Cultivate Easter 2021

Easter, Resurrection Sunday, April 4

Set-up: Prepare your spirit and your space, set aside distractions, gather your devotion packet and a Bible. Then, set out all the tea lights but do not light them yet. You may want to add glitter or ribbons or mirrors or more candles to your altar today. It’s the resurrection! It’s a celebration! Make party food or get out noisemakers or pots and pans! 

Read: John 20:1-18.

Wonder: CHRIST IS RISEN!!

Act: Light all the candles. Eat the snacks!  Make the noise! Today is the biggest party of all time. Heaven and earth rejoice!

Prayers: 

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones. Isaiah 49:13

Break forth together in singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted God’s people. Isaiah 52:9a-b

Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is thy sting? 1 Corinthians 15:55

Additional Readings: God’s wonderful surprise story booklet, Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 118:1-2,14-24, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 and UMH #302 Christ the Lord is Risen today

Cultivate Lent, Holy Saturday

This is a bonus blog post, not in the Lenten devotional packet made for the congregation of Cayce UMC. This came out of several conversations in my life over the past few weeks and a word laid upon my heart.

I think the church (the church universal) does a disservice by not teaching much about Holy Saturday...

Holy Saturday is the day Jesus laid in the tomb. The day after the crucifixion and the day before the resurrection.  Some theologians argue it is the one day when God is dead, and the superstitious believe it is one day when we need to do very little for fear that God is not watching. I tend not to align with the superstitious, but more with the idea that the God is in the liminal space.  Liminal is an adjective that means: relating to a transition or initial stage of process or occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold.

Author Susan Beaumont in her book: How to Lead When You Don't Know Where You are Going. Leading in a Liminal Season, describes this liminal space as the threshold between an ending and a new beginning. The in-between space where one does not know how it will end up. It is a place of discomfort. "There is a sweet spot between the known and the unknown...the key is to be able to linger there without panicking." (Ed Catmull, Pixar) But, it is hard to sit in uncomfortable, undefined, unknown, unsettled places and not panic.  There are too many "un"s. And yet, God's greatest work often happens in liminal spaces. "God is a character-forming God. God turns our times of transition into testimonies for God's glory." (Zim Flores, Dare to Bloom: Trusting God through Painful Endings and New Beginnings.) 

I think most of us have experienced a liminal space. My best friend moved away in 7th grade, how can I go to school without my friend, or a cancer diagnosis, or losing a job, or being in an accident. Or the liminal moments, that may be more positive, but no less unknown: the night before starting a new job, before you are married, the days before a child is born. These moments test our faith. These moments are uncomfortable. We so often want to celebrate Jesus' miracles, the triumphant entry into Jerusalem or even the finality and terror of the cross before we sit in the uncomfortable place of waiting to see what will happen. We desire deliverance and an end to our discomfort more than finding the opportunity to be quiet and listen for how God is working in these moments. There is no shame in that feeling either, liminal spaces are uncomfortable! 

But liminal spaces are also opportunities. Opportunities to lean into our faith. To practice our holy habits like reading scripture, prayer and service to others. To really look for hope in God's words and by being God's hands and feet to the world. One of my favorite quotes is from Mahatma Gandhi, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Gandhi was not a Christian, but he was very wise. He knew the power of moving outside of self-focus to focusing on the needs of others around you. Service is a great tool to help to see that “you” are not defined by a situation, but by your humanity by which I mean the ability, sympathy, connection, and solidarity to others through service. Hope is often more vibrant, more relevant in moments of crisis. That is the hope of the resurrection, that God WILL move us out of the in-between spaces into joy.

What would happen if we in the church taught how to be in liminal spaces? What if we normalized that these moments in our life will come: the liminal, unknown, uncomfortable spaces.  God says there will be days or seasons like this BUT God also promises it will not last forever. Sunday is coming.  Resurrection is coming.  

Cultivate Lent, Good Friday

For the season of Lent, I wrote a devotional for my congregation, Cayce United Methodist Church. I am sharing an adapted version of the adult version here on the blog. 

The family devotional is similar but includes a TON of activities, coloring sheets, science and even some baking (maybe more than practical but I got excited). If you want to see the packets in their entirety you can download them on Cayce's website  (www.cayceumc.com). On the website scroll down to below the upcoming events and there are  download options: adult, family and the Jesus Storybook booklets.  

Good Friday, April 2

Set-up: Prepare your spirit and your space, set aside distractions, gather your devotion packet and a Bible. Then, set out all the tea lights but do not light them. Have a napkin or a hand towel, something to drape over the unlit candles.

Read: John 18:1-19:42

Wonder: We have a longer reading today, and our inclination may be to rush through or even skip over the reading for Good Friday; but without Good Friday we might miss the significance of the resurrection. John’s gospel has some interesting perspectives to offer. John unifies the crucified Jesus with the resurrected Jesus. The crucified Jesus we behold (John 19:5) is our Lord and God and an atonement/sacrifice. The suffering Jesus is the glorified Jesus. This is worth noting. Jesus is always both/and. Jesus is both human and divine, suffering and glorified, crucified and at the same time victorious over death. One does not look upon the cross without anticipating the resurrection. We anticipate the resurrection, but at the same time today we sit with our humanity, our personal need for a Savior. Good Friday gives us pause, a time for self examination before we receive (the sometimes hard to comprehend) love, grace, forgiveness and salvation of God. Take some time to ponder today's reading. Is there a character you relate to? (Peter, High Priest, the two crucified with Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea or Nicodemus…) Can you imagine being a disciple of Jesus and not knowing the rest of the story? What does it mean to know the rest of the story as we read about Jesus’ death? 

Act: Gently drape the napkin or towel over the candles. (Note: do be careful not to damage the wicks; we’ll need the candles again for Easter.)

Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, You willed that Your Son should bear for us the pains of the cross, that You might remove from us the power of the adversary. Help us to remember and give thanks for our Lord’s Passion that we may obtain remission of sin and redemption from everlasting death; through the same, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Additional readings: A Dark Night in the Garden AND The Sun Stops Shining story booklet, Isaiah 52:13-55:12, Psalm 22, Hebrews 10:16-25. 

Cultivate Lent, Palm Sunday

 For the season of Lent, I wrote a devotional for my congregation, Cayce United Methodist Church. I am sharing an adapted version of the adult version here on the blog. 

The family devotional is similar but includes a TON of activities, coloring sheets, science and even some baking (maybe more than practical but I got excited). If you want to see the packets in their entirety you can download them on Cayce's website  (www.cayceumc.com). On the website scroll down to below the upcoming events and there are  download options: adult, family and the Jesus Storybook booklets.  

6th Sunday of Lent, March 28 Palm Sunday

Set-up: You will need tea lights (or candles, or a simple pencil drawing of candles and an eraser to take away a flame) and a Bible (or access to an online Bible). Prepare your spirit and your space, set aside distractions. Then, light one of the six tea lights.

Read: Mark 11:1-11   Hosanna, Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!  (11:9)

Wonder: Today we are switching gears from the covenants and promises in order to read the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. This story is a dramatic event in the beginning of Jesus’ moving towards his destiny, a destiny foretold by prophets and by Jesus himself (see John 8: 31-32, 9:30-32 and 10:32-34). We as modern readers know the whole story; we know this journey leads to the cross and ultimately to God’s victory, but the disciples did not. We also know that Jesus is not the messiah that the crowds expected or wanted. Since we have been reading and learning about how God longs for relationship with us (and has demonstrated that through covenants), do you see the entry of Jesus in Jerusalem differently than you may have in years past? 

Do: For further wondering, and because I think I did a good job. I offer my sermon from Palm Sunday. The sermon starts at 14:26 right after Lydia's sweet solo "I've got the Joy." https://www.facebook.com/cayceumc/videos/855855664977135

Act: Extinguish the last candle.

Prayer: During this time of Lenten preparation, we think of those who turned away from the light of Jesus. And we remember that we, too, turn away. Peter was the one Jesus entrusted to "build his church." He was willing to step out in faith. But he was the one who denied . . . who chose the way of darkness rather than light. We, too, deny Jesus — even when we feel so very close to him. We refuse to follow his example day in and day out. We recoil from service. And in the face of social pressure, we are floundering witnesses to his love for us. We extinguish the sixth candle with the confession that we have allowed others to define us rather than the light of Christ.

Additional Readings: The Servant King story booklet, Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16, Philippians 2:5-11, Mark 14:1-15:47. 

Cultivate Lent, week 5

For the season of Lent, I wrote a devotional for my congregation, Cayce United Methodist Church. I am sharing an adapted version of the adult version here on the blog. 

The family devotional is similar but includes a TON of activities, coloring sheets, science and even some baking (maybe more than practical but I got excited). If you want to see the packets in their entirety you can download them on Cayce's website  (www.cayceumc.com). On the website scroll down to below the upcoming events and there are  download options: adult, family and the Jesus Storybook booklets.  

5th Sunday of Lent, March 21

Set-up: You will need tea lights (or candles, or a simple pencil drawing of candles and an eraser to take away a flame) and a Bible (or access to an online Bible). Prepare your spirit and your space, set aside distractions. Then, light two of the six tea lights.

Read: Jeremiah 31:31-34  But this covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, say the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts. (31:33)

Wonder: The prophet Jeremiah is sometimes called the "weeping prophet." He served God during the last 40 years of the kingdom of Judah. A time when the people of God were not following the Lord. Jeremiah called the people to repent and revive their faith. The scorned and ignored him, and God allowed the people to be captured, oppressed by their enemy Babylon. The temple was looted and burned, significant for the Jewish faith as the temple is where God abides. It was a difficult time for the people of God and a time that strained their relationship with God. The covenant that prophet Jeremiah is speaking of in chapter 31 is that the word of God will be written upon our hearts. Having God's word written upon our hearts also means we will have help to follow God's word from within. Obedience will no longer be difficult because God's word is so intrinsic to who we are that we will not be able to stray. The embodiment of this prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Knowing Jesus means we can know the heart of God. Luke 6:45 reminds us that: "The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of the evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Jesus is the treasure of our hearts. God's word is the treasure of our hearts. Jesus is the renewed moral consciousness and embodiment of sacrament only made possible by the initiative of God. What that fancy phrase means is that God is always reaching out to God’s people, longing for a way to connect, to build relationships. Jesus is the embodiment of that desire. The Divine was made human so that we humans could relate to God. And Jeremiah’s prophetic covenant is fulfilled in Jesus’ coming to earth, living a human life, dying on the cross and his resurrection. Jesus’ sacrifice makes us worthy. God's sacrifice also allows us to live our most authentic life, we no longer need to be one person in worship and another in work. Our hearts and minds are aligned in having access through the Holy Spirit to the mind of Christ. (1 Cor. 2:10-16). We will know God so well through the lens of Jesus that we cannot be anything other than believers, followers and partners with God. God's word through us, as it is written upon our hearts, will no longer be used for hate or exclusion, but for love.

Ponder: How are you connected to Jesus? What does Jesus really mean to you? What do you need to change in your life so that others can see God’s law and love written on your heart?

Act: Extinguish a candle.

Prayer: During this time of Lenten preparation, we think of those who turned away from the light of Jesus. And we remember that we, too, turn away. The Pharisees fancied themselves as modern, up-to-date thinkers. But they so enjoyed the power they possessed that they were unable to recognize the power of God in Jesus. We are people of power.  Our power often blinds us to the simple power of Jesus' love for all creation and all people. We extinguish the fifth candle, fearful that our own powerful status will close our eyes and hearts to the light of Jesus.

Additional Readings: Written on our hearts story booklet, Psalm 51:1-12, Hebrews 5:5-10 and John 12:20-33, and in the UMH #374 Standing on the Promises.

Cultivate Lent, Week 4

 For the season of Lent, I wrote a devotional for my congregation, Cayce United Methodist Church. I am sharing an adapted version of the adult version here on the blog. 

The family devotional is similar but includes a TON of activities, coloring sheets, science and even some baking (maybe more than practical but I got excited). If you want to see the packets in their entirety you can download them on Cayce's website  (www.cayceumc.com). On the website scroll down to below the upcoming events and there are  download options: adult, family and the Jesus Storybook booklets.  

4th Sunday of Lent, March 14

Set-up: You will need tea lights (or candles, or a simple pencil drawing of candles and an eraser to take away a flame) and a Bible (or access to an online Bible). Prepare your spirit and your space, set aside distractions. Then, light four of the six tea lights.

Read: John 3:14-21 So that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him. (3:16b-17)

Wonder: This pericopy contains is one of the best known and most beloved verses in the Bible. John 3:16. This scripture proclaims God’s extravagant love for the world. Jesus’ coming is an embodiment of God’s promise and the relationship God desires to have with God’s creation. God died for all and desires to have a relationship with all people. This is perhaps the loveliest of all the promises of God. We are promised eternal life not because we deserve it but because God freely gives it. Rachel Held Evans, an author I admire whose voice lives on in her writing said: "Jesus did not simply dies to save us from our sins; Jesus lived to save us from our sins. His life and teaching show us the way to liberation." Liberation looks different for each of us, God's extravagant love and grace looks different for each of us. Liberation from sin for the rich young ruler looks different than the woman caught in adultery. The Good News Jesus Christ is the Messiah is different for John the Baptist, a Jewish prophet part of the inside crowd than for the Ethiopian eunuch, a gentile and an outsider. Mary Magdalene, the first witness to the resurrection, understood liberation and the Good News differently than the thief who died on the cross next to Jesus. There is no formula, though we may desire one, to be saved. Liberation comes through relationship with God. John 3:16 may be one of the most well know versus of scripture but I like verse 17, which reminds us that God sent Jesus not to condemn the world but to save it. God desires to be in relationship with God's creation. God longs to proclaim liberation in relevant ways that will change your life.

Ponder: How have you experienced God’s extravagant love in your life? How have you shown others God’s extravagant love? 

Act: Extinguish a candle.

Prayer: During this time of Lenten preparation, we think of those who turned away from the light of Jesus. And we remember that we, too, turn away. Throughout the life of Jesus, it is clear that the disciples never really "get it." They are unable to hear with their hearts the radical message of love Jesus brings. We, like the disciples of long ago, often close our hearts to the radical message of love that Jesus teaches. We lazily hate and offend. We purposefully hold onto our prejudices and anger. Darkness engulfs us. We extinguish the fourth candle, admitting our own lack of love and our closed hearts.

Additional Readings: Get Ready story booklet, Numbers 21:4-9, Psalm 108:1-3,17-22, Ephesians 2:1-10, and in the UMH #374 Standing on the Promises.

 Sources:

Rev. Preston Price, Anaheim, CA appointed to Anaheim United Methodist Church. “Lenten Candle Extinguishing Liturgy.” 2021.

Bartlett, David L. and Barbara Brown Taylor. Feasting on the Word Year B Volume 2. Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY. 2008.

Lloyd-Jones, Sally. The Jesus Storybook Bible. Zonderkidz. Grand Rapids. MI. 2007.

The Wayfinding Bible. NLT. Tyndale House Publishing. 2013.

Cultivate Lent, Week 3

 For the season of Lent, I wrote a devotional for my congregation, Cayce United Methodist Church. I am sharing an adapted version of the adult version here on the blog. 

The family devotional is similar but includes a TON of activities, coloring sheets, science and even some baking (maybe more than practical but I got excited). If you want to see the packets in their entirety you can download them on Cayce's website  (www.cayceumc.com). On the website scroll down to below the upcoming events and there are  download options: adult, family and the Jesus Storybook booklets.  

3rd Sunday of Lent, March 7

Set-up: You will need tea lights (or candles, or a simple pencil drawing of candles and an eraser to take away a flame) and a Bible (or access to an online Bible). Prepare your spirit and your space, set aside distractions. Then, light four of the six tea lights.

Read: Exodus 20:1-17  Then God gave the people all these instructions. (20:1)

Wonder: One of the central convictions of Jewish and Christian faith is that human life is to be lived before God and that such life has an order and structure, constituted by God’s commandments. John Wesley, founder of Methodism, would agree with this sentiment. We are called to be intentional and methodical, even about our faith, participating in personal devotion (like reading our Bible) to social holiness (helping our neighbor/feeding the poor). To modern ears the Ten Commandments might sound like moral principles, but that is a thin reduction. The Ten Commandments are a window to help us understand the covenantal relationship of a life before God. We have instructions for what we as followers of God are to do. John Calvin says there are three uses for the Ten Commandments: 1) to show us how to live before God and with neighbor, 2) to show us how to be good citizens and restrain sin, and 3) to play an indispensable, positive role in Christian life. They are a guide for our journey of life.

Ponder: How do you view the Ten Commandments? How have you benefited from these clear boundaries in your relationship with God?

Act: Extinguish a candle.

Prayer: During this time of Lenten preparation, we think of those who turned away from the light of Jesus. And we remember that we, too, turn away. We will never know the motivations of Judas's betrayal. All we know is that Judas thought his agenda was more important than Jesus. We, too, are often willing to put our agenda and priorities ahead of the Light of the World. We extinguish the third candle, recalling with regret the times we have betrayed Jesus by the darkness of our own self-centered willfulness.

Additional Readings: Ten Ways to Be Perfect story booklet, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, John 2: 13-22, and in the UMH #374 Standing on the Promises.

Sources:

Rev. Preston Price, Anaheim, CA appointed to Anaheim United Methodist Church. “Lenten Candle Extinguishing Liturgy.” 2021.

Bartlett, David L. and Barbara Brown Taylor. Feasting on the Word Year B Volume 2. Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY. 2008.

Lloyd-Jones, Sally. The Jesus Storybook Bible. Zonderkidz. Grand Rapids. MI. 2007.

The Wayfinding Bible. NLT. Tyndale House Publishing. 2013.

Cultivate Lent, Week 2

For the season of Lent, I wrote a devotional for my congregation, Cayce United Methodist Church. I am sharing an adapted version of the adult version here on the blog. 

The family devotional is similar but includes a TON of activities, coloring sheets, science and even some baking (maybe more than practical but I got excited). If you want to see the packets in their entirety you can download them on Cayce's website  (www.cayceumc.com). On the website scroll down to below the upcoming events and there are  download options: adult, family and the Jesus Storybook booklets.  

2nd Sunday of Lent, February 28

Set-up: You will need tea lights (or candles, or a simple pencil drawing of candles and an eraser to take away a flame) and a Bible (or access to an online Bible). Prepare your spirit and your space, set aside distractions. Then, light five of the six tea lights.

Read: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16  “I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them! I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you.” (17:6-7)

Wonder: The fundamental theme of the Old Testament is the reestablishment of relationship between God and the nations. God wants to be in relationship with creation. (We learned last week, in studying the rainbow covenant, that creation and humanity are linked, and for the purpose of simplicity I will use the term creation to mean both creation and humanity).

In this week’s text, the scope of God’s redemptive work is a promise for all the nations. Abraham stands at the beginning of God’s promise, but the promise is eternal. God promises to always be God to Abraham and to all of Abraham's descendants (that's us). The size of this promise is startling because again, God willingly binds God’s self to a people who turn away from grace, who are difficult and who get it wrong again and again, yet the divine creator of the universe initiates this covenant relationship with humanity, with each of us. God says, “I will be your God. I will be in relationship with you. We are connected forever.” To mark this covenant, God changed Abraham's name from Abram to Abraham (which means 'the father to many').

One of my wise clergy sisters reminded me that the descendant covenant we read about today in Genesis 17 is part of an ongoing conversation where God promises Abraham he will have many descendants. In fact the Jesus Storybook selection that goes with today's devotion (Sons of Laughter) highlights some of these promises. Earlier in Genesis chapter 15 God says to Abram, "Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That's how many descendants you will have!" (Genesis 15:5) The star promise is an inclusive covenant because stars do not get to choose their company. This is the good news. God promised Abraham he would be the father of all nations. ALL. All nations means all, not to the exclusion of any. God desires relationship with all of creation. God longs to be our God and to redeem all of creation, God desires to leave no one out.

Ponder: What are some ways you feel connected to God? How have you benefited from God’s great connection?

Act: Extinguish a candle.

Prayer: During this time of Lenten preparation, we think of those who turned away from the light of Jesus. And we remember that we, too, turn away. Jesus was approached by a rich man. He said he wanted eternal life but he was unwilling to change his lifestyle, and he walked sadly away. We, too, are often unwilling to change even the smallest part of our lifestyle in order to follow Jesus. The darkness approaches when we sadly walk away from Jesus. We extinguish the second candle, confessing our unwillingness to do what is necessary to follow Jesus.

Additional Readings: Sons of Laughter Jesus Storybook Bible, Psalm 22:23-31, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38, and in the UMH #374 Standing on the Promises.

Sources:

Rev. Preston Price, Anaheim, CA appointed to Anaheim United Methodist Church. “Lenten Candle Extinguishing Liturgy.” 2021.

Bartlett, David L. and Barbara Brown Taylor. Feasting on the Word Year B Volume 2. Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY. 2008.

Lloyd-Jones, Sally. The Jesus Storybook Bible. Zonderkidz. Grand Rapids. MI. 2007.

The Wayfinding Bible. NLT. Tyndale House Publishing. 2013.

Cultivate Lent, Week 1

 For the season of Lent, I wrote a devotional for my congregation, Cayce United Methodist Church. I am sharing an adapted version of the adult version here on the blog. 

The family devotional is similar but includes a TON of activities, coloring sheets, science and even some baking (maybe more than practical but I got excited). If you want to see the packets in their entirety you can download them on Cayce's website  (www.cayceumc.com). On the website scroll down to below the upcoming events and there are  download options: adult, family and the Jesus Storybook booklets. 

1st Sunday of Lent, February 21

Set-up: You will need tea lights (or candles, or a simple pencil drawing of candles and an eraser to take away a flame) and a Bible (or access to an online Bible). Prepare your spirit and your space, set aside distractions. Then, light all six tea lights.

Read: Genesis 9:8-17  excerpt for emphasis: “Then God said to Noah, “Yes this rainbow is a sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures of the earth.” (9:17) 

Wonder: For the season of Lent (February 17 to March 28) in worship on Sunday mornings at 10:30am (www.facebook.com/CayceUMC)in our Lenten sermon series I am going to be looking at the covenants or promises of God.

In this week’s scripture reading God uncreated the Edenic world, preserves a remnant of that original creation, and re-establishes the cosmos under a new order. In the parlance of the modern age, God rebooted the world with a catastrophic flood. The flood destroyed everything except Noah, Noah's family and the animals and creation preserved on the ark. To mark this covenant with a sign God sets a rainbow in the sky. The rainbow represents the first covenant or promise God made to God’s people. God promised “never again would floodwaters kill all the living creatures: never again will a flood destroy the earth.” (9:11) It is interesting to note that this covenant only sets limits on God, who promises not to send another flood. Nothing is required of Noah or creation. Yes, Noah was obedient in building the ark and gathering the animals but Noah's obedience came before the covenant. The rainbow is a reminder to God that God has unstrung the war bow and faced it away from the world. (Interesting trivia: think about a bow and arrow, the arch of the bow faces the direction the arrow is going, a rainbow's arch is facing away from the earth, thus the arrow of destruction is facing away from the earth).

The rainbow covenant also reveals the unity of all creation, humanity and creation are forever linked to the same fate. The intractable sinfulness and undeserved blessedness of humanity and all of creation's dependence on God’s active compassion are in relationship with God. And, despite all evidence to the contrary, humanity and creation are blessed, for God remains consistent and is loyal even  to the disloyal. Humanity and creation are disloyal as we know the world did do not return to how the world was at the creation or in the garden of Eden. Yet, God has compassion and God promises good despite disobedience. God demonstrates God's deep desire to be in relationship with God's creation. It is hard to understand the grace of God.

Ponder: How are you connected to God’s creation? How have you benefited from God’s great compassion?

Act: Extinguish a candle. 

Prayer: During this time of Lenten preparation, we think of those who turned away from the light of Jesus. And we remember that we, too, turn away. Jesus healed many who were sick in mind, body, or spirit. Only a few returned to give thanks. We realize that we have taken the gifts of God for granted . . . that our lives have lacked gratitude. Our lack of gratitude shields the light of Christ from us and others. We extinguish the first candle, confessing our own failure to give thanks to God.

Additional Readings: A New Beginning from the Jesus Storybook Bible, Additional Lectionary texts for February 21: Psalm 25:1-10, 1 Peter 3:18-22, and Mark 1: 9-15 and in the United Methodist Hymnal (UMH) #374 Standing on the Promises.

Sources:

Rev. Preston Price, Anaheim, CA appointed to Anaheim United Methodist Church. “Lenten Candle Extinguishing Liturgy.” 2021.

Bartlett, David L. and Barbara Brown Taylor. Feasting on the Word Year B Volume 2. Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY. 2008.

Lloyd-Jones, Sally. The Jesus Storybook Bible. Zonderkidz. Grand Rapids. MI. 2007.

Cultivate a Lenten spirit in a pandemic world

Today is Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2021. I typically look forward to Lent. Really. I like Lent. For me, it has never been a depressing season but rather a time to do something different. A time to give something up or learn something new. It's often a time when I intentionally read my daily devotions versus other seasons in my life when those habits fall by the wayside to busyness and distractions. Lent has always been a bit of a reboot for me...but then we have Lent this year. Lent in 2021. Lent after a long year of what has truly felt like Lent for months because we are living in a global pandemic. We have given up so much. We have lived lives that look so different than other years. It has been a strange year. I have experienced great joy in that my oldest son turned one and he learned to walk and talk, and my youngest son was born in 2020! Ordinary miracles. At the same time 2020 has contained the saddest moments when I've missed people and dear people I know have contracted and died from Covid-19. Really I should feel grateful, I should recognize my blessings...but I'm too tired.  I wonder how I will explain this year to my boys when they are older and remember nothing of living in a global pandemic....I don't know what I'll say. So where does that leave us with Lent? 

I'm too tired for Lent. Lent almost feels irrelevant in 2021, like perhaps it is a relic of a different time and yet...maybe it is not. Perhaps, now that we have experienced life in a pandemic, circumstances different than most of us have ever lived through, experiencing loss of freedoms, loss of opportunities and most deeply the loss of people both to this damn disease and to social/physical distancing...we may understand Lent. I've heard it said we cannot appreciate the sweet without a little salt. I don't love that analogy but there may be a grain of truth in it. Maybe all this loss gives us pause to choose to be in the moment. We are not promised anything more than a moment and we know now what it is to live without. Maybe all this loss give us time to get rid of things that waste our time and attention and focus in on what is actually important. I know I am examining the amount of time I mindlessly scroll social media. Zoned out. Philippians 4:8 reminds us, to focus our thoughts on anything that is excellent, admirable, true, holy and just, all that is pure and lovely and all that is worthy of praise. I wonder if for Lent, what would it look like to do just that. To be present in the moment. To notice the excellent, admirable, truths, holy moments, the opportunities to work for justice, to think of things that are pure and lovely and spend time in praise. I often find this is the gift of having small children, they are totally in the moment. What if for Lent, instead of doing or adding or busying or trying super hard or beating ourselves up we just breathe. We notice. We celebrate the joys, we acknowledge and sit with the sorrows and try and live a different way. A less anxious way. To accept things for what they are rather than wish it away or fight to change things we cannot control. I wonder if then Lent might actually be a time to look forward to.