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Covenant First Presbyterian Church 2021 Lenten Devotional Compiled by Rev Dr Robert C Anderson 2
Covenant First Presbyterian Church 2021 Lenten Devotional Compiled by Rev Dr Robert C Anderson 2
Weekly Lenten Reflections 2021 HOLY WEEK WORSHIP Thursday April 1 7 PM Maundy Thursday Worship Contemplative Communion Service Friday April 2 12 Noon Good Friday Sanctuary will be open for prayer and reflection Sunday April 4 10 30 AM Easter Sunday Worship Festive music and worship NOTE We will not be sharing communion on Easter Sunday please join us for the celebration of The Lord s Supper on Maundy Thursday at 7 PM These thoughts will come to you weekly during the Lenten Season Let them shape your day as you take a couple moments to read reflect and respond with prayer These thoughts are shaped by and adapted from The Little Burgundy Book of Stewardship by Rev Ken Untener Week of February 21 2021 Read Matthew 3 13 17 New Living Translation Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John But John tried to talk him out of it I am the one who needs to be baptized by you he said so why are you coming to me 15 But Jesus said It should be done for we must carry out all that God requires With that truth John agreed to baptize him After his baptism as Jesus came up out of the water the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him And a voice from heaven said This is my dearly loved Son who brings me great joy Reflect During the church season of Lent most of us are conditioned to think about what we will give up for Lent The message from Matthew changes the focus by looking at Jesus baptism First Jesus gave himself fully to the Father s purposes v 15 Second the Father baptized him with the Holy Spirit so that he was equipped with the gifts he would need to manifest the Kingdom of God to an aching world And this is the very same Holy Spirit given to us when we give ourselves to Jesus and follow him Instead of giving up think about giving away Thank God for the many gifts you have These are the blessings God has provided All are designed to be used to honor God and show others how God wants us to live What gifts are yours to share With whom can you share them this week Respond with Prayer Take a few moments now to pray Praise God for the gift of his Holy Spirit Give thanks for the gifts you have to share with your family friends and community Ask God how he would like to see you use those gifts this week 1
Weekly Lenten Reflections 2021 HOLY WEEK WORSHIP Thursday April 1 7 PM Maundy Thursday Worship Contemplative Communion Service Friday April 2 12 Noon Good Friday Sanctuary will be open for prayer and reflection Sunday April 4 10 30 AM Easter Sunday Worship Festive music and worship NOTE We will not be sharing communion on Easter Sunday please join us for the celebration of The Lord s Supper on Maundy Thursday at 7 PM These thoughts will come to you weekly during the Lenten Season Let them shape your day as you take a couple moments to read reflect and respond with prayer These thoughts are shaped by and adapted from The Little Burgundy Book of Stewardship by Rev Ken Untener Week of February 21 2021 Read Matthew 3 13 17 New Living Translation Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John But John tried to talk him out of it I am the one who needs to be baptized by you he said so why are you coming to me 15 But Jesus said It should be done for we must carry out all that God requires With that truth John agreed to baptize him After his baptism as Jesus came up out of the water the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him And a voice from heaven said This is my dearly loved Son who brings me great joy Reflect During the church season of Lent most of us are conditioned to think about what we will give up for Lent The message from Matthew changes the focus by looking at Jesus baptism First Jesus gave himself fully to the Father s purposes v 15 Second the Father baptized him with the Holy Spirit so that he was equipped with the gifts he would need to manifest the Kingdom of God to an aching world And this is the very same Holy Spirit given to us when we give ourselves to Jesus and follow him Instead of giving up think about giving away Thank God for the many gifts you have These are the blessings God has provided All are designed to be used to honor God and show others how God wants us to live What gifts are yours to share With whom can you share them this week Respond with Prayer Take a few moments now to pray Praise God for the gift of his Holy Spirit Give thanks for the gifts you have to share with your family friends and community Ask God how he would like to see you use those gifts this week 1
First Week of Lent Daily Bible Readings Monday February 22 Tuesday February 23 Wednesday February 24 Thursday February 25 Friday February 26 Saturday February 27 Psalm 77 Job 4 1 21 Ephesians 2 1 10 Psalm 77 Job 5 8 27 1 Peter 3 8 18a Psalm 77 Proverbs 30 1 9 Matthew 4 1 11 Psalm 22 23 31 Genesis 15 1 6 12 18 Romans 3 21 31 Psalm 22 23 31 Genesis 16 1 6 Romans 4 1 12 Psalm 22 23 31 Genesis 16 7 15 Mark 8 27 30 Weekly Lenten Reflections 2021 These thoughts will come to you weekly during the Lenten Season Let them shape your day as you take a couple moments to read reflect and respond with prayer These thoughts are shaped by and adapted from The Little Burgundy Book of Stewardship by Rev Ken Untener Week of February 28 2021 Read Philippians 2 3 5 8 Be humble thinking of others as better than yourselves You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had Though he was God he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to Instead he gave up his divine privileges he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being When he appeared in human form he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal s death on a cross Reflect Beneath the cross of Jesus we stand humbled by his life and death He lived in humility giving up his divine prerogatives and willing lived as a servant to all humanity He did not live for his will but that of his heavenly Father For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me John 6 38 Jesus purpose seems laser sharp and focused He was of a single mind Our life purposes waver they shift with moods and weather and sometimes want to be reworked because another path seems more attractive Daily life is full of choices prerogatives and opportunities that call to us to follow After all we are pressured by culture that we have the right to follow our bliss earn a lot of money use time the way my interests dictate The cross however reveals our self interest and pushes us to our knees It was the humility of Jesus that brought heaven to earth and gives us eternal life today Those blood stains on the cross in front of us shout out to our double mindedness The echoes of Jesus death throes push us to our knees with the overwhelming love of the Heavenly Father who calls us to empty ourselves and be a servant in the manner of my savior God sat in silence while the sins of the world were placed upon His Son Was it right No Was it fair No Was it love Yes In a world of injustice God once and for all tipped the scales in the favor of hope Max Lucado 2 3
First Week of Lent Daily Bible Readings Monday February 22 Tuesday February 23 Wednesday February 24 Thursday February 25 Friday February 26 Saturday February 27 Psalm 77 Job 4 1 21 Ephesians 2 1 10 Psalm 77 Job 5 8 27 1 Peter 3 8 18a Psalm 77 Proverbs 30 1 9 Matthew 4 1 11 Psalm 22 23 31 Genesis 15 1 6 12 18 Romans 3 21 31 Psalm 22 23 31 Genesis 16 1 6 Romans 4 1 12 Psalm 22 23 31 Genesis 16 7 15 Mark 8 27 30 Weekly Lenten Reflections 2021 These thoughts will come to you weekly during the Lenten Season Let them shape your day as you take a couple moments to read reflect and respond with prayer These thoughts are shaped by and adapted from The Little Burgundy Book of Stewardship by Rev Ken Untener Week of February 28 2021 Read Philippians 2 3 5 8 Be humble thinking of others as better than yourselves You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had Though he was God he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to Instead he gave up his divine privileges he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being When he appeared in human form he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal s death on a cross Reflect Beneath the cross of Jesus we stand humbled by his life and death He lived in humility giving up his divine prerogatives and willing lived as a servant to all humanity He did not live for his will but that of his heavenly Father For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me John 6 38 Jesus purpose seems laser sharp and focused He was of a single mind Our life purposes waver they shift with moods and weather and sometimes want to be reworked because another path seems more attractive Daily life is full of choices prerogatives and opportunities that call to us to follow After all we are pressured by culture that we have the right to follow our bliss earn a lot of money use time the way my interests dictate The cross however reveals our self interest and pushes us to our knees It was the humility of Jesus that brought heaven to earth and gives us eternal life today Those blood stains on the cross in front of us shout out to our double mindedness The echoes of Jesus death throes push us to our knees with the overwhelming love of the Heavenly Father who calls us to empty ourselves and be a servant in the manner of my savior God sat in silence while the sins of the world were placed upon His Son Was it right No Was it fair No Was it love Yes In a world of injustice God once and for all tipped the scales in the favor of hope Max Lucado 2 3
Respond with Prayer and Time with God Set time alone with God and enjoy God s presence Soak it in Thank God for Jesus obedience and focus on the Father s will 1 Ask for a clear vision of God s call to give away in service for your life 2 Where does resistance begin to push back at your will 3 What is God calling you to set aside empty in your life Second Week of Lent Daily Bible Readings Monday March 1 Psalm 105 1 11 37 45 Genesis 21 1 7 Hebrews 1 8 12 Tuesday March 2 Psalm 105 1 11 37 45 Genesis 22 1 19 Hebrews 11 1 3 13 19 Wednesday March 3 Psalm 105 1 11 37 45 Jeremiah 30 12 22 John 12 36 43 Thursday March 4 Psalm 19 Exodus 19 1 9a 1 Peter 2 4 10 Friday March 5 Psalm 19 Exodus 19 9b 15 Acts 7 30 40 Saturday March 6 Psalm 19 Exodus 19 16 25 Mark 9 2 8 Weekly Lenten Reflections 2021 These thoughts will come to you weekly during the Lenten Season Let them shape your day as you take a couple moments to read reflect and respond with prayer These thoughts are shaped by and adapted from The Little Burgundy Book of Stewardship by Rev Ken Untener Week of March 7 2021 Read Mark 6 8 Jesus instructed the twelve disciples to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick no food no sack no money in their belts Reflect The disciples were being sent out on a journey to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom to heal the sick raise the dead cleanse lepers and cast out demons Matthew 10 8 Their mission was of utmost importance and the distractions of a heavy load would not help only impede The mission to the people needed to be clutter free During these first months of the year our Elemental Church Study Team is participating in surveying and examining our congregational integrity passion servanthood and imagination Each of these Elements create a kind of matrix for viewing what is needed for the future when we search for a pastor They will be asking some questions that you may want to ask yourself as Jesus calls you like the disciples in Mark 6 into a missional journey Ponder these 1 What do I need to take with me on the journey 2 What do I need to leave behind to follow Jesus 3 What do I need that I don t have now 4 And what don t I have that I don t want This one seems tricky take your time If you want to be Jesus follower these questions may help you be intentional in your soul searching as you prepare to walk the walk Respond with Prayer and Time with God Spend some time in worship and praise for being called to be part of Jesus Kingdom way of thinking Thank God for the possibilities before you Ask Jesus to lead you to those for whom you can pray for healing to those who are living in death for whom a word from Jesus will breathe life to those who need the fearful demons of oppression cast out that they be set free to be fully human to those lepers who need cleansing healing the lepers today may be those we cut off from society those whom we fear those whose disease or behavior cannot be explained and seems hopeless You are a follower of Jesus Simply use his words and trust his power 5
Respond with Prayer and Time with God Set time alone with God and enjoy God s presence Soak it in Thank God for Jesus obedience and focus on the Father s will 1 Ask for a clear vision of God s call to give away in service for your life 2 Where does resistance begin to push back at your will 3 What is God calling you to set aside empty in your life Second Week of Lent Daily Bible Readings Monday March 1 Psalm 105 1 11 37 45 Genesis 21 1 7 Hebrews 1 8 12 Tuesday March 2 Psalm 105 1 11 37 45 Genesis 22 1 19 Hebrews 11 1 3 13 19 Wednesday March 3 Psalm 105 1 11 37 45 Jeremiah 30 12 22 John 12 36 43 Thursday March 4 Psalm 19 Exodus 19 1 9a 1 Peter 2 4 10 Friday March 5 Psalm 19 Exodus 19 9b 15 Acts 7 30 40 Saturday March 6 Psalm 19 Exodus 19 16 25 Mark 9 2 8 Weekly Lenten Reflections 2021 These thoughts will come to you weekly during the Lenten Season Let them shape your day as you take a couple moments to read reflect and respond with prayer These thoughts are shaped by and adapted from The Little Burgundy Book of Stewardship by Rev Ken Untener Week of March 7 2021 Read Mark 6 8 Jesus instructed the twelve disciples to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick no food no sack no money in their belts Reflect The disciples were being sent out on a journey to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom to heal the sick raise the dead cleanse lepers and cast out demons Matthew 10 8 Their mission was of utmost importance and the distractions of a heavy load would not help only impede The mission to the people needed to be clutter free During these first months of the year our Elemental Church Study Team is participating in surveying and examining our congregational integrity passion servanthood and imagination Each of these Elements create a kind of matrix for viewing what is needed for the future when we search for a pastor They will be asking some questions that you may want to ask yourself as Jesus calls you like the disciples in Mark 6 into a missional journey Ponder these 1 What do I need to take with me on the journey 2 What do I need to leave behind to follow Jesus 3 What do I need that I don t have now 4 And what don t I have that I don t want This one seems tricky take your time If you want to be Jesus follower these questions may help you be intentional in your soul searching as you prepare to walk the walk Respond with Prayer and Time with God Spend some time in worship and praise for being called to be part of Jesus Kingdom way of thinking Thank God for the possibilities before you Ask Jesus to lead you to those for whom you can pray for healing to those who are living in death for whom a word from Jesus will breathe life to those who need the fearful demons of oppression cast out that they be set free to be fully human to those lepers who need cleansing healing the lepers today may be those we cut off from society those whom we fear those whose disease or behavior cannot be explained and seems hopeless You are a follower of Jesus Simply use his words and trust his power 5
Third Week of Lent Daily Bible Readings Monday March 8 Tuesday March 9 Wednesday March 10 Thursday March 11 Friday March 12 Saturday March 13 Psalm 84 1 Kings 6 1 4 21 22 1 Corinthians 3 10 23 Psalm 84 2 Chronicles 29 1 11 16 19 Hebrews 9 23 28 Psalm 84 Ezra 6 1 16 Mark 11 15 19 Psalm 107 1 3 17 22 Genesis 9 8 17 Ephesians 1 3 6 Psalm 107 1 3 17 22 Daniel 12 5 13 Ephesians 1 7 14 Psalm 107 1 3 17 22 Numbers 20 22 29 John 3 1 13 Weekly Lenten Reflections 2021 Week of March 14 2021 These thoughts will come to you each week of the Lenten Season Let them shape your week as you take a couple moments to read reflect and respond with prayer These thoughts are shaped by and adapted from The Little Burgundy Book of Stewardship by Rev Ken Untener Read Matthew 4 18 23 New Living Translation One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers Simon also called Peter and Andrew throwing a net into the water for they fished for a living Jesus called out to them Come follow me and I will show you how to fish for people And they left their nets at once and followed him A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers James and John sitting in a boat with their father Zebedee repairing their nets And he called them to come too They immediately followed him leaving the boat and their father behind Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom And he healed every kind of disease and illness Reflect Imagine being asked by someone to leave your job and follow them To where To do what Why Try to imagine what was going through the minds of these simple fishermen Maybe more importantly what was it they saw in Jesus that compelled them to say yes to Jesus Our normal human reactions might be rooted in his charisma our need to escape our current life situation or curiosity let s check it out for a little while What is most powerful in this story might escape us at first glance the power of invitation Invitations are not imperatives or commands Invitations are empowering they give the one invited the power to think ponder and choose yes or no During this Lenten season to what is Jesus inviting you to say Yes To whom is Jesus directing you this week who needs an invitation to follow Jesus with you 6 7
Third Week of Lent Daily Bible Readings Monday March 8 Tuesday March 9 Wednesday March 10 Thursday March 11 Friday March 12 Saturday March 13 Psalm 84 1 Kings 6 1 4 21 22 1 Corinthians 3 10 23 Psalm 84 2 Chronicles 29 1 11 16 19 Hebrews 9 23 28 Psalm 84 Ezra 6 1 16 Mark 11 15 19 Psalm 107 1 3 17 22 Genesis 9 8 17 Ephesians 1 3 6 Psalm 107 1 3 17 22 Daniel 12 5 13 Ephesians 1 7 14 Psalm 107 1 3 17 22 Numbers 20 22 29 John 3 1 13 Weekly Lenten Reflections 2021 Week of March 14 2021 These thoughts will come to you each week of the Lenten Season Let them shape your week as you take a couple moments to read reflect and respond with prayer These thoughts are shaped by and adapted from The Little Burgundy Book of Stewardship by Rev Ken Untener Read Matthew 4 18 23 New Living Translation One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers Simon also called Peter and Andrew throwing a net into the water for they fished for a living Jesus called out to them Come follow me and I will show you how to fish for people And they left their nets at once and followed him A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers James and John sitting in a boat with their father Zebedee repairing their nets And he called them to come too They immediately followed him leaving the boat and their father behind Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom And he healed every kind of disease and illness Reflect Imagine being asked by someone to leave your job and follow them To where To do what Why Try to imagine what was going through the minds of these simple fishermen Maybe more importantly what was it they saw in Jesus that compelled them to say yes to Jesus Our normal human reactions might be rooted in his charisma our need to escape our current life situation or curiosity let s check it out for a little while What is most powerful in this story might escape us at first glance the power of invitation Invitations are not imperatives or commands Invitations are empowering they give the one invited the power to think ponder and choose yes or no During this Lenten season to what is Jesus inviting you to say Yes To whom is Jesus directing you this week who needs an invitation to follow Jesus with you 6 7
Fourth Week of Lent Daily Bible Readings Monday March 15 Tuesday March 16 Wednesday March 17 Thursday March 18 Friday March 19 Saturday March 20 Psalm 107 1 16 Exodus 15 22 27 Hebrews 3 1 6 Psalm 107 1 16 Numbers 20 1 13 1 Corinthians 10 6 13 Psalm 107 1 16 Isaiah 60 15 22 John 8 12 20 Psalm 51 1 12 Isaiah 30 15 18 Hebrews 4 1 13 Psalm 51 1 12 Exodus 30 1 10 Hebrews 4 14 5 4 Psalm 51 1 12 Habakkuk 3 2 13 John 12 1 11 Weekly Lenten Reflections 2021 Week of March 21 2021 These thoughts will come to you each week of the Lenten Season Let them shape your week as you take a couple moments to read reflect and respond with prayer These thoughts are shaped by and adapted from The Little Burgundy Book of Stewardship by Rev Ken Untener Read Exodus 35 20 36 7 selections Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel departed from Moses presence Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the Lord s contribution for the work of the tent of meeting and for all its service and for the holy garments Then all whose hearts moved them both men and women came and brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and bracelets all articles of gold so did every man who presented an offering of gold to the Lord the builders said to Moses The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the Lord commanded us to perform Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary And so the people were restrained from bringing more because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work Reflect This story takes place as the Hebrews gathered in the desert wilderness after their exodus from Egypt They were building the Tabernacle as a house for God and their place for worship The spirit of God stirred their hearts and the generosity was so lavish that the builders had to say no more please We have more than enough Here is the spirit that must come to us this Lenten season a stirring of the heart for the passion of worship that overflows into an abundance of sharing Are you willing to have your heart stirred with passion for God What might that look like Take time in God s presence for a quiet time of connecting with God s passionate love for you Thank God for the joy of being part of God s mission through your church Ask God to fan the flames of love and adoration in your heart for the presence of God in worship 8 9
Fourth Week of Lent Daily Bible Readings Monday March 15 Tuesday March 16 Wednesday March 17 Thursday March 18 Friday March 19 Saturday March 20 Psalm 107 1 16 Exodus 15 22 27 Hebrews 3 1 6 Psalm 107 1 16 Numbers 20 1 13 1 Corinthians 10 6 13 Psalm 107 1 16 Isaiah 60 15 22 John 8 12 20 Psalm 51 1 12 Isaiah 30 15 18 Hebrews 4 1 13 Psalm 51 1 12 Exodus 30 1 10 Hebrews 4 14 5 4 Psalm 51 1 12 Habakkuk 3 2 13 John 12 1 11 Weekly Lenten Reflections 2021 Week of March 21 2021 These thoughts will come to you each week of the Lenten Season Let them shape your week as you take a couple moments to read reflect and respond with prayer These thoughts are shaped by and adapted from The Little Burgundy Book of Stewardship by Rev Ken Untener Read Exodus 35 20 36 7 selections Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel departed from Moses presence Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the Lord s contribution for the work of the tent of meeting and for all its service and for the holy garments Then all whose hearts moved them both men and women came and brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and bracelets all articles of gold so did every man who presented an offering of gold to the Lord the builders said to Moses The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the Lord commanded us to perform Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary And so the people were restrained from bringing more because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work Reflect This story takes place as the Hebrews gathered in the desert wilderness after their exodus from Egypt They were building the Tabernacle as a house for God and their place for worship The spirit of God stirred their hearts and the generosity was so lavish that the builders had to say no more please We have more than enough Here is the spirit that must come to us this Lenten season a stirring of the heart for the passion of worship that overflows into an abundance of sharing Are you willing to have your heart stirred with passion for God What might that look like Take time in God s presence for a quiet time of connecting with God s passionate love for you Thank God for the joy of being part of God s mission through your church Ask God to fan the flames of love and adoration in your heart for the presence of God in worship 8 9
Fifth Week of Lent Daily Bible Readings Monday March 22 Tuesday March 23 Wednesday March 24 Thursday March 25 Friday March 26 Saturday March 27 Psalm 119 9 16 Isaiah 43 8 13 2 Corinthians 3 4 11 Psalm 119 9 16 Isaiah 44 1 8 Acts 2 14 24 Psalm 119 9 16 Haggai 2 1 9 20 23 John 12 34 50 Psalm 118 1 2 19 29 Deuteronomy 16 1 8 Philippians 2 1 11 Psalm 118 1 2 19 29 Jeremiah 33 1 9 Philippians 2 12 18 Psalm 118 1 2 19 29 Jeremiah 33 10 16 Mark 10 32 34 46 52 Holy Week Lenten Reflections Meditations on the Cross Monday March 29 Read Luke 9 23 24 J B Philips translation Then Jesus spoke to them all If anyone wants to follow in my footsteps he must give up all rights to himself carry his cross every day and keep close behind me For the man who wants to save his life will lose it but the man who loses his life for my sake will save it It has been a long time since I ve stood before the cross to do some soul searching I never thought until this Lenten season to stand before the cross and lose myself in it I ve been thinking and writing for several weeks Now I share these meditations on the cross with you as we journey together to Good Friday s Calvary At the cross I stand alone It is only in solitude before God that the Spirit can grapple with my inner struggles of this human heart Of course with God alone is only a perception for holy work is always done in the midst of community I am not surprised to feel an invisible cloud of witnesses surrounding me Many tired and weary souls stood in this place beneath the cross The soil is well worn rutted paths circle these timbers Red tinged wood speaks words of sacrifice to my heart that knows little of sacrifice On this hill beneath this cross my soul was known searched and forgiven before my life as I know it came to be In God s vast knowledge I was somehow known loved judged and forgiven even before I took a breath That divine eternal moment must be the birth place of grace and I have unwittingly stumbled upon it Now the cross becomes a compass and I am bidden to keep this cross ever in view this day true north All God s plans have the mark of the cross on them and all His plans have death to self in them E M Bounds 10 11
Fifth Week of Lent Daily Bible Readings Monday March 22 Tuesday March 23 Wednesday March 24 Thursday March 25 Friday March 26 Saturday March 27 Psalm 119 9 16 Isaiah 43 8 13 2 Corinthians 3 4 11 Psalm 119 9 16 Isaiah 44 1 8 Acts 2 14 24 Psalm 119 9 16 Haggai 2 1 9 20 23 John 12 34 50 Psalm 118 1 2 19 29 Deuteronomy 16 1 8 Philippians 2 1 11 Psalm 118 1 2 19 29 Jeremiah 33 1 9 Philippians 2 12 18 Psalm 118 1 2 19 29 Jeremiah 33 10 16 Mark 10 32 34 46 52 Holy Week Lenten Reflections Meditations on the Cross Monday March 29 Read Luke 9 23 24 J B Philips translation Then Jesus spoke to them all If anyone wants to follow in my footsteps he must give up all rights to himself carry his cross every day and keep close behind me For the man who wants to save his life will lose it but the man who loses his life for my sake will save it It has been a long time since I ve stood before the cross to do some soul searching I never thought until this Lenten season to stand before the cross and lose myself in it I ve been thinking and writing for several weeks Now I share these meditations on the cross with you as we journey together to Good Friday s Calvary At the cross I stand alone It is only in solitude before God that the Spirit can grapple with my inner struggles of this human heart Of course with God alone is only a perception for holy work is always done in the midst of community I am not surprised to feel an invisible cloud of witnesses surrounding me Many tired and weary souls stood in this place beneath the cross The soil is well worn rutted paths circle these timbers Red tinged wood speaks words of sacrifice to my heart that knows little of sacrifice On this hill beneath this cross my soul was known searched and forgiven before my life as I know it came to be In God s vast knowledge I was somehow known loved judged and forgiven even before I took a breath That divine eternal moment must be the birth place of grace and I have unwittingly stumbled upon it Now the cross becomes a compass and I am bidden to keep this cross ever in view this day true north All God s plans have the mark of the cross on them and all His plans have death to self in them E M Bounds 10 11
Holy Week Lenten Reflections Holy Week Lenten Reflections Meditations on the Cross Tuesday March 30 Meditations on the Cross Wednesday March 31 Read Philippians 2 3 5 8 Be humble thinking of others as better than yourselves You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had Though he was God he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to Instead he gave up his divine privileges he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being When he appeared in human form he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal s death on a cross Read 1 Peter 1 14 16 As obedient children do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance but as he who called you is holy you also be holy in all your conduct since it is written You shall be holy for I am holy Beneath the cross of Jesus I stand humbled by his life and death He lived in humility giving up his divine prerogatives and willingly lived as a servant to all humanity He did live for what his own will but that of his heavenly Father For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me John 6 38 Jesus purpose seems laser sharp and focused He was of a single mind My life purpose wavers shifts with moods and weather and sometimes wants to be reworked because another path seems more attractive Daily life is full of choices prerogatives and opportunities that call to me to follow After all I have the right to follow my bliss earn a lot of money use time the way my interests dictate The cross reveals my pride and pushes me to my knees It was the humility of Jesus that brought heaven to earth and gives me eternal life today I stand on soil stained red with liquid life The roughhewn wood is soaked with memories of this death that shifted the universe The cross was the place of ultimate vulnerability for Jesus He was vulgarly exposed whipped scorned spat upon with no recourse I hear the echo of this treacherous vulnerability Jesus life and purpose was peeled back for all the world to see and he proved authentic He was who he said he was There s the rub Standing on Golgotha this year I see the shadow of the cross falling over me It isn t pretty The cross stretches me out in the image of Jesus Now vulnerable as was he the cross searches out my heart peeling it open and exposing what is inside God shows me things I don t want to see never knew were there things I know but want to forget Then I hear the remnant echo of his cry Father forgive them for they do know what they do These words are my opportunity to live with that same authenticity The cross is where God forgave His children without lowering His standards Those blood stains on the cross in front of me shout out to my double mindedness The echoes of Jesus death throes push me to my knees with the overwhelming love of the Heavenly Father who calls me to empty myself and be a servant in the manner of my savior Max Lucado God sat in silence while the sins of the world were placed upon His Son Was it right No Was it fair No Was it love Yes In a world of injustice God once and for all tipped the scales in the favor of hope Max Lucado 12 13
Holy Week Lenten Reflections Holy Week Lenten Reflections Meditations on the Cross Tuesday March 30 Meditations on the Cross Wednesday March 31 Read Philippians 2 3 5 8 Be humble thinking of others as better than yourselves You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had Though he was God he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to Instead he gave up his divine privileges he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being When he appeared in human form he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal s death on a cross Read 1 Peter 1 14 16 As obedient children do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance but as he who called you is holy you also be holy in all your conduct since it is written You shall be holy for I am holy Beneath the cross of Jesus I stand humbled by his life and death He lived in humility giving up his divine prerogatives and willingly lived as a servant to all humanity He did live for what his own will but that of his heavenly Father For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me John 6 38 Jesus purpose seems laser sharp and focused He was of a single mind My life purpose wavers shifts with moods and weather and sometimes wants to be reworked because another path seems more attractive Daily life is full of choices prerogatives and opportunities that call to me to follow After all I have the right to follow my bliss earn a lot of money use time the way my interests dictate The cross reveals my pride and pushes me to my knees It was the humility of Jesus that brought heaven to earth and gives me eternal life today I stand on soil stained red with liquid life The roughhewn wood is soaked with memories of this death that shifted the universe The cross was the place of ultimate vulnerability for Jesus He was vulgarly exposed whipped scorned spat upon with no recourse I hear the echo of this treacherous vulnerability Jesus life and purpose was peeled back for all the world to see and he proved authentic He was who he said he was There s the rub Standing on Golgotha this year I see the shadow of the cross falling over me It isn t pretty The cross stretches me out in the image of Jesus Now vulnerable as was he the cross searches out my heart peeling it open and exposing what is inside God shows me things I don t want to see never knew were there things I know but want to forget Then I hear the remnant echo of his cry Father forgive them for they do know what they do These words are my opportunity to live with that same authenticity The cross is where God forgave His children without lowering His standards Those blood stains on the cross in front of me shout out to my double mindedness The echoes of Jesus death throes push me to my knees with the overwhelming love of the Heavenly Father who calls me to empty myself and be a servant in the manner of my savior Max Lucado God sat in silence while the sins of the world were placed upon His Son Was it right No Was it fair No Was it love Yes In a world of injustice God once and for all tipped the scales in the favor of hope Max Lucado 12 13
Holy Week Lenten Reflections Holy Week Lenten Reflections Meditations on the Cross Thursday April 1 Meditations on the Cross Friday April 2 Read Romans 12 1 2 I appeal to you therefore brothers by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect Read Romans 6 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life Romans 6 4 As I consider the cross of Christ this Holy Week I am beginning to understand that the action of God on the cross was meant to bring all creation back to the centering love which created the universe Most of my thinking about the cross has centered on my sin and need for a savior God s focus on the cross and what brings glory to God is the transformation of my life to become what I could not otherwise a child of God whose humanity reflects that reality God s purpose is redemption That which I call sin is actually the stuff of humanity that God created to be good When alienated from a relationship with God my life will reflect the brokenness of all that God meant for good My sin is not to be hidden and despised but named confessed and then transformed by the love that went to the cross The cross challenges me to let go and let God redeem that which God intended for good to now be healthy and good Anger will transform into love and forgiveness mere eroticism can become satisfying mutuality in covenant relationships abuse can be transformed into affection and acceptance betrayal into loyalty resentment into shared joy acceptance and love At the cross my humanity begins to be shaped daily into something a little closer to the image of Jesus who is the image of what our humanity was designed to be Standing before the cross on Good Friday is a stunning experience For weeks I pondered the meaning of the cross and wrote notes in my journal Today I hear the words it is finished in my mind as I peer up at these wooden beams that bore Jesus God in the flesh God with us The Creator loses his life to buy back his handiwork that was coopted by evil It is finished The cross is the ending and with every ending comes a beginning The cross is the end of death s domination and the beginning of life as it was designed to be The story has become so well worn in my soul that I no longer see the glory of God that is central to this story of salvation to eternal life At this cross today my epiphany is that eternal life is not as much about going to heaven as it is about knowing God in an eternal relationship That is the heart and essence of eternal life Jesus says in John 17 3 This is eternal life that they know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent The glor of God on Good Friday is the love that leads us into union with God through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit It is finished God s glorious act of sacrificial love is complete Now the new life with God begins The greatest of all crosses is self If we die in part every day we shall have but little to do on the last These little daily deaths will destroy the power of the final dying Francois Fenelon I do not go to heaven to be advanced but to give glory to God It is no matter where I shall be stationed in heaven whether I have a high or low seat there but to live and please and glorify God My heaven is to please God and glorify Him and give all to Him and be wholly devoted to His glory The Diary of David Brainerd 14 15
Holy Week Lenten Reflections Holy Week Lenten Reflections Meditations on the Cross Thursday April 1 Meditations on the Cross Friday April 2 Read Romans 12 1 2 I appeal to you therefore brothers by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect Read Romans 6 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life Romans 6 4 As I consider the cross of Christ this Holy Week I am beginning to understand that the action of God on the cross was meant to bring all creation back to the centering love which created the universe Most of my thinking about the cross has centered on my sin and need for a savior God s focus on the cross and what brings glory to God is the transformation of my life to become what I could not otherwise a child of God whose humanity reflects that reality God s purpose is redemption That which I call sin is actually the stuff of humanity that God created to be good When alienated from a relationship with God my life will reflect the brokenness of all that God meant for good My sin is not to be hidden and despised but named confessed and then transformed by the love that went to the cross The cross challenges me to let go and let God redeem that which God intended for good to now be healthy and good Anger will transform into love and forgiveness mere eroticism can become satisfying mutuality in covenant relationships abuse can be transformed into affection and acceptance betrayal into loyalty resentment into shared joy acceptance and love At the cross my humanity begins to be shaped daily into something a little closer to the image of Jesus who is the image of what our humanity was designed to be Standing before the cross on Good Friday is a stunning experience For weeks I pondered the meaning of the cross and wrote notes in my journal Today I hear the words it is finished in my mind as I peer up at these wooden beams that bore Jesus God in the flesh God with us The Creator loses his life to buy back his handiwork that was coopted by evil It is finished The cross is the ending and with every ending comes a beginning The cross is the end of death s domination and the beginning of life as it was designed to be The story has become so well worn in my soul that I no longer see the glory of God that is central to this story of salvation to eternal life At this cross today my epiphany is that eternal life is not as much about going to heaven as it is about knowing God in an eternal relationship That is the heart and essence of eternal life Jesus says in John 17 3 This is eternal life that they know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent The glor of God on Good Friday is the love that leads us into union with God through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit It is finished God s glorious act of sacrificial love is complete Now the new life with God begins The greatest of all crosses is self If we die in part every day we shall have but little to do on the last These little daily deaths will destroy the power of the final dying Francois Fenelon I do not go to heaven to be advanced but to give glory to God It is no matter where I shall be stationed in heaven whether I have a high or low seat there but to live and please and glorify God My heaven is to please God and glorify Him and give all to Him and be wholly devoted to His glory The Diary of David Brainerd 14 15
CHURCH STAFF Ministers Every member of the congregation Pastor Rev Dr Robert C Anderson Choir Director Yolanda Ortiz Parker Organist Andrew Hackett Church Administrator Genita Heidenreich Interim Sexton Jason Harmon Organ Scholar Hayden Glasgow Choral Scholars Matthew Goodheart Brenda Iglesias Madeline Jentsch Jordan Krack Isaac Owens COVENANT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Church Office Hours are Monday through Thursday 10 AM to 2 PM other hours are available by appointment 16
CHURCH STAFF Ministers Every member of the congregation Pastor Rev Dr Robert C Anderson Choir Director Yolanda Ortiz Parker Organist Andrew Hackett Church Administrator Genita Heidenreich Interim Sexton Jason Harmon Organ Scholar Hayden Glasgow Choral Scholars Matthew Goodheart Brenda Iglesias Madeline Jentsch Jordan Krack Isaac Owens COVENANT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Church Office Hours are Monday through Thursday 10 AM to 2 PM other hours are available by appointment 16
