keep you from crossing the bridge. Listen to Jesus' voice. Do something this week to strengthen the bridge between you.
• Imagine that you and your friends have built a bridge of friendship. You see someone your age walking across the bridge toward you. The person seems lonely or frightened. Decide what you and your friends will do to make that person feel welcome.

My Prayer Goes On
Pray about other gaps you would like to close by building bridges.

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