Easter Blessings!

 Lent Calendar 2019

Calendar Design by Rachel Hinz

Devotional Reading-

The Saving Passion by Henri J. M. Nouwen

Lent Calendar 2019

Calendar Design by Pat Maier

Devotional Reading- 

A Wondrous Love by

  Henri J.M. Nouwen and C.S. Lewis

The Words and thoughts and journey of 

this Lenten season.

May Easter Joy and the 

hope of eternal life be your gift 

this Easter!

He is Risen!  

He is Risen indeed - Alleluia!

Good Friday

 Enduring Word Bible- #44

John 19:30
Good Friday.
It is finished.
The prelude before the
story continues. 

Enduring Word Bible- #45

Worship into the Week 
Good Friday
That we may not forget-
all that He accomplished perfectly.
That the path would be made clear.

Jesus completed a God-sized destiny.
Reflecting today on the Seven Words
 of Jesus on the cross.

Supplies:
childrens-bulletin-john-1930-41919
john-1930-bible-margin-by-pat-maier
john-1930-bible-margin-by-valerie-matyas
Washi tape
Colored pencils
Bulletin cover
 Junk mail clippings
Fine-point Sharpie marker

Maundy Thursday

 Enduring Word Bible- #43

Institution of the Lord's Supper

Mark 14:22-24

The actions-

eat, took, blessed, broke, gave,

thanks, gave, drank.

Poured out for many-

over the days, weeks, months and years until 

He comes again- by and for the faithful.

 Worship into the Week-

John 13:31-35

A New Commandment

To the glory of God,

 that He many be glorified.

I am with you yet a little while.

You will seek me.

You can't come where I am going -yet.

I give you a new commandment-

love one another as I have loved you.

All people will know that you are my disciples,

if you love one another.

John 13:1-20

Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet

Time to go for Jesus-

he loved them to the end.

Jesus came from God

 and was going back to God.

He prepared and set about

 to wash the feet of his disciples.

Peter balks, Jesus reprimands,

Peter relents.

Jesus knows who will betray him.

I am Teacher and Lord-

but did you SEE what I did?

I have given you an example.

A servant is not greater than the master.

If you know these things,

blessed are you if you do them.

But, the Scripture will be fulfilled.

I tell you this now, before hand,

so when it happens- you will believe me.
You will see ME in those I send.

A servant-leader to the very end.

Supplies:

Printables-
mark-1422-24-bible-margin-by-valerie-matyas
sermon-notes-john-1334-41819-maundy-thursday
Colored pencils
Washi tape
Bulletin cover
Junk mail
Sharpie- Finepoint pen

Enduring Word Bible- Servant

Enduring Word Bible- #42

Mark 10:35-45
The Request of James and John

Though this story isn't part of the readings
 for Holy Week, the servant hood topic
 sits front and center. 
Rulers, authority,
great and least.
Servant and served.
"For even the son of man 
came not to be served,
 but to serve and to give his life
 as ransom for many." v.45

This sentence is a foreshadowing 
of the events of Holy Week, 
for we now see the unfolding story
 of the ultimate sacrifice.
Jesus sent to live out a humble earthly life,
that I may be served with an eternal reward.

Supplies:
 Enduring Word Bible
Prismacolor colored pencils
Washi tape
Finepoint Sharpie pen

Worship into the Week- Hosanna

 Worship into the Week

Palm Sunday

John 12:
Luke19:28-40

Sometimes when it is a story we know so well-
 we tend to overlook small details.
Read this section as you have time.

Some notes for us as Jesus followers:
When Jesus asks something of us- simply obey.
It may not make sense or we can't understand it.
We must be willing to give up 
our hold on things and possessions-
if the Lord has need of it.
We can receive praise humbly.
In life and ministry we may move
 from rejoicing to pain.
Sometimes they walk side by side.
Jesus is King, the Messiah,
and we are made to worship him. 

Lord, may all the things I do in my life

 continue to point the way to you.

May my life and actions bring blessing

to you. Amen.

Supplies-

Worship into the Week
childrens-bulletin-4 14 19
Colored pencils
Bulletin cover
Junk mail and magazine Alphas 
Washi tape

Enduring Word Bible-Zacchaeus

Enduring Word Bible - #41

Luke 19:1-10

Jesus and Zaccheus

Jesus is on his way way up to Jerusalem.

He enters Jericho.

He was just passing through 

since Jericho is on the way

 to Jerusalem from the Galilee.

We all know the song.

We have sung it since childhood.

This is a very old sycamore tree
 that stands right in the center of Jericho.
Of course, we had to stop 
and take a photo on one of our trips to Israel.
And yes, it wasn't this tree,
 but it stands as a reminder for us all.

Zaccheus brings us hope.

The cast out man who was despised

 by his own neighbors.

This is the the one Jesus

 wanted to spend time with that day.

Each of us in our dishonest, less-than lives

can find an open-arm welcome by Jesus.

Always, everyday.

"For the Son of Man came to seek

 and to see the lost."
How fitting that this story of Zaccheus
 opens the Holy Week journey.

Supplies:
Enduring Word Bible
Colored pencils
Washi tape

Spring Strolling

So on a beautiful April morning

 we went strolling. 

Isaiah and Gigi.

Little guy is teething and sometimes

 it just helps to chop down on bunny's ear. 

And take a nap. 

We walked for about an hour and a half.

Talking to birdies...

barking back at the doggies.

 We had a snack.

We walked some more.

Looked for pink and yellow

 and we smelled a few along the way.

We looked at the blue sky through pink.

We picked some lilacs

 in the yard and smelled them.

Oh there is nothing like

 the smell of those lilacs.

And we set a date 

for another spring stroll.