A Lenten Devotional Written by Ernie Thompson, Sam Perkins, Caroline Sell, Butch Sherrill

A Lenten Devotional written by Ernie Thompson, Sam Perkins, Caroline Sell, Butch Sherrill

with artwork and poetry provided by A Sanctified Art LLC

Introduction written by Ernie Thompson

We are pleased to offer you this devotional for your Lenten Journey. We have chosen poems and artwork from A Sanctified Art’s Lenten resources and paired those with scripture, thoughts, reflection questions, and brief prayers written by our pastors.

Our theme this year is “Again and Again.” The introduction from A Sanctified Art to this theme says:

In the season of Lent we are reminded that, again and again, suffering and brokenness find us. And yet, in the midst of the chaos of our lives, God offers a sacred refrain. “I choose you. I love you. I will lead you to repair and healing.” Again and again, God breaks the cycle and offers us a way forward.

As we begin to turn our gaze to life post-pandemic, God invites us (again) into a journey of self-discovery, humility, and ultimately new life. We hope that this devotional will be helpful as we turn to God each day, again and again.

Ernie

Like the introduction to the left, each pastor has handwritten each of the prayers included in this devotion. Wednesday, February 17 Ash Wednesday written by Butch Sherrill

The Lord God formed the human from the topsoil of the fertile land and blew life’s breath into its nostrils. The human came to life. - Genesis 2:7

Some years ago, Marian and I moved into a parsonage. In preparation for the cold winter months, we had a chimney service inspect the wood-burning stove and chimney. When the chimney sweep asked, “How long has it been since you had this chimney cleaned?!” I sensed there might be a problem. When he had completed the task, the chimney sweep said, “There had to have been generations and generations of ashes in there.”

I am reminded of the chimney sweep’s statement about generations of ashes as I looked toward the beginning of the Lenten season. I give thanks to the generations of faithful believers who came before us. When we receive the dust of ashes, words from Genesis are spoken: “From dust you came and to dust you shall return.” We reflect on our mortality, and at the same time, we consider what a difference one life of faith can make to another person’s life, even if it will be in a generation yet to come.

Reflection: Who are the faithful persons who have made a difference in your life?

Prayer: Gracious God, strengthen us to live as faithful witnesses to your creative love. Amen. Thursday, February 18 Invited by Rev. Sarah Are

I like to imagine that each year, God invites me to a party. God drops me a note that says, “No gifts, casual dress. Come just as you are.”

I like to imagine that I am brave enough to go. I like to imagine that I decide that I am worth it. This was no pity invite, There is no obligatory postage. God wants me there.

So I get myself together, Smudged glasses, sensitive ego, wrinkled shirt, and all. I ring the doorbell a few minutes late on account of the fact that I lost my keys twice trying to get out the door, And I almost turn back to hide in my car, Afraid that I might embarrass myself over appetizers or small talk. But then God answers the door, And God says, “You’re here!” And I smile, because I am.

And with every step past that threshold, I know that God is cheering me on. It’s the pride of a parent watching their child take their first step. If I freeze, God is not disappointed. If I fall, God is not mad. But if I trust the invitation, If I move closer, I know, God celebrates.

Friends, you’ve got mail. It’s an invitation to dust off your shoes, To go deeper, To trust that you’re worth it, To lose your keys and your faith, And then to find them both, along with your worth. You are invited. We are invited. Again and again and again. This invitation is for you.

Reflection: What is God inviting you into this Lent? How might you trust this invitation? Prayer: God, help me to say, “yes” to your invitation. Amen. Friday, February 19 written by Caroline Sell

Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. - Psalm 25:4-5

I remember praying to God as I decided where to attend school after high school. “Lead me, God,” I prayed. I prayed this again as I looked for work following college, considered graduate school, wondered about marrying a man from Ohio, and most recently, as we left our jobs in Baltimore to move to North Carolina. Again and again, I prayed fervently for God to reveal to me the “next step.” I focused so much on this that I think I often missed another invitation: an invitation to learn. Each time, God was teaching me to better hear God’s voice, to more clearly feel God’s presence, and to more easily recognize God’s beauty. It is often in reflection that we discover these lessons, but I wonder what might happen if we also looked for the ways that God forms us while on the journey. I think it might just make the journey a bit more bearable, maybe even a bit more joyful.

Reflection: When have you had to make a difficult decision? How did you meet God through this time?

Prayer: Dear God, open my heart and mind, so that you may lead me in your truth, I may hear your voice, and that my feet may follow. Amen. Saturday, February 20 written by Sam Perkins

When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. - Genesis 9:14-15

In the beginning, God created and said it was good.

After sin entered the picture, things got pretty wonky. It didn’t happen overnight, but once it became clear that the hearts of all adam/adamah were corrupt, God chose to course-correct. We can’t pretend to know the mind of God, why it had to be this way; what we know is that God was heartbroken. Perhaps it was the tenderness of God that caused God to have mercy on Noah and his family. Perhaps it was the tenderness of God that caused God to spare the seeds of God’s good creation. Perhaps it was the tenderness of God that caused God to establish this covenant with humanity and all that was once good. In other words, God saw hope so God showed mercy. This was the first covenant, but it certainly was not the last. Again and again, God’s mercy pours forth through a love more brilliant than a rainbow, a love that is not a weapon but a promise of hope.

Reflection: How have you experienced God’s mercy? What would it mean/look like for us to make the same kind of promise to humanity and creation today?

Prayer: Wonderful, merciful Savior, give us eyes to see where we can show grace, the courage to act, and lots of rainbows. Amen. Monday, February 22

Dawn | Hannah Garrity Paper lace over watercolor Monday, February 22

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. - Isaiah 58:8

Artist Statement: In this image, I have represented a woman spinning up out of a whirlpool, her face shining up at the sun. She rises above the ruins of ancient cities. Background motion spins up with the energy of the woman who represents the Holy Spirit, who represents the oppressed breaking free from the yoke, breaking ‘forth like the dawn’ (Isaiah 58:8). - Hannah Garrity

Reflection: We’ve experienced a great deal of darkness over the last year. Still, there has been light. What images or stories of light and healing have you encountered in this pandemic season?

Prayer: God, it is easy to see the darkness. Help me, too, to see the light, and to trust that you are at work, shining light in the darkness. Amen. Tuesday, February 23 written by Butch Sherrill

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith... - Colossians 2:6-7

As I write this Lenten devotion, the celebration of Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ is not even a month gone by. In reflect- ing on this past Christmas season, I am reminded of a time at Wellspring, the retreat center of the Church of the Savior, when its founder Gordon Cosby reminded us of an important fact. The apostles and the first Christians knew little, if anything, about the facts of Jesus’ birth.

The central experience for them was Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. They knew he died for them. They knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he loved them passionately and that he lived to receive all who pass from death unto life. He brought into being a new kingdom—a new way of living and being. His followers’ view of life changed completely. They were willing to pay the price to be a new kingdom within an old world. Surely Jesus is calling us now to renew our vows to cherish life in his kingdom.

Reflection:How might Jesus be calling you in this Lent to live more fully in the Kingdom of God?

Prayer: Loving God, help us to honor you by claiming and proclaim- ing your grace and love. Amen. Wednesday, February 24 written by Caroline Sell

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” - Matthew 4:1-4

What does it mean to claim our identities as children of God?

Today’s story, a glimpse into Jesus’ constant tension between his godliness and his humanity, gives us one hint. To be a child of God is to rest in the confidence that our hope does not lie in the things of this world. To be a child of God is to finally(!) name our need to be liked, and loved, and to let it seep into our core that God loves us without condition. To be a child of God is to stop believing the lie that our worth is in whether or not we have the “right” job (or a job at all), whether or not we married the “right” person (or married at all), whether or not our savings account is where it should be (or have a savings at all). Instead, our hope lies in the confidence that God gazes upon us in love, speaking words of life, truth, and provi- sion to us – again and again - each day.

Reflection: What would it look like for you to rest in the truth that you are a beloved child of God? What is it that steals your ability to believe and claim this truth?

Prayer: Holy God, remind me of who I am: your beloved child, in whom you are well pleased. Amen. Thursday, February 25 Remember When? By Rev. Sarah Are

God never begins letters with the words, “I hope this finds you well,” For those words imply distance.

Instead, God begins God’s letters to you with the words, “Remember when?”

Beloved child, Remember when we dipped our toes into the water? Remember when we dove right in? Remember when the ice cream dripped down our hands And the cicadas sang their song, And the seasons changed, And the days were long? Remember when we fell in love and the world was new? Remember when our heart was broken? Remember the tears? Remember the long nights? Remember when we laughed again and the sound surprised us? Remember when we marched in the street? Remember when we cast our vote? Remember when we believed in hope? Remember when? I do.

That’s what God’s letters say. So on this day, and every day to come, Remember: God is meeting you. If you look back, you might remember when.

Reflection: What might God write in a letter to you today? When might you be invited to remember meeting God most clearly?

Prayer: Holy God, we want to meet you. Open our hearts and minds to where you might be revealing yourself to us today and every day. Amen. Friday, February 26 written by Sam Perkins

Just remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all the land of Egypt. Remember the great terrors the Lord your God sent against them. You saw it all with your own eyes! And remember the miraculous signs and wonders, and the strong hand and powerful arm with which he brought you out of Egypt. The Lord your God will use this same power against all the people you fear. - Deuteronomy 7:18-19

I don’t know what it is to be captive or to be oppressed, under the thumb of a person or system, but I know others who do. I can’t imagine witnessing the plagues on Egypt, nor the high water walls of the parted Red Sea crashing down atop my pursuers. I have never wandered in a wilderness for 40 days, let alone 40 years. But I do know what it is like to be under the power of something that seeks my ruin, to have a heavy burden weighing me down, to run away from something sinister. I do know what it is to be in a metaphorical desert place. I do know what it is to see God move.

Again and again, I have cried out. Again and again, God interceded. Not always in the way I anticipated or even wanted, but God delivered me. Love lifted me. And I remember. God never stops fighting for us, pursuing us, longing for us to love better. The power of the cross is the power of love; the strong hand and powerful arm are the embrace of the Savior carrying us through our grief, providing for us in our wandering, sustaining us in weakness, emboldening us in battle, providing peace in the midst of chaos again and again.

Reflection: When was the last time you felt overpowered? Where have you experienced the strength and power of God?

Prayer: God, help us to be more aware of Your presence and Your power. Amen. Saturday, February 27 written by Ernie Thompson

Then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. - Mark 8:31

Jesus’ teaching that he must suffer, die, and then rise confused the disciples and may still confuse us. There is certainly much suffering in life, but most of us try to avoid it. We want to avoid unnecessary suffering, but there may be times when we are called to suffer. Richard Rohr says the two primary paths to spiritual transformation are great love and great suffering. Following Jesus can lead to both. Jesus knew that our brokenness and sin cause great suffering, for us and for God. And so, Jesus showed us how God bears our suffering, with sacrificial love, leading to forgiveness and resurrection. During this season of Lent and Easter, we remember that this pattern Jesus shows us is repeated again and again.

Reflection: Is God calling me to great love or great suffering? How are love and suffering intertwined?

Prayer: Lord help me to follow in the way of Jesus Christ, and in following experience the transforming power of resurrection. Amen.

Monday, March 1

Transfiguration | Lauren Wright Pittman Hand-carved block printed with oil-based ink on paper Monday, March 1

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. - Mark 8:31-32

Artist Statement: Here we find Peter stepping in and saying all the right things, rejecting the notion that Christ must suffer and die; but in the end, he’s not listening to Jesus. It seems Peter’s rejection of this narrative reflects his fear of the suffering he also might face in following Christ. “Let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34). Six days later, the disciples are called to listen once again. In this image, I zoomed out to focus on the moment of Transfiguration. Jesus shines like a beacon atop the high mountain while former prophets appear. The disciples are terrified, but also want to live this moment forever, making the glory-filled rock face their home. At once a cloud descends, obscuring things further, and God’s voice echoes down, “This is my Son, the Beloved, listen to him!” (Mark 9:7). It’s almost as though Jesus had exhausted all efforts to get the disciples to listen, and God had to spectacularly reiterate the importance of listening. I think it’s important to note that following God’s words, all the disciples could see was Jesus. - Lauren Wright Pittman

Reflection: What words of Jesus might you be called to listen to this season? Are there, perhaps, specific words of scripture or song that come to mind?

Prayer: Holy God, it seems that again and again the call is to listen. Open my ears again, Lord. Amen. Tuesday, March 2 written by Butch Sherrill

Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple…. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!’ - John 2:15-16

The Lenten season is a good time to do some “spiritual house- cleaning.” When we get our spiritual house in order, we sweep away things that get in the way of our relationship with God. This may involve getting rid of some things we have become attached to – ways of thinking and acting, attitudes, prejudices, and habits that tend to tear down rather than build up.

The text from John shows Jesus’ passionate feelings about making a respectful and worshipful response to God. When the busyness of life gets in the way of our focusing on God, then we need to do some reordering, some prioritizing. If we follow the example of Jesus, we will seek opportunities regularly to go to God in prayer and reflection. When we make time each day to listen to what God may be saying to us, we can better prevent the routine and usual events of everyday life from distracting us from God’s presence.

Reflection: What in your life may you need to clear away to give attention to God? Can you try to commit to a time each day to listen to God?

Prayer: Lord of life, help me to so order my life each day that I may be open to your leading. Amen. Wednesday, March 3 written by Ernie Thompson

“While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.” After Jesus said this, he departed and hid from them. Although he had per- formed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. - John 12:36-37

Belief is a funny thing. The old saying goes, “Seeing is believing.” But we might equally say, “Believing is seeing.” Seeing the many signs Jesus did was not enough for some. They knew what they believed. They knew who the Messiah was supposed to be and what the Messiah would do. Jesus did not meet their expectations, so they did not believe. They saw the light, but they did not believe in the light. Jesus departed and hid from them. But the truth is, he was already hidden from them. They could not see the signs before them because they were not willing to question their prior assumptions and open their eyes.

Reflection: Do I have assumptions or beliefs that keep me from seeing clearly? What is Jesus trying to show me that I might be missing?

Prayer: Lord open my eyes, that I might see glimpses of truth thou hast for me; place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free. Amen. Thursday, March 4 Truth that Ricochets by Rev. Sarah Are

I went to a lecture once— An interfaith conversation with interfaith leaders. Whispers bounced off the church’s tile floors As people shuffled into place, Carrying hope alongside assumptions— Mixed into pockets like loose change.

About halfway through the evening, A young woman in a blue hijab began speaking. She was the youngest person on the panel, Seated far to the left. You might almost miss her If you weren’t paying attention; But not here, not when she spoke.

In quiet determination she told us of fear and persecution. She told us of hatred and racial slurs, Thrown at her people from car windows like bombs. It was a truth I did not know, And that truth ricocheted like sunlight through the cathedral windows, Touching almost everyone that day.

Then a man in the back, who could have been me— Who has been me— Approached the microphone and said, “Your people are persecuted. You live in fear. You are battered by hate. If that is true, then why am I just now hearing about it? Why is your story not on the news? Why have you not spoken up about it?”

And the air was still, partly because we held our breath in anticipation, And partly because the Spirit slows her dance when we stand at the edge of truth. The woman in the blue hijab leaned into the microphone And whispered with a quiet strength that can only come from years of practice: “We are screaming.”

If there is one truth in my life That unfolds again and again, It is the need to listen. Thursday, March 4 cont’d

For again and again, I will try, with good intentions, To act and walk with love. But again and again, I will make mistakes. Again and again, I will say the wrong thing. Again and again, they will call me Peter, And again and again, they will be right.

So again and again, I will pray for a truth that ricochets, For ears that will listen, And for space to hold truth.

If people are screaming, And to be clear—people are screaming— I do not want to miss it.

Reflection: Who might you be called to listen to (perhaps again and again)? Try to identify a specific person(s). What makes it difficult to listen to them? How might you keep your ears open?

Prayer: Dear God, help us to listen, just as you listen to each of us, help us to listen to others. Amen. Friday, March 5 written by Sam Perkins

My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead. - Psalm 22:14-15

I know this song. I’ve lived this song. I’ve sung this song. Heck, I could have written this song.

For some, this might feel like a pandemic anthem. For a text with such vivid imagery, it almost evokes a picture confined to gray- scale. It’s complete exhaustion. It’s devastation and desolation. It’s the ebbing of life. It’s discouragement and despair. It’s too much. It’s the end.

And yet, it isn’t. The fact that the psalmist composes this to God is evidence of his or her faith in God; faith that God will (or at least can) provide restoration, just as God has for God’s people again and again.

Even now, though the situation is dire and our condition might be as well, hope exists—not just on the horizon, but in the present. For though we were laid in the dust and left for dead, we will be/are being raised again with/by/in Christ for life.

Reflection: How do you relate to the lyrics of this song? What has felt restorative to you lately?

Prayer: O God, fill my soul to overflowing with Your living water. Amen. Saturday, March 6 written by Caroline Sell

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him! - Mark 9:7

This is the second time we hear God calling his son, Jesus, “the Be- loved.” The first is during Jesus’ baptism, and the second is during this story, known as the Transfiguration. If you’re not familiar with the story (and even if you are), it’s worth looking up the entire story (Mark 9:2-8). Throughout the gospels, people are trying to figure out who Jesus really is. Here, a few of the disciples finally get a clear picture: Jesus is undeniably the Son of God, the Beloved. Pe- ter, knowing how tough it is to capture moments like this where Jesus’ identity is so clearly on display, capitalizes on the moment and begins to build a shelter so that they all could stay put for a while. We, too, spend most of our Christian journey trying to better understand Jesus. We read scripture, pray regularly, and serve dil- igently. And thankfully, we also have “aha!” moments when Jesus is undeniably present. Like Peter, we often want to hang onto those moments. But, also as Peter experienced, the moments fade, and we must come down off the mountain, taking what we have now learned into the world.

Reflection: When in your life have you seen Jesus most clearly? How have these moments shaped who you know Jesus to be?

Prayer: O, dear Lord, three things I pray: to see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, follow thee more nearly, day by day. Amen. Monday, March 8

The Cross Remains | Lauren Wright Pittman Digital Drawing Monday, March 8

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God … For God’s foolishness is wis- er than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. - 1 Corinthians 1:18, 25

Artist Statement: On the wall next to my front door hangs a resurrection cross created by a Mexican artisan. I love it so much because you almost can’t see the cross for the flowers. It serves as a reminder to me that death does not have the final word. I drew this image as I attempted to obscure the cross with blooming irises, a flower that represents wisdom and strength. Ultimately, in the negative space, the cross remains. - Lauren Wright Pittman

Reflection: How does this message of foolishness, power, weakness, and strength resonate with you? How is this different from lessons you’ve been taught about these themes?

Prayer: Holy God, I need your strength. Help me to rely on your strength rather than my own, even if it seems foolish. Amen. Tuesday, March 9 written by Butch Sherrill

‘At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.’ - 2 Corinthians 6:2

There is a scene in the last act of Thornton Wilder’s play “Our Town” where Emily says tearfully as she enters the graveyard of her hometown, “Do any human beings realize life while they live it every minute?” Too often, much of the Christian faith is based on the prospects of life after death. Emily asks, “Is there life before death?” Is not Christianity intended to teach us the art of living, not just the art of dying?

The Christian faith tells us there is life before death, but that life is measured by the quality of our existence, not by the quantity of time. Now is a word that appears on almost every page of the Bible. For all of the biblical words of future hope and remembrance of things gone by, now is the focus of its primary concern. God has given each of us the time of our lives. Now is the welcome time!

Reflection: What is something you might do today – now – to honor God and life? Could you share that something with another person?

Prayer: God, now is the time that you have given us; may we make the best use of it each day. Amen. Wednesday, March 10 written by Caroline Sell

And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. - Ezra 6:16-17

We’ve talked a lot throughout the pandemic about feeling like we are in exile—exile from family, friends, community, and many of the creature comforts we enjoy. We’ve even felt exiled from church – in fact, we have not worshiped inside the church building for over a year. While I’ve found words from scripture written during the Israelite’s exile very helpful for processing this pandemic, I’ve also found it helpful to read texts like this one from Ezra. The people have returned home from exile. They’ve rebuilt the temple, and now they are ready to celebrate and offer to God what they have. Our offerings will look different than theirs, but I do wonder what it will be like to gather again. I wonder how we will celebrate. I think we have learned things during the pandemic that we can offer to one another and I am eagerly praying now for God to guide us, both as individuals and as a church, as we consider what these offerings might look like. Will you join me?

Reflection: The time will come when we again celebrate in the house of God with joy. What, then, will you offer? What can you bring with you from this time of exile that might further God’s love, peace, and justice to the world?

Prayer: Dear God, as I begin to imagine what it might look like to gather again, help me consider what work you may have before me. Amen. Thursday, March 11 Bread Crumbs by Rev. Sarah Are

I used to make decisions with a flip of a coin, Or, “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, My mother told me so.”

That was when the stakes were small, When I was small, When the world was small; Back when we thought We knew it all.

But you grow up quickly When you start to see That not all have the freedom To love equally, Or to breathe freely, Or to protest peacefully.

And you grow up quickly When you start to see That the Church is shrinking And the world is sick, And people are lonely, And the news won’t quit. And no amount of guessing games Can right these wrongs.

So today I am going To do my best To tuck my ego In the pocket of my chest. Today I will listen Louder than I speak, And look for the tables That Jesus is flipping. For our God carved Words into stone. Our God led the people In a pillar of smoke. Our God was present In the still, small voice, In the middle of the storm, Thursday, March 11 cont’d

And where people rejoice. And if God was showing them the way, Then I am confident, God is here today— Dropping bread crumbs And leaving signs, Flipping tables Where oppression dines.

So yes, I admit, This is harder than before. I cannot use games To decide or keep score. I have to use faith; I have to believe That even today, God is leading. My mother told me so.

Reflection: Was there a moment in your faith life when you “grew up quickly?” Were you able to make sense of what you saw or experienced in light of a good God?

Prayer: God, there is much pain in the world around us. It can be hard sometimes to see you in the chaos. Help us to see you, and to join with you in your work. Amen. Friday, March 12 written by Sam Perkins

Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. - Romans 6:5-8

I think there are times in our lives that feel like being born, like we’re just waking up, like we’re emerging into the world as a new person.

I was just seven when I asked Jesus to come live in my heart. I was taking a bath and, for some reason, that’s when I told my dad I was ready. Maybe it was something to do with the water. I don’t know. That wasn’t my birth moment though.

For me, it was when I realized that I wasn’t living according to the Word and will of Christ. Instead, I was simply following a path on which I’d been set, carrying on someone else’s passed-down traditions without having done much thinking for myself. I was borrowing beliefs that were, upon further inspection, counter to the Gospel. And those beliefs hung on me like weights, like blinders, like shackles. Breaking free from them was like being born brand new into a world and a life that felt like freedom. And I was alive again for the first time.

Reflection: What is/are your birth narrative(s)? What borrowed beliefs do you have that might be keeping you (or others) from real freedom?

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for coming, that we might have life in abundance. Amen. Saturday, March 13 written by Ernie Thompson

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. - John 3:14-15

Jesus points to a strange story in the book of Numbers, chapter 21. Moses leads the people through the desert after they have been delivered from slavery, but they are impatient and complain against God and Moses. The consequence of their sin is an attack by poisonous serpents. The people cry out for forgiveness and salvation. God tells Moses to make a poisonous serpent and lift it up on a pole and every person bitten would look on it and live. There is a strange truth here. We must look at our sin and its consequences before we can receive forgiveness. We can’t deny it or ignore it. We must face the consequences of what we release on ourselves and on others. Jesus says that this is what happens on the cross – we see the terrible consequences of our sin. Those who look on it will live. We find forgiveness and new life in Christ.

Reflection: Is there some sin and its consequence that I am afraid to face or that we as a community or nation are afraid to face? Are we willing to look on it and receive forgiveness and life?

Prayer: Lord, as I look to the cross, help me to see the depth of the brokenness within me and around me, and the terrible consequences we are all suffering. But let me also see your forgiving and life-giving love. Amen. Monday, March 15

Light Wave | Lisle Gwynn Garrity Acrylic painting with gold leaf on canvas Monday, March 15

Jesus said to Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. -John 3:16-17

Artist Statement: Jesus speaks to Nicodemus with poetry of promise: God didn’t send his son to judge the world, but so the world might be restored through him. For God so loved. For God so loves, that like light, God keeps traveling to reach us with that redeeming love. In this abstract painting, the gold leaf marks become like a wave gliding through the cosmos, moving endlessly until it reaches everything. -Lisle Gwynn Garrity

Reflection: Spend a few minutes gazing at this painting. What sticks out to you? What do you notice about the light?

Prayer: Dear Jesus, You are the light of the world that cannot be hidden. I pray your light will shine into every dark corner of the earth. Amen. Tuesday, March 16 written by Ernie Thompson

So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. No testing has over- taken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and God will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing God will provide the way out so that you will be able to endure it. - 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Life is full of tests and trials. They often come when we least expect it. They come in all shapes and sizes. We think we are standing, and then discover we are falling. There is hope in the promise, “God will not let you be tested beyond your strength,” but sometimes it feels like what we are facing is more than we can bear. It’s crucial to hear what comes before and after this promise, “God is faithful,” and “God will provide the way out.” That way out is not always clear, and sometimes in the midst of our pain, it seems as if God has abandoned us. Jesus himself cried out, “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?” But God did not abandon Jesus, and God will not abandon us. Even when the pain and grief seem over- whelming, God is faithful, and God will provide.

Reflection: What trials or testing am I experiencing now? Are there signs of God’s faithfulness even in the midst of my struggle?

Prayer: God when trials and testing come, help me to remember your faithfulness. Give me patience and strength and faith while I wait for you to provide the way out. Amen. Wednesday, March 17 written by Caroline Sell

The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. - Isaiah 60:19-20

Prior to Lent, we walked through a sermon series called “Wit- nesses to the Light.” Claire Utley, our Communications Director, chose some beautiful photos as “transition slides” during our worship services. As these photos appeared on my television, I was taken back to the amazing sunrises and sunsets that I have been blessed to witness. I’ll never forget the summer that my husband and I were on vacation with my family at Emerald Isle Beach. We woke up early to drive to Raleigh and caught a flight to visit my husband’s family living in Seattle. By the end of the day, I was witnessing a sunset over the West Coast. That day, I was reminded of the miracle that no matter where you live on Earth, the sun will rise and the sun will set.

Today’s text from Isaiah looks forward to a day in which we will not rely on the sun or moon to shine light; instead, God’s light will shine forever.

Reflection: Are there sunrises or sunsets (or other moments in creation) that stand out to you? How have these revealed to you God’s everlasting light?

Prayer: Shine, O God, this day and every day, into our lives and into our hearts. Amen. Thursday, March 18 Hold by Rev. Sarah Are

If you hold a newborn in your arms, All at once you will understand The crook of your elbow And the cup of your palm As never before— Ordinary curves of the body Transformed into a resting space. You were designed for love.

And if you’re lucky enough To hold a newborn in your arms, And that newborn curls Its tiny fingers around yours, Making your hands look Like the hands of a giant— Then time might stand still, And those around you might point and say, “Look! That little one is holding you back.”

And in that moment, If you pay attention, You will catch a glimpse Of the circle that love was meant to be. God is love, Our resting place. With small hands, We hold back.

Reflection: Rev. Sarah Are writes, “You were designed for love.” Read this phrase over a few times; what feelings does this evoke in you? What images come to mind?

Prayer: O God, you’ve got the whole world in your hands. Thank you that the ‘world’ includes ‘me.’ Help me to feel your love and share it with others. Friday, March 19 written by Sam Perkins

But I will gather together the remnant of my flock from the countries where I have driven them. I will bring them back to their own sheepfold, and they will be fruitful and increase in number. Then I will appoint responsible shepherds who will care for them, and they will never be afraid again. Not a single one will be lost or missing. I, the Lord, have spoken! - Jeremiah 23:3-4

When I was in elementary school, we were graded on ‘citizenship’. It was an evaluation of our behavior, how we interacted with our classmates and teachers, how well we stayed on task, etc. Only once did I get anything above a C. It’s not that I was a “bad kid,” I was just very…social. I often heard, “Do I need to separate you?” Sometimes it was due to disagreement, sometimes goofing off, but always because I wasn’t paying attention.

Israel was like that. They would have disagreements that would cause them to make poor decisions. They would goof around and get off course. They would stop paying attention to what they were supposed to be doing, who they were supposed to be following, and how God was leading them. God would say, “Do I need to separate you?” We’re like this sometimes too.

Still, no matter how many times I had to be separated from someone or something, I was always cared for, always given another chance, never lost by the one/One responsible for me. So was Israel. So are we. This is the God we serve, the God who loves us, the Good Shepherd.

Reflection: When do you feel lost?

Prayer: Good Shepherd, bring us back, comfort us and remind us of Your care. Amen. Saturday, March 20 written by Butch Sherrill

Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. - John 12:24

In the twelfth chapter of John’s Gospel, Jesus comes face to face with human mortality. In time it is a situation we will all face. Jesus knows that he will be cut down like a grain of wheat, but he can also see the bountiful harvest in time – generations of disciples following his call, living in his love.

Like Jesus, we must come face to face with God’s purpose for us. What we do defines who we are. Christians follow Christ. Take every opportunity to be kind, to be caring. Don’t be too busy to listen. Don’t be too hurried to help. Don’t be too timid to proclaim Christ’s love. Showing his love is our calling and our legacy.

Reflection: How might you show the love of Christ in your life today?

Prayer: God, in love you created, sustained, and redeemed the world. Jesus was your love’s greatest witness. Help us to live in that love and share it with all your creation. Amen.

Monday, March 22

Drawn to Love | Hannah Garrity Paper lace Monday, March 22

Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. - John 12:24-26

Artist Statement: I love borders. I place them in my artwork so that I can break them. They set up a reiteration of balance; they allow for a secondary or tertiary focal point. They introduce a conversation. In this image, the border allows for variation in the foreground and separation in the sky. The wheat breaks through the border. The horizon continues past the border. What are the metaphors within this imagery? People are drawn to Jesus, drawn to love. I portray God’s voice with cumulonimbus clouds, the clouds of thunder- storms. As they move upward toward the heavens, they become wheat and doves. The image incorporates a border representing the loving constraints that Jesus’ ministry places on our lives and choices. What would Jesus do? Jesus would love. The wheat grows beyond the border of life; the wheat brings forth a standard of dar- ing love. “Those who love their life lose it” (John 12:25). The wheat breaks the border, it dances with the voice of God, it is not cautious, it is not scarce. It is love. -Hannah Garrity

Reflection:Where might God be calling you to serve? What part of you might need to die in order to invest in this service?

Prayer: God, help me to follow your voice - the voice of love - that I might serve you. Amen. Tuesday, March 23 written by Butch Sherrill

Come near to God, and God will come near to you. - James 4:8

Two friends were traveling together in Brazil. One of the friends had visited the area previously and was excited about sharing the things that had interested him the most. He especially wanted his friend to see the gigantic statue of Christ that stood watch over Rio de Janeiro. He could hardly talk of anything else. When they rounded a bend in the road and could see the statue far in the distance, the friend was sorely disappointed. “It’s just so much smaller than I had pictured,” he said. “Don’t worry,” the driver told him, “the closer you get, the bigger it grows.”

Isn’t that the way it is? The closer we allow ourselves to get to Christ, the bigger he grows in our hearts. When we put distance between ourselves and the life that Christ would have for us, the less important he becomes. He gets a smaller and smaller part of our thoughts, our time, and our gifts. But if we will make the effort to get near to him, to place him at the center of our lives, he will enrich and bless our lives.

Reflection:What is at the center of your life now? If it is not Christ, what might it take to place him there?

Prayer: Gracious God, put our feet on a path that draws us nearer to you and your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Wednesday, March 24 written by Caroline Sell

And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. - John 12:44-47

There’s a lot of judgment floating around these days, and as this scripture passage reminds us, this isn’t anything new. Recently, I’ve been attending a class that Rev. Frank Dew is teaching called “Rad- ical Jesus.” In this class, we are learning about the Kingdom of God and the radical nature of Jesus, who invites us to live into a radical life. In the second class, someone astutely asked Rev. Dew how he recommends talking about this radical life with others, particularly when we have such different understandings of what a radical life can or should look like. Frank responded with the advice that we “tell our own story, rather than telling others what to do.” I thought this was great advice. By telling our own stories, we can witness to the light that we believe God is shining into the darkness and share how we are partnering with God in this work.

Reflection: How might you share your own story of walking with God in the light? How does this look different than speaking words of judgment?

Prayer: God, help me to look for ways where you are shining light in our world, and to join you in this work. Then, grant me words to share with others where I’m finding your light. Amen. Thursday, March 25 Keep Digging by Rev. Sarah Are

I can feel change inside of me. It’s a slow burn. Change usually starts out hot— Defensive and angry, A self-righteous blanket Of, “I am right and here’s why . . .” I wrap it around my shoulders Like a barricade. I fight the temptation to lean forward, To play the challenger, To argue with confidence.

But in time, Almost always, The heat fades. The air leaves the balloon. The audacity of it all Starts to wear off. And eventually, What I am left with Is myself And a big, open sky. It’s colder here. It’s quieter. I can hear my thoughts.

And in this big, wide openness I am able to say out loud, “Maybe I wasn’t right. Maybe I need to learn. Maybe it’s time for change. Maybe that’s okay.”

And if I’m quiet, and if I’m paying attention, I can usually hear God whisper inside of me, “Good work, my child. Now keep digging.” Thursday, March 25 cont’d

Reflection: Consider a time that you changed your mind. What was the process like? How were you convinced to change?

Prayer: Unchanging God, thank you that you love me exactly as I am, and too much for me to stay that way. Open my heart to the ways that you might be calling me to change. Amen. Friday, March 26 written by Sam Perkins

Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” - John 11:23-27

Two of the biggest and most pivotal questions Jesus asks, in my opinion, are 1) Who do you say I am? and 2) Do you believe this?

Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, were among Jesus’ closest friends and followers, and though he often spoke in veiled verbal clues to his identity and divinity, these people were the ones who bore witness to his brilliance, his kindness, his righteous indignation, his miracles, and his unprecedented love. Finally coming right out and asking the question gave them permission to acknowledge what they have suspected, what they have known in their hearts. The question was confirmation that this Jesus, who had spoken life, changed lives, saved lives, and even restored life again and again, is, in fact, LIFE.

Martha says that she has always known, that she has always believed; now though, she will begin to understand.

Reflection: What are some things you believe but don’t understand? How has your understanding of this text shaped your faith?

Prayer: Mighty God, I know You know me; help me to know You more. Amen. Saturday, March 27 written by Ernie Thompson

When the great crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So, the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus. - John 12:9-11

The last week of Jesus’ life was a roller coaster. There were joyful reunions with friends like Martha, Mary and Lazarus, and there were death threats, not just against Jesus but against his friends. The crowds celebrated his arrival in Jerusalem, and one of his own disciples looked for an opportunity to betray him. Beneath the be- trayal, by both Judas and the chief priests, there seemed to be a desire for power, to have things go their way rather than recognizing that God might be revealing a new way. And caught in that desire for power, they revealed the evil that lurks in every human heart.

Reflection: Are there ways that my desire to be in control, to have things go the way I want them to go, has caused me to miss what God is doing?

Prayer: God, do not let my certainties lead me astray. Do not allow me to justify my own acts of evil by pretending they are necessary or good. Lead me to Jesus and to his transforming love. Amen. Monday, March 29

Through the Palms | Lauren Wright Pittman Monday, March 29

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt! - John 12:14-15

Artist Statement: The crowds close in on Jesus. Some lift their hands in praise, others point accusingly. I hope this image serves as a reminder to call upon God for the courage you need, to rest and recharge for the work ahead. But I hope it also heartens you to move forward in courage, even in the midst of great resistance, toward the work God is calling you into. - Lauren Wright Pittman

Reflection: Are you taking time to rest and recharge? What time do you need to carve out so that you can be ready for the work ahead? What does this time need to look like?

Prayer: Dear God, help me to not be afraid, to be courageous enough to take time to rest with you. Amen. Tuesday, March 30 written by Butch Sherrill

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. - John 8:12

I served a church in which stained glass windows that had been in place for more than 100 years were removed, taken apart, and cleaned. When they were returned with all the dirt and grit removed, their renewed beauty was amazing to see. A myriad of colors and details that had been hidden glistened in the sunlight.

Our lives can be like those windows. By God’s grace, the dust and grit is washed away and the true beauty of our lives is seen as we reflect the light of Christ to the world. God created us in God’s own image and love. For the light of God’s love to shine through, we are called to follow the life and teachings of Jesus, the “light of the world.”

Reflection: Today, think about ways that you can let the light of Christ shine in your life.

Prayer: Loving God, may the light of Christ’s love shine through our lives so that others may see. Amen. Wednesday, March 31 written by Caroline Sell

After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me. - John 13:21

We’ve all been betrayed at one time or another. Someone we trusted didn’t show up or left us with or without warning. What if you knew ahead of time that this person was going to betray you? Would you do anything different? I expect that I’d probably keep that person at arm’s length. Yet, I am challenged by the fact that Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray him and despite this, Jesus included Judas in the inner circle until the very end.

We are not God, and we cannot predict who will or will not betray us. We are human and betrayals can have lasting and severe consequences, and staying in relationship with someone who betrays us again and again can be extremely harmful. But as we journey through the rest of Holy Week, I do think it is worth spending some time wondering about this Jesus who dines with the one who will betray him and what that could mean for our relationships.

Reflection: As much as your heart can bear, reflect on a time that you have been betrayed. What could or should you have done dif- ferently? How might Jesus’ story inform the way you think back?

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that in you we are a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come. We turn from you again and again. But in you, we are forgiven and loved. Thanks be to God. Thursday, April 1 | Maundy Thursday Until That Day by Rev. Sarah Are

We cannot shake hands right now. We cannot hug or kiss cheeks. We cannot lean in to tell stories Or draw close to pray. We cannot pass the peace Or even pass the time in each other’s homes. We cannot eat together, Because the world is sick.

So instead of holding each other, We hold distance. We hold masks. We hold statistics on the tips of our tongues. We hold fear, We hold space, We hold tense conversations.

Maybe by the time you’re reading this, The day will have come For all God’s people to be gathered at Table. Maybe by the time you’re reading this, We will be eating together. Maybe we’ll be hugging. Hopefully there will be dancing And laughing and kissing And leaning in to tell stories, And throwing our heads back to laugh.

But until that day, I will wiggle my toes, And think of footwashing. I will eat sweet bread, Ravenously, And remember Communion. I will close my eyes, And picture your face. I will clasp my hands And know— As sure as one palm knows the other— That we are being held. We are being held together. Thursday, April 1 | Maundy Thursday cont’d

Reflection: On Maundy Thursday we remember the last evening that Jesus spent with his community before he was arrested. He chose to spend this evening sharing a meal. Remember today a special meal with friends or family, or especially your church family. What made this meal so special? Relive the moment, remembering the joy of the day.

Prayer: O God, we long to share a meal with friends. Especially today, we remember how we long to eat bread and drink from a cup surrounded by you and your church family. Today, help us to remember meals that we have held sacred and to hold onto the belief that we will one day feast again. Amen. Friday, April 2 | Good Friday written by Sam Perkins

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief. - Psalm 22:1-2

Some of my favorite psalms are not flowery and worshipful but raw and honest and human. I find comfort in knowing that psalmists don’t always feel like singing praises. Sometimes, circumstances call for lament.

It’s no wonder that this psalm comes to Jesus’ mind in the last moments on the cross. When we feel like Jesus is at his most divine, he probably felt more human than ever. And although we have new life in Christ because of the love shown on that cross, there are seasons when no praise comes to our lips because no cause for praise comes to mind. We feel forsaken and rejected, forgotten and ignored. Our humanity tells us that God is no longer there, that God is no longer for us. Still, God’s goodness and faithfulness, God’s love and compassion are never far from us. God’s answer and God’s relief come in God’s way and in God’s timing. This knowledge won’t necessarily relieve our suffering, but we can rest and rejoice that we are part of a Body that walks and works together, and we are held by God through that Body again and again.

Reflection: What is your favorite psalm? Why? How have you been held, sustained, comforted, embraced by the Body?

Prayer: Ever-present God, thank You that though our sorrows may last for the night, joy comes with the morning. Amen. Saturday, April 3 written by Ernie Thompson

Now there was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified, and in the garden, there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. - John 19:41-42

Crucified, dead, and buried. There is a finality to that. Yet even in this ending, there is a hint of a new beginning. “Now there was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified.” The garden was probably intended to comfort those who came to this place to grieve. The beauty of a garden, and of all God’s creation, is good for our souls. But gardens are also places where we see hints of resurrection. The disciples will have to wait through a long and lonely night, and we often do as well. But even in the darkness, there is hope that the light will come.

Reflection: How might recognizing the pain and darkness of Holy Saturday, when Jesus lay dead in the tomb, deepen our celebration of Easter morning?

Prayer: God help me to wait in the darkness, knowing that in your time the light will come. Comfort me when loss and death come, with the hope and promise of resurrection. Amen. Sunday, April 4 Easter

We hope you’ll worship with us either online (930am, 11am) or outdoors (7am, 9am, 11am) as we celebrate the Risen Lord! More details can be found on our website, www.westpreschurch.org/easter.

3906 West Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27410 westpreschurch.org 336-299-3785 • [email protected]