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.
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