I am a servant of Christ

Stop.

Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Say to yourself, “I am a servant of Christ”. Repeat it as you breathe. Let it center you in this moment and throughout your day.

Listen.

Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ. – Galatians 1:10

Reflect.

In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, which we’ll be reading from in worship for the next few weeks, Paul tries to redirect a community of believers. He has heard that the faithful community in Galatia has been swayed into thinking God’s grace needs extra rules. He is frustrated and disheartened to hear that they will not hold to the truth of the gospel despite his teachings. 

Paul barely starts his letter with the requisite polite greeting before he starts to get into his argument. He practically yells at them in his writing: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ” (v 6). He wastes no time in correcting their mistake and showing them the danger of their actions. 

But he’s clear about where he’s coming from when he does it. He’s not offering correction to be superior, to be admired, or to sound important. He does not particularly care about their love and admiration. He seeks only to serve the gospel and ensure everyone hears the truth about Jesus. As he reminds the Galatians, sometimes pleasing people and serving Christ are at odds. 

It can be a hard message for us. We want people to like us. We have heard the old adage that you attract more flies with honey than with vinegar and so we try to be gentle with our insistence on the full welcome of the gospel. But sometimes, being centered in the gospel means removing ourselves from the approval of others. While we always speak the truth in love, we never let the gospel’s word of grace, mercy, and love get coopted by rules, expectations, or restrictions. A minor conflict, while difficult, can produce major truth.

Pray.

God, I often worry what others think. Lift this burden from me. Help me stay focused in the truth of your grace so that all people might hear the good news you share. Let me be fearless in serving you above all else. Amen.

Carry On.

It’s okay to want to serve others and bring them joy, but not at the cost of compromising yourself and your faith. How can you release people-pleasing tendencies today in favor of being faithful to God’s work in your life?

You’ve Got A Letter

Stop.

Think about the last piece of real mail you got. Not a bill, not junk mail, but an actual letter or card from someone you know. How did it make you feel?

Listen.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. – Galatians 1:3-5

Reflect.

Our readings in worship change to the book of Galatians this week. Galatians is a letter written by the apostle Paul to the church in Galatia. He writes to them after building up the faith community there because he hears that others are putting inappropriate boundaries on believers. His letter is one of admonishment and instruction; it’s also full of statements of hope in the expansive grace of the gospel. 

Paul used letters frequently to stay in touch with people and churches. Sometimes they sent messages of encouragement in hard times. Sometimes he gave a tough word of correction and accountability when he hears communities go astray or fight amongst themselves. Sometimes he simply writes to keep connected in faith so that the good news will be supported and shared. 

It’s easy to forget the power of a personal contact. We can easily believe that social media and emails keep us sufficiently connected, and truly, they are powerful ways to communicate. But sometimes, we really need the personal touch that a card or letter can provide. Someone needs your words of hope, enthusiasm, insight, or even accountability today. As a person of faith, you can offer those words centered in God’s promises for all people.

Pray.

God, you have created us for community. You unite us with each other in spite of time and distance. Strengthen these bonds of love among families, friends, fellow believers, and community members, that we would lift each other up in service to you. Amen.

Carry On.

You know you what you need to do – write a letter! You don’t need fancy stationery. Just write a note to someone you know needs it. Consider including a Bible verse and prayer as you share faith and encouragement to someone you care about.

Bible Lessons

Stop.

Go outside, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and listen. Really listen and take 5-10 deep breaths.

Listen.

Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel’s help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision.

Acts 12: 9

Reflect.

In this verse Peter was in prison and was set to be killed the next morning.  God had a promise to keep with Peter.  There was still work for Peter to do, so God sent an angel to get Peter out of prison. 

Does God’s promise still have work for me to do?  This is a constant question for many.  All I can do is my best and try to listen to the messages along the way.  In my most important job as a mom I try to teach my kiddos to listen.  I feel like I am constantly asking them to LISTEN.  Then they do something that shows they are listening.  They say something about a Bible story we’ve discussed or they are kind to someone that may not be kind to them, I get glimpses of God in them.

We use the JAM lessons to make it easy on us, I am so grateful for all the people that have been put in our lives and paths to bring each of us into the promises of God.  Even if you don’t have young kiddos the JAM lessons are such an awesome way to learn the Bible.  (You can sign up for the weekly lessons here).

Pray.

God you are great and wonderful!  Thank you for helping Peter so that we might continue to learn about You through him.  Thank you for Rachelle Gill and helping her so that we might continue to learn and You through her.  Be with us today as we strive to hear your promise in our lives. Amen!

Carry On.

Do something outside in nature, look for God.  Contemplate how God’s promise is showing in your life.

Listen for Grace

Stop.

Go outside, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and listen. Really listen, and take 5-10 deep breaths.

Listen.

10 Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? 11 On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

Acts 15:10-11

Reflect.

I love planting things in the spring, I have had a tough time waiting this spring with our rollercoaster Minnesota weather.  Instead of planting, cleaning flowerbeds, and clearing our garden I have been watching ducks and wondering if they’ll decide to make a nest in our yard.  Maybe they’ll choose one of the (many) structures that my kids have created, maybe they’ll roost up high in a tree, or maybe they won’t stay in our yard at all.  Through all this waiting and decisions I listen. 

I hear the ducks talking to each other, maybe they are discussing how to decorate a nest, or whether there are too many squirrels.  I choose to be quiet and listen to them, and not to give them any restraints. 

In a strange way I wonder if that’s what Peter is trying to do at the council, he spends much of the time listening to the discussion, then when he speaks he says something very important!  He reminds them that they are already saved!  Jesus died and rose to save them, God gave them a new way!  Take time to listen, try to listen how God might listen.  Remember that we are saved through the grace of Jesus!

Pray.

Hey God, thank you for making a way for us!  Thank you for sending Your Son so that we would be saved by GRACE!  Amen

Carry On.

Listen for the voice of God, in others and in yourself.  Tell someone about Jesus.

Listen for God

Stop.

Go outside, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and listen. Repeat as many times as you need.

Listen.

Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (this is a wilderness road) So he got up and went.

Acts 8: 26-27

Reflect.

When I told you to STOP and go outside, did you do it?  Did you think, I’ll go later or it’s rainy/sunny/cloudy/cold?  If you, didn’t take the moment to go outside you aren’t alone.  God asks us to step out of our comfortable places every moment of every day.  The trouble is it’s really hard to hear.  It’s hard to hear when we are doing so many things.  It’s sometimes harder to take the time to stop and really listen for God in our lives.

I have now been on staff at Easter Church for almost 14 months, yep I’m counting, as I look back at my previous work/career I can see so many moments where God was asking me to step out, to jump.  I did not jump, I did take small steps.  I pursued friendships with co-workers where we talked openly about faith or anything that was on our minds.  Those friendships kept me in a job that was not fulfilling, I do not blame those relationships as they helped me to survive where I was not fulfilled by the work.

These 14 months at Easter have shown me that I was always on the path, taking detours and stopping to see the sights are ways God is asking us to step or move out. I am excited to see what this work will bring as we get out of the pandemic! 

Pray.

Dear God, thank you for asking us to step out of our comfortable places.  Help us to feel comforted by You when we listen to Your call to step out.  Be with us as we take time to listen. Amen.

Carry On.

Take time today to really stop and listen.  Is God calling you out of your comfortable place? Listen for the voice of God, in others and in yourself. 

Baptism is God’s Work

Stop.

Have you been to baptismal services at other churches? What were some of the distinctions you saw in different places?

Listen.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. – Ephesians 4:4-6

Reflect.

In Acts 8, which we’ll hear from in worship tomorrow, the apostle Phillip baptizes a man from a very different background and tradition. One of the remarkable things about this story is that Phillip doesn’t require the man to change anything about himself, doesn’t expect him to culturally assimilate to Phillip’s preferences, and doesn’t condemn him for his identity. Baptism is simply asked for and offered. God does the work. 

We don’t see that very often these days. In many ways, for many reasons, most traditions have boundaries and restrictions on who can be baptized, how, by whom, in what circumstances, when, and where. Most of the time, this is a simple reflection of differences in tradition. 

For instance, in our Lutheran tradition, only an ordained pastor can perform a baptism. We believe this is out of good order and reflects a pastor’s call to serve a church community in this particular way. However, we don’t think it’s the only way baptism can happen. In an emergency, particularly when someone’s life is at stake, anyone can perform a baptism. In this case, Lutherans depend more on the promise that baptism is God’s work than the expectation that a pastor be the one doing it. 

It’s understandable for a tradition to expect that a baptism be performed inside a building, after a proclamation of faith, by a family that is part of their congregation, or any other number of expectations. But we must always be careful that these things don’t ultimately prevent someone from getting baptized. While it can be meaningful to have boundaries that reflect the value and importance of the sacrament, the most important thing is always that people are welcomed into God’s family. 

As Ephesians affirms, there is one baptism, no matter where we’re baptized or by what person or through which tradition. At the end of the day, it’s always God’s work and God’s gift, and it unites us all.

Pray.

God, I repent of the ways I’ve tried to keep people out, either on purpose or with the best of intentions. Help me see that you are at work in many traditions, places, and congregations. Open my eyes to your Spirit’s work. Make me into a boundary-breaker for your sake, that all people would know your love. Amen.

Carry On.

Ask around! Talk to friends and family from other traditions. What do they believe about baptism? Who can perform baptism? Who can be baptized? Listen not to judge, but to learn how God is at work in their faith traditions.

Water and God’s Word

Stop.

Drink a glass of water. No, really! Pour yourself a glass of water, sit, and drink it thoughtfully. Consider how water brings life to your body. Thank God for this time of refreshment and renewal.

Listen.

For without the word of God the water is plain water and not a baptism, but with the word of God it is a baptism, that is, a grace-filled water of life and a ‘bath of the new birth in the Holy Spirit,’ as St. Paul says to Titus in chapter 3. – Martin Luther, The Small Catechism

Reflect.

In Sunday’s reading from Acts, we will hear about the apostle Phillip and an unnamed man from Ethiopia who is a eunuch. In the story, the two speak with each other and the Ethiopian man asks Phillip to baptize him. This beautiful story allows us to talk more about baptism and what it means for our lives. In particular, as the Ethiopian sees water, he says, “What is to prevent me from being baptized?” Any water, even just water along the road, will do. 

Martin Luther, who is credited with beginning the Protestant reformation that formed our Lutheran tradition, contended that water for baptism didn’t need to be special or holy to work. It’s just plain water. It’s not the water that makes a baptism remarkable – it’s God’s word with the water that does the work. Any time you come across water at your sink, in the lake, when it rains, or even a muddy puddle can remind you of baptismal promises. 

Because God’s word is what makes baptism work, we don’t have to worry about doing a baptism wrong. We don’t have to try to find some kind of particular water from a special source. We can use regular old water, a simple, fundamental, life-giving piece of creation, and trust that God’s promises will make the water into a place of grace and fulfilled promises. 

Pray.

God, in your gift of water, you bring life to the world. In your gift of baptism, you make that life abundant for me. Thank you for these blessings, both in the earth and in the sacrament of baptism. Grant me continued faith in your promises. Amen.

Carry On.

Pay attention every time you come across water today. Pause and remember the gift of baptism and God’s promises for life. How does it change the way you think of God’s work in your life?

Baptism

Stop.

What do you know about your baptism? What do you know about baptism in general? Take a moment to think about baptism and what it means for your life and Christian faith.

Listen.

As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?”  He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. – Acts 8:36-38

Reflect.

In our lesson on Sunday morning, we will hear the powerful story of Phillip, an apostle of Jesus, and an unnamed man from Ethiopia who is a eunuch. In the story, the encounter between Phillip and the eunuch results in a powerful exchange of teaching and faith leading to the Ethiopian man being baptized by Phillip.  

This story is a powerful reminder that God’s word of life and grace comes to all people and cannot be controlled by our limitations or expectations. In spite of the many significant sociopolitical forces that could have pulled them apart, the good news brought these two men together – and brought one of them to baptism.  

Because this story culminates in baptism, it’s a great opportunity for us to talk about what baptism is and how we think of it as Lutherans. One vital thing to remember comes from this very story: baptism is a gift from God and accompanies faith, which is also a gift from God.  

Baptism is God’s gift to us. It grants us God’s love, forgiveness, life, and even faith itself. Faith is similarly God’s gift, and it doesn’t matter if faith comes before or after your baptism. For the Ethiopian man, faith preceded baptism. For those of us baptized as infants, it’s most likely that faith proceeded from baptism. Either way, both are God’s gifts to us. Because it is a gift, we can simply praise God for the miracle of this work.  

As you reflect on your baptism, pause to thank God for the gift of faith itself. Just as nothing stood between the Ethiopian eunuch and his baptism, nothing stands between you and God because of that gift of life. This is good news indeed!

Pray.

God, in my baptism, you have given me so much. Thank you for the faith, hope, grace, mercy, peace, and life that you give me through this gift. Strengthen me as I live abundantly into your promises. Amen.

Carry On.

Do you know when you were baptized? Find out your baptismal birthday – and celebrate it!

Being Church!

Stop.

Think of all the people who have partnered with you in faith: parents, friends, mentors, church members, pastors, Sunday School teachers, and more. Make a list. Spend time thanking God for their presence in your life.

Listen.

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. – Ephesians 2:19-20

Reflect.

This week, our devotions focus on our current sermon series “Being Church”. This series considers the things that defined the early church and what they mean for us as believers today. Today, this passage from Ephesians reminds us of one of the most powerful and mysterious things about being a faith community: our union not only with our local church, but with the universal church both on earth and in heaven. 

It’s a truth that we affirm throughout scripture, our creeds, and our sacraments. The church isn’t just one local building. The church is the whole community of Christian believers. Certainly, “the church” could mean our local congregation or our own denomination – but it doesn’t mean just that. It means every church, every tradition, everywhere in the world. Even with all our different beliefs and arguments, we profess and share one faith. Being a faith community means being united with all Christians through the good news of Jesus Christ. 

But it’s not just the church on earth now. We are also united with all believers throughout history. It’s a little hard to envision, but it’s true. As this passage from Ephesians affirms, we are “citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God”. Through faith, we are an enormous community built of those great prophets and teachers of the past, the mentors and supporters who helped build our faith, and all those who have declared their faith in Jesus. 

This means that we have support not only from that immediate community of faith we find in our church, but also from the witness and example of believers throughout generations. We can learn from them, draw support from their lives, and trust that the same God who encouraged them works in our lives as well. While it’s certainly a complicated, mysterious, hard-to-understand thing, it’s no less true. Through faith, we are part of a vast union of believers. We are never alone.  

When we declare that we are church, we mean both here and now and throughout history. It is a holy honor to be one community with all God’s saints.

Pray.

We praise you, God, for the great community of believers around us today and throughout history. Thank you for making us part of this church and its work. Strengthen us through their witness and call us to each other to support, challenge, encourage, and love each other as we worship you. Amen.

Carry On.

Take a minute to learn more about an important religious figure like Mother Teresa, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Charles Wesley, or St. Claire of Assisi. How does their life and faith inspire your own?

Being Community

Breathe in and say, “Called together”. Breathe out and say, “Sent to all”. Repeat as many times as you need.

Listen.

And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. – Hebrews 10:24-25

Reflect.

This week, our devotions focus on our current sermon series “Being Church”. In it, we’re talking about the things that defined the early church and what they mean for us as believers today. Today, this passage from Hebrews helps us see the central importance of being with others as part of a Christian community. 

In our devotion on Tuesday, we saw that the early Christians considered being in fellowship as one of the most basic elements of being a faith community. Here, in Hebrews, we hear it elevated even further. We must not neglect to meet together, the verse says. While we’re currently navigating the end of a pandemic and all the complicated things it means for our lives together, we still understand the importance of being around each other. We all know the loss of not being able to gather, whether with family, friends, church, or work. More than ever, we know the value of together.  

Hebrews points us to those things that make being together so essential. When we’re with each other, we can keep reminding each other of the call to love and serve. We encourage each other. We can look ahead to hardships or challenges and support each other. Being in physical community is more than just seeing and being seen – it’s a physical reminder of our call to support, challenge, and love each other consistently. 

As it turns out, distance doesn’t always make the heart grow fonder. Distance can sometimes give us permission to ignore, forget, or assume the worst about others. It’s hard to be a faithful community when you adopt that mindset. Being in community means seeing each other as we really are, even our faults and failings, and learning how to still work together to the common goal of mission and ministry. 

While we must currently be very cautious about being physically together to ensure health and safety, it won’t always be like this. Soon, we will be able to be together more and more. When that happens, we must remember that we’re called together as community for the good of the gospel. It is good to be together so that we can love, encourage, support, and challenge each other as we serve Jesus together.

Pray.

God, we thank you for the opportunity to be in community. Help us to see our fellowship not as a way to get what we want or only see those we like, but to be held accountable, work together, be challenged, share compassion, and serve you in all things. Amen.

Carry On.

What’s one way you can have consistent, caring, Christian community around you right now?

Being Church?

Stop.

What makes church church? What are the most essential elements for you? Take a minute to write them down. Consider this list and pause to thank God for these parts of a faith community that connect for you.

Listen.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. – Acts 2:42

Reflect.

Our current sermon series is called “Being Church”. In it, we’re looking at readings from the earliest years of the Christian faith to learn more about what it means to be a faith community and how we’re called to serve God and our neighbors faithfully. This week, our devotions will highlight a few elements of what a faith community is and what really makes us a church. 

In the book of Acts, we get the earliest stories of the first Christians. They’re new at everything: how to worship, how to serve, how to live in community, how to give, and how to hold each other accountable. It’s a lot of work. But in Acts 2, we hear about the newest converts to the faith right after the Holy Spirit comes to the apostles. In 2:42, we hear the simplicity of what their conversion meant: learning, being together, sharing, and prayer. 

While this isn’t everything a worshipping body can and should be, it’s a great start. First, it highlights that a life of faith is one of learning. No matter who we are, we can never assume that we know everything there is to know about God, faith, and scripture. In pointing to the apostles’ teaching, Acts shows us that believers knew they had a lot to learn. Frankly, the apostles did, too. 

Acts also mentions fellowship. There’s something vital about being around other believers. While that’s hard to do these days, it’s no less important. Even when we must be physically distant, it’s important to reach out to someone to pray for you, keep you accountable, support you, and offer compassion. This goes into what Acts calls “the breaking of bread” – it’s important to be able to share what you have with each other. This doesn’t apply only to the sacrament of communion, but likely more explicitly to actually sharing food so everyone has enough. This is both service and simple kindness. 

And finally, this passage mentions prayer. Prayer is central to a life of faith. Whether it’s on your own, with a small group, or in worship, prayer must form the cornerstone of anything we do as church. It is how we hear God’s will, how we connect with the needs of the world, and how we come before our God in humility and hope. You don’t need to do it perfectly, if such a possibility even exists. You just need to do it.  

These simple things – learning, being together, sharing, and praying – give us the first, wide sketch of Christian life. It means as much today as it did then. We will always return to these hallmarks of being a faith community.

Pray.

Thank you, God, for calling us together as a Christian community. Help us to stay focused on those simple acts of learning, sharing, encouraging, and praying together. May all we do reflect our love for you, each other, and the world you have made. Amen.

Carry On.

Of the list here from Acts, what’s hardest for you to do? How can you grow in that area? What might that mean for your faith life and church engagement?

Prepare for Worship

Stop.

How do you prepare yourself for worship? Whether you’re in person or online, how do you get ready to worship and praise God? Think about this or talk about it with someone. Consider ways you can ensure your heart and mind are in the right place to hear God’s words of comfort and challenge for you in worship.

Listen.

And they worshiped [Jesus], and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. – Luke 24:52-53

Reflect.

At the very end of Luke’s gospel, we hear the story of the Ascension. Jesus teaches his disciples more about who he is and what the scriptures say, blesses them, and then begins to ascend bodily into heaven. After witnessing this powerful and mysterious event, the disciples return to Jerusalem with great hope and happiness. As part of their celebration, they can later be found constantly in the temple worshiping and praising God. 

The disciples had been through a lot in the previous days. They’d seen Jesus received as a king, betrayed to his enemies, treated like a criminal, killed by a ruthless empire, and buried hastily. They’d heard mysterious news that he was no longer in his tomb, encountered Jesus in surprising and hard-to-believe ways, and been honored to hear his teaching that filled them with hope in God’s promise. Their emotions must have been all over the place.  

And still, they came to the temple to bless God. That is: even with all they’d endured, and even without Jesus to teach them any longer, they were still ready to praise God and hear the scriptures taught. They wanted to be in the presence of their God, who is holy and wholly other, and offer their joys and sorrows and struggles to God in worship. Everything they’d been through only drew them closer to a worshipping community. 

I’m not going to tell you that you always have to be happy and bubbly when you come to worship. You might be sad, angry, scared, confused, frustrated, or lonely – and all those things are okay. The point isn’t making yourself feel a certain way. The point is coming ready to be in relationship with your God. Sometimes that takes a little preparation. With everything going on in your life, you might need a moment to pause, breathe, and consider how worship is a different time and space. Even if you’re worshipping online at your own kitchen table, it’s still worth pausing before you hit play.  

Ask yourself: am I ready to hear what God has for me today? What in my life do I need to set aside to hear that word? How can I set aside my expectations and simply bless God and be blessed by God? Ultimately, you want to build up the ritual and routine of worship so that you can see its value no matter how you feel from day to day. Give yourself space and time to prepare so that you, like the disciples, can be constantly in worship, ready to praise, learn, and receive strength for the week ahead.

Pray.

Jesus, your disciples kept coming back to the temple to hear God’s word. Keep me centered in the routine of worship, too. Show me how to ready and center myself to hear your word and join with the community of believers. Thank you for the opportunity to worship you every week, every day, every minute. Amen.

Carry On.

What do you think makes a worship service most important? How has that changed through your life? Find someone to talk to about worship. Learn about their traditions, preferences, and experiences. How does it help you reflect on your worship life?

When in Doubt

Stop.

Put your hand over your heart. Feel it beat. Feel your chest rise and fall as you breathe. Take a moment to reflect on the mystery and power of our physical bodies as created by God.

Listen.

[Jesus] said to [the disciples], “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” – Luke 24:38-39

Reflect.

In Luke’s gospel, there is no doubting Thomas refusing to believe until he gets to see Jesus just like the rest of the disciples. There’s just the disciples who saw Jesus on the road to Emmaus coming back to Jerusalem, sharing what they saw, and Jesus suddenly appearing among the disciples. It’s not Thomas who doubts in this gospel. Technically, it’s all the disciples who doubt, convinced they’re seeing a ghost and not Jesus himself.  

How does Jesus reassure them? He shows them his body. He lets them look at his hands and feet – possibly to confirm the wounds from his crucifixion, but maybe simply because they had seen those same hands and feet out at work during their years of ministry. He then asks them for something to eat and has some fish right there in front of them. Not only is it Jesus himself, but it is Jesus in the flesh, with all its wounds and needs, nourished by a little lunch like anyone else. 

It’s always fascinating to me that Jesus comes back not as some kind of spiritual being unaffected by human needs. He’s flesh and bone like everyone else. He may have died and returned, conquered death itself, and demonstrated God’s power over evil, but he still has an actual, physical, human body like anyone else. He returns in that same flesh that has touched lepers, shared meals, and held sacred texts. That body means something. 

I keep coming back to the trust it shares: our bodies mean something. Jesus comes to us in human flesh as a baby. He shows concern for people and their physical selves through healing, feeding, and even bringing back to life. When he is resurrected, he doesn’t come back as some new-and-improved non-corporeal deity. He comes back as himself, wounds and all, hungry for a little fish and happy to be with his friends again. 

This is good news for us in so many ways, but especially because of how it affirms our own bodies. We don’t need to see them as anything less than the created, affirmed, blessed gift of God that it truly is. We don’t need to think of our bodies as somehow separate from or opposed to our spiritual life. Jesus came in a human body, defeated death in a human body, and ascended into heaven in a human body. If it’s good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for you, too.

Pray.

God, thank you for the gift of this body you have given me. Help me to care for it, love it, value it, and use it well as you would have me do. Grant me any healing you see I need so that I can continue to serve you and my neighbor with my whole self. Amen.

Carry On.

Many of our acts of service for others mean valuing their physical selves, like ensuring people are well-fed and safely housed. What’s one way you can care for your neighbor today? How can you show care and respect not only for your physical self, but the lives of others as well?

Filled With Faith

Stop. 

Breathe in and say, “Filled with faith”. Breathe out and say, “Free of despair”. Repeat as many times as you need. 

Listen. 

Then [Jesus] said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!” – Luke 24:25 

Reflect. 

Right after the resurrection story, the good news goes on the road. For rest of Luke chapter 24, the last chapter in Luke’s gospel, Jesus and the disciples are moving and traveling in the days immediately after Easter Sunday. This week, we’ll hear from some of those stories as we finish reading the book of Luke in worship.   

On Sunday, we’ll hear the story of the walk to Emmaus from Luke 24:13-35. That story begins “Now on that same day” – that is, the same day that the women find the tomb empty. In this incredible story, two disciples walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus. On the way, they’re joined by a stranger who they cannot recognize as the resurrected Christ. The disciples reflect on the sad, difficult events of the last few days. Instead of ending their story with hope in the promises fulfilled, they can only comment on the confusion the women bring with their findings.   

Jesus reacts decisively. He calls them foolish and slow of heart – not exactly words of comfort and patience! He then outlines all the prophecy that pointed to his work on the cross. The implication is clear: they shouldn’t be so confused and despondent. They should just listen to the story. God’s promises have been at work all along.   

It’s an important reminder for us, too. We can get overwhelmed and tired, caught up in the bad news. Sometimes, we can’t even remember that Jesus is alive and at work in the world. Don’t despair. Just listen to the story. Let it speak faith to your heart. 

Pray. 

Jesus, it’s hard for me to trust your promises, but I know you walk with me anyway. Thank you for the faith you give me each day. Amen. 

Carry On. 

Re-read Luke chapters 22, 23, and 24. Hear the story one more time at your own pace. Listen for the promises and remember how much God loves us as you read. 

Holy Saturday

Stop.

Find someplace you can be alone – really alone. Take at least five minutes to be completely quiet. Focus on the stillness.

Listen.

The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. – 1 Peter 4:7-8

Reflect.

Holy Saturday is the most true, real, honest day in the entire Christian year. It’s also one that we mostly don’t talk about. Maybe you’re wondering: what even is Holy Saturday? We have no church services on this day, no rituals or celebrations, not even a specific passage of scripture to point to for this specific day of Holy Week. It’s merely the day after Jesus died and was buried. It is a day of quiet. A day of waiting. 

So much of life is like this. We know what happens tomorrow. We know the story. We know the hope of Easter Sunday. But it often feels like we’re still… waiting. Waiting to hear if it’s true. Waiting to see if what Jesus said is real. Waiting to feel that promised victory over death. Waiting to hear if God will really forgive. Waiting, always waiting.  

Today, that waiting is all claimed as real and holy. The disciples waited, hidden in their homes. The women waited, hoping they’d be able to get into the tomb and give Jesus a proper burial. The world waited, wondering if it was all over as quickly as it began. And so we wait too, anxious to hear the good news of Easter but for now, just waiting. 

If you feel like you’re somewhere between life and death today, somewhere between good news and despair, somewhere between now and not yet, this day is for you. It is holy time. The whole Christian church waits with you.

Pray.

In the stillness, God, I listen for you. I wait for your promise of life. I confess my impatience and doubt in this difficult time. Speak words of hope and endurance to me, that I might see the new life that comes through your Son. Amen.

Carry On.

Can you think of someone who might be waiting today? Someone waiting on a medical diagnosis, a pregnancy, a job offer, a safe place to live? How can you offer a word of support to them today?

First Communion

Stop.

Try to remember your first communion. Where were you? What did the bread and wine taste like? How did you feel?

Listen.

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. – 1 Corinthians 11:26

Reflect.

Today is Maundy Thursday, the day Christians remember the events of the night of Christ’s betrayal. On that evening, Jesus gathered with his disciples for a ritual meal. However, he changed the way the meal was served. This time, as he shared the bread and wine, he told them that he would be present with them whenever they at the bread or drank the wine. This act is the institution of the Lord’s Supper. 

On that same night, he went around the table and washed his disciples’ feet. This was an act of humility so deep that his disciples almost couldn’t stand it. Still, Jesus told them that this is what true leadership is, and that they would need to be servants in the same way.  

Service. Sacrifice. Humility. Presence. Simplicity. These are all hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry highlighted on Maundy Thursday. It is appropriate that we often welcome young people into their first communion on this day. Not only is it the day we celebrate the gift of Jesus’ presence in communion, but it gives us a chance to teach them about who Jesus is and how he served. We show them that Christ comes to us in these simple things: bread and wine, kindness and service, water and daily life.  

May the story of this day, from a simple meal to a scathing betrayal, move you to remember who Jesus is and how he remains present with you.

Pray.

Jesus, I thank you for the blessing of communion and your promised presence through that gift. Keep me centered in your call to love and serve. Strengthen me with what I need for today. Make me faithful to your service. Amen.

Carry On.

The next time you take communion – at home, at church, or anywhere – don’t let it pass you by. Focus on it. Think about it. Remember that this is the real presence of Jesus given for you, and rejoice!

Christ the Servant

Stop.

Close your eyes and breathe. Let your mind center in what Jesus did during Holy Week: gathering, eating, serving, suffering, dying. Simply meditate on what Jesus did and remember: he does this out of love for you.

Listen.

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. – Isaiah 42:1

Reflect.

Christians often read the book of Isaiah in light of Jesus and his work. While it wasn’t originally written with this intent, it’s both easy and meaningful to hear it as such. In particular, Isaiah points to the one who comes to save the people not as a soldier but as a servant. God’s chosen redemption won’t come with glory and fanfare, but instead, through sacrifice and self-emptying.

During Holy Week, we need that reminder. As we hear the story of Jesus’ final days before his death, we hear over and over how Jesus chooses humility, even humiliation, in the face of accusation and challenge. It points us to the truth: Christ’s power comes not in force but in service.

This week, tune your heart to the stories of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday with a special attention to Jesus as a servant. How does it change what you hear about his acts of love for you to know that he does it not to control you, but because he wants to serve you? What does it mean to be called to worship and obey one whose power comes in sacrifice? How is it good news to know that Jesus comes in humility and calls you to do the same?

Pray.

Christ the servant, your acts of love brought me life. I praise you. Send your Spirit during this Holy Week that I might hear your gospel in a new way, one that calls me to service, hope, and compassion for all in your name. Amen.

Carry On.

As servants of Christ, we are likewise called to serve. How can you be generous and compassionate today? How might you share your time and money in service to the gospel today?

The Lenten Devotional

You are invited to use the curated Easter Church Lenten Devotional

easter.org/lentdevo

Entering Lent

Take a few moments to breathe and calm your mind. In Lent, we focus on following Jesus closely, choosing the narrow way, removing anything that distracts, moving with purpose and intention.

Read Luke 13:22-24

The 40 days of Lent are a special and sacred time in the church calendar. More than any other season, Lent invites us to prepare our hearts and lives to hear the gospel. Believers often choose to give something up so they might live with a reminder of Jesus’ own sacrifice on our behalf. However, a Lenten discipline might also involve taking something up in a practice of holiness, selflessness, and faith.

This Lenten devotional invites you into that ancient, holy work. Our Lenten worship theme, “The Narrow Way”, reminds us that the work of discipleship means following our Savior closely and faithfully in all things. Our discipleship requires our devoted acts of prayer, worship, study, fellowship, and generosity. Our Sunday services will follow these themes more closely. But discipleship also calls us to deeper and deeper acts of love on behalf of our neighbor, which our midweek services will consider.

Dear God, be with us as we learn from Jesus’ last days on earth. Help us to follow his lead. Help us to practice discipleship and call us into deeper and deeper acts of love on behalf of our neighbors. Amen

As you carry on with your day, think and plan for what your lenten practice will be. God will be with you in whatever you choose.

Love For Ourselves

Stop.

Place your hands over your heart and feel its beat. Close your eyes and breathe. With every breath, remind yourself that you are loved and worthy.

Listen.

[Jesus said], “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Matthew 22:37-40

Reflect.

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, so our devotions this week are about love. We’ve talked about loving God and loving others. But today, the day before we celebrate love in all its forms, we need to consider one more person to love: you. 

Jesus says that the greatest commandment is to love God. He says the second commandment is just like it: “love your neighbor as yourself”. We spend time considering how important it is to love God and to love our neighbor. These are cornerstones of faith. 

But Jesus says we love our neighbor as yourself. We must love ourselves. It’s not self-centered or proud to love who God has made us to be. If we think nothing of ourselves, how can we ever hope to treat our neighbors with kindness and accountability? If we don’t know how to show gratitude and respect to the very gift of our bodies and abilities, how can we ever honor the fullness of God’s creation in all its forms?  

Be filled with love, friends – for your God, for your neighbor, and for yourself. You are God’s gift to the world.

Pray.

God, thank you for making me exactly as I am. I praise you for your grace and mercy made new to me each day. I will continue to treat myself with kindness out of gratitude for the love you show me. Amen.

Carry On.

What’s one small habit you can build into your day to encourage you to love yourself? Quiet time? A new hobby? Exercise? Whatever it is, make sure you do it in love and care for who God made you to be.