No No longer 34

di- So who can you trust? What calls ords ords by people of all religious stripes, phet phet s, s, en- heart heart ). ). God? God? s who come disguised as harmless ith their own fears and desires. desires. and fears own their ith

he others? spokesper- But But this is the covenant that I will make shall they teach one another, or say other, ‘Know to the Lord’, each for they shall all know me, from the least of tothem the greatest, says 31:33-34) (Jeremiah the Lord.’” The prophet’s words are echoed in the lyrics to John Lennon’s classic song “Imagine” Monday, March 23 23 March Monday, “ with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Was John Lennon a prophet for our time? Who else Week of March 22 22 March Week of “Written on Their Hearts: Hearts: Their on “Written God’s Covenant of Peace” of Covenant God’s 2015Lenten Devotional Middleton Community Church UCC and the non-religious as well. Sunday, March 22 22 March Sunday, a is A prophet role a the prophet? of is What son for God. The prophet admonishes, warns, direct courages, intercedes, teaches, and counsels. brings the A word pro of God to the rectly people to of the God leaders (often and those in to respond. the government) people and But how do we KNOW if someone is speaking for Isn’t it kind of presumptuous to claim to and mind know of God? the Many make this claim, but their w w line in that more is message betray a and actions The bible warns us to “Beware of false prophet sheep but are really vicious wolves.” (Matthew 7:15 criteria do you use to find God’s voice among all t all among voice God’s to find use docriteria you John’s vision of a world at peace has been embraced prophet? a modern as name mightyou

y y d’s d’s cy. cy. God’s love is greater than idols. idols. every every l. l. God’s love is greater than hu- day to love is difference. difference. God’s love is greater n violence. violence. n

God of ead of rushing past that place of

And take comfort in knowing that, that is so can be so is to short

Where will your life take you this week? to walk with him though good times and bad times, though life. into death through celebrations and It is an invitation we suffering, can carry with us not ter where our life takes us, Jesus walks with us and within us, behind us us. and above usneath and before us, be- Saturday, March 28 March Saturday, Holy Week is an invitation. Jesus invites you just into the coming week, but always. No mat- Where might you encounter way? Jesus on your Holy Week is hard—it is hard because it exposes man Friday, March 27 March Friday, hard hard truths, emotions, and hard questions. It very tempting to want to speed though Holy Week and the triumphal of Resurrection Easter. But to do so change a story that needs to be of age. Holy deep Week thatThe meaning is the love told, today and in is, indeed, stronger than all the hate and violence life. human in rampant tragically God’s love is greater God’s than love human is greater temples than human and betrayal. greater than God’s human disappointment and desertion. love Go is greater than human expedience and complacen human fear. God’s love is greater than human denia man injustice. God’s love is greater than huma than greater is love God’s hatred. than human human in jump right from the triumphal Hosanna’s of Palm Sun What about Holy Week is hardest for you? discomfort, take time Inst today to examine it closely. greater! is love God’s you, is for hard whatever Tuesday, March 24 Share YOUR reflections and ideas… You don’t need a reason to do everything in your life. You can choose to help someone or be polite just because it is the right thing to do, not because there is some hoped for reward. Kindness is it’s own reward. It is the word of God that is already written on your heart. Bringing joy to someone else—even someone you don’t know—is the number one way of improving your own happiness. And it doesn’t have to cost you anything! Make an extra effort to practice small random acts of kindness. Smile. Hold open a door. Say please and thank you. Make a phone call to friend. Text your teenager just to say “I love you!” Encourage someone. The ...Join the conversation on FACEBOOK possibilities are endless! How did doing something nice for someone make you f eel? or post on the KIOSK in Fellowship Hall! Share your stories in the comments!

Coming up next… “Holy Week: Wednesday, March 25 Journey to the Cross” People make mistakes. You make mistakes. People will disappoint you. You will disappoint other people. People will hurt you. You will hurt other people. People will ques- tion your motives. You will question the motives of others. Thursday, March 26 None of this makes us—or anyone else—a “bad” person. It For many Christians, the week preceding makes us all human persons. Easter is known as Holy Week. It begins on One consistent thread throughout the bible is that God Palm Sunday and is traditionally a week of uses flawed people to do God’s work. Noah was a drunk. somber reflection on the events preceding Abraham and Sarah were too old. Jacob was a liar. Joseph Jesus’ death: his triumphant entry into Jeru- was abused. Moses was a murderer. Rahab was a prosti- salem; his betrayal by Judas; his Last Supper tute. Jeremiah was too young. Esther was afraid. David with his twelve apostles; his arrest, trial, was an adulterer and a murderer. Isaiah preached naked. crucifixion and death; and his burial in a Jonah ran from God. Gideon was afraid. The disciples fell tomb. asleep. Peter denied Jesus . Judas betrayed Jesus. Martha worried too much. Lazarus was dead! As you consider the events of Holy Week, which stan d out as the most meaningful People are flawed. You are flawed. Our flaws do not stand in the way of God’s to your faith journey? How have these stories and your celebrations of them in wor- imagination. Every saint has a past. Every sinner has a future. What powerful truth has ship shaped your faith today? God given you?