Easter Vigil

WERE YOU THERE?

Readings and Song for a personal Easter Vigil

Luke 23:20-21 

Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again, but they kept shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” 

Luke 23:24-27: 

So, Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will. As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.”

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble,

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

LSB 456 vs 1; CW 119 vs 1; ELW 353 VS 1

Mark 15:22-25 

They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of The Skull). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. It was the third hour when they crucified him.

Mark 15:40, 41: 

Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble,

Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

LSB 456 vs 2; CW 119 vs 2; ELW 353 VS 2

Matthew 27:50

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

Matthew 27:59-61:

Joseph [of Arimathea] took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble,

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

LSB 456 vs 3; CW 119 vs 3; ELW 353 VS 3

Sit in silence for 3 minutes.

Mark 16:1-7:

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb, and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said, “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, and tell his disciples and Peter, “He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will find him, just as he told you.”

Were you there when God raised Him from the dead?

Were you there when God raised Him from the dead?

Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble,

Were you there when God raised Him from the dead?

LSB 456 vs 4; CW 119 vs 4; ELW 353 VS 4

Luke 24:9,10

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others, it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who said this to the apostles.

John 20:11-18:

But Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

“Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” [which means Teacher].

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” and she told them that he had said these things to her.

For all the faithful women Who served in days of old,

To You shall thanks be given; To all their story told.

They served with strength and gladness

In tasks Your wisdom gave,

To You their lives bore witness, Proclaimed Your pow’r to save.

We sing Your praise for Mary, Who came at Easter dawn

To look for Jesus’ body And found her Lord was gone.

But, as with joy she saw Him

In resurrection light,

May we by faith behold Him, The Day who ends our night!

O God, for saints and servants, Those named and those unknown

In whom through all the ages Your light of glory shone,

We offer glad thanksgiving

And fervent prayer we raise

That, faithful in Your service, Our lives may sing Your praise.

All praise to God the Father! All praise to Christ the Son!

All praise the Holy Spirit, Who binds the Church in one!

With saints who went before us,

With saints who witness still,

We sing glad Alleluias And strive to do Your will.

(LSB 855, vs 1, 13, 3, 4; ELW 419, vs 1, 9, 3, 4)

Thank you to Natalie Hartwig for this Easter devotion.

The Crowds Who Followed After

                                                                                                 

                                                                                          CPH Image- 2019

April 3, 2020

The Crowds Who Followed After

The crowds who followed after Jesus for the three years knew:

He made the blind to see, He made the lame to walk, He made the lepers clean,

He made the deaf to hear and the dead to live,

He fed the hungry and brought good wine to the rejoicing.

The crowds who followed after did not shout: “Praise ye The Lord!”

That would have been “Hallelujah!”

They did not recognize a conquering king and shout: “Lord, Have Mercy!”

That would have been “Kyrie Eleison!”

They shouted: “Save Us Now! Help Us! Rescue Us!”

“Hosanna!”

The crowds who followed after those three years were like The twelve who,

After the resurrection, asked: “Lord, will you now restore the kingdom to Israel?”

The crowds who followed after, like Abel’s blood and grave stones of the dead,

Cried out for vengeance,

And got forgiveness instead.

We, who follow after Jesus, shout “So Be It!” “Amen!”

We shout: “Kyrie Eleison! Hosanna! Hallelujah! Amen!”

“Rejoice in the Lord always… Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,

By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, Present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”    April 3, 2020

A high school classmate shared his Palm Sunday sermon with me.

 It made me remember what Hosanna means and helped me 

better understand why the crowd could change from 

Hosanna to Crucify in less than a week. 

They thought they were welcoming a leader 

to overthrow the Romans. When Christ did not do that, 

they were willing to move on, no matter the price. 

Here is how I distilled that in poetry. 

Natalie Grace Hartwig 

is a contributing writer for Journeys of Faith.

Palm Sunday Interactive Litany

A Triptych for Palm Sunday, 2020

This year there was no processionals into the nave with palm branches waving. My daughter is mourning the absence of a palms to drape over a cross until next Shrove Tuesday. I tried to think of a different approach to Palm Sunday and kept coming back to the presence of palms of flesh and blood. This project creates a triptych of pieces that look at the palms of a sinner, the palms of praise and supplication, and the palms of Salvation. 

You will need 3 brown paper bags, black ink or a pencil, a green ink pen or crayon, red paint, your hymn book, and your Bible. Use the sacks to make the canvases. Cut the seams from the bags and open them out to the largest pieces you can. Crumple the pages and smooth them out again. Tear and or singe the edges of the pages. The wrinkles, ragged edges, and singed edges remind us of our humanity.

• “Palms of a sinner” (The first canvas )
• Using black, water proof ink or pencil, write a hymn verse that speaks to your personal sinfulness as the need for mercy.
• Moisten your hands with oil and make as many prints on the paper as you desire. 

• “Palms of Supplication and Praise” 
• Using black, water proof ink or pencil, write a verse from your favorite Palm Sunday hymn on the canvas.
• Paint your hands with green acrylic  (water base) paint and stamp or you can use oil to make the marks and then finish by....
• Using a green pen or crayon, outline those hand prints.

• “Palms of Salvation” 
• Moisten both your palms and print them with fingers down and the thumbs out, as though they were being held out for examination. 
• Trace the  prints with black ink or pencil
• Above the hands write Christ’s words to Thomas recorded in John 20:27.
• Dip your finger in red paint and touch the center of the hands.

Some thoughts on Palm Sunday:

This year is different. We did not be bringing palms home from church to drape over a cross and dry until next year when they are burnt for Ash Wednesday. This year it will be different. This year we can think, instead, of other meanings of the word palm, as a noun, the palm of the hand. 

• First, on this Palm Sunday we think of the nail pierced palms of Jesus. Thomas touched those nail prints and believed that The Christ was indeed risen from the dead. 

• We turn our hands up and look at their empty status. We remember the hymn line, “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.” There is nothing we can offer God. Only by the grace of God are our sinful hands washed clean. Only by the power of the Spirit are we able to unclench our fists and accept the forgiveness paid for by the pierced palms of Christ.

• This year we will look at our palms and remember that the plan of salvation, for us each of us is carved into the hands of God. (Isaiah 49:6)

• We hear of “crossing the palm” and recognize the term to mean the payment of a price to procure a desired object or action. This year, as you remember your baptism, mark your palms with the sign of the cross as a token that you have been redeemed by Christ, the crucified.

We are reminded that we are still in the celebration of Hosanna

 in these days- this project might be especially helpful

 for young children to process the 

Palm Sunday event that begins Holy Week.

Thanks to contributing writer 

Natalie Grace Hartwig for this post.

Sit Beside the Lord- Lent 2020

                                                             photo credit to Jessica Meier

As we continue to make our homes into 
consecrated places of worship - 
here is a devotional thought from Natalie Hartwig.

Sit Beside The Lord in 2020

Almost twenty years ago I wrote a hymn which I titled, Come and Sit Beside The Lord. This hymn, which celebrated the blessings of corporate worship, was prompted by the observation of congregations gathering joyfully before a worship service. People greeted each other in the shadow of the cross that topped their steeples and spent time there, sharing and encouraging each other before moving into the nave to worship. I still love this ‘narthex time’ of social and spiritual warm up before worship, but I think these days of physical distancing and isolation offer a chance to see a new understanding of sitting at the feet of Jesus.

This understanding begins with the instructions to the enslaved Children of Israel to prepare for the first Passover in their homes. They were specifically advised to prepare only as much food as their family could eat. If their family was too small, they could join another family. The door of the house was marked with the blood of the lamb. They were to stay, safely, inside the house. (Exodus 12:1-13) 

Another great feast, Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles), was also commanded by God and specifically described as a small family act of worship. (Leviticus 23:39-43) Each family was to construct and live in a small, temporary booth, to remind them of the journey from the land of slavery to the land of promise when they were both led and fed by God. It is interesting to note that the instructions for the Sukkot begin with the instruction to do no work during the feast, but to concentrate on the Lord.

Finally, we come to Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus. She was not in a synagogue or temple, she was in her home, and Christ himself was there. Mary dropped everything and sat down, at the feet of Jesus. When Martha protested that Mary was avoiding the work of the household, Jesus told Martha to stop trying to pull Mary away from him. (Luke 10:38-42) Mary’s choice to sit at the feet of Jesus (the student position of choice) would not be taken from her.

Be careful, I am not trying to establish a pattern of avoiding corporate worship. There are many passages not only commanding such worship, but also speaking of the great joy and blessings associated with the same. Rather, I would have us consider the importance of worship outside of physical church buildings. When we cannot, for reasons of health or safety, gather together for corporate worship, we need to remember that Christ is present in our own homes. He is there whenever 2 or 3 are gathered together in His name. And for the believer who worships alone because he or she lives alone, Christ is also there. You have the Word of God and Christ is that very Word. (John 1:1) 

Just think of the powerful blessing that passage conveys. You can hold The Word of God in your hands and heart. So, stop your worrying and working. Come, sit at the feet of Jesus. Worship with your siblings in Christ. Take advantage of life streaming. Yes, I know the technical term is ‘live streaming,’ I selected the word life on purpose. Think about it. 

COME AND SIT BESIDE THE LORD

Tune: Nettleton HS98 # 876 (Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing)

Come into God’s house with gladness; Come into God’s house with singing;

Come and sit beside The Lord. Come and sit beside The Lord.

He will comfort you in sadness, Hear the bells with joy loud ringing,

He will ev’ry joy afford. Here His graces are out poured.

At His feet now take your places, Brothers, sisters, now He calls you,

Let His words be read aloud. “Come and rest here, by my side.”

See His love on other’s faces Feel His arms surround and hold you

Let no doubt your vision cloud. In His love now safe abide.

Come into God’s house and rest you;

Come and sit beside The Lord.

Choose the one thing needful for you

Choose to listen to The Lord.

“It shall not be taken from you.”

He has promised to abide

With His love forever near you

And to keep you at His side.

Textual basis: Psalm 110:4; Psalm 84:1, 2; Psalm 66:16; Luke 10: 38 – 42

© Natalie Grace 2001

I am so fortunate as to have a devotion written by my Grandmother Pfitzer in which she references a favorite hymn verse of hers. I also have a copy of my mother’s confirmation hymnbook that contains the version of the hymn that grandma would have known. It is much longer than the version included now. Her favorite verse was #3.

Here is the longer version:

ONE THING’S NEEDFUL! (Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book published by CPH, 1927)

ONE THING’S NEEDFUL! (1927)

One thing’s needful! Then, Lord Jesus,

Keep this one thing in my mind;

All beside, though first it please us,

Soon a grievous yoke we find;

Beneath it the heart is still fretting and striving,

No true lasting happiness ever deriving

The gain of this one thing all loss can requite

And teach me in all things to find true delight.

Soul, wilt thou this one thing find thee?

Seek not midst created things;

What is earthly leave behind thee,

Over nature stretch thy wings.

For where God and Man both in One are united,

With God’s perfect fullness the heart is delighted,

There, there, is the worthiest lot and the best,

My One and my All, and my Joy and my rest.

How were Mary’s thoughts devoted

Her eternal joy to find,

As intent each word she noted,

At her Savior’s feet reclined!

How kindled her heart, how devout was its feeling,

While hearing the lessons that Christ was revealing!

For Jesus all earthly concerns she forgot,

And all was repaid in that one happy lot.

Thus my longings, heavenward tending,

Jesus, rest alone on Thee;

Help me, thus on Thee depending,

Savior, come and dwell in me!

Although all the world should forsake and forget Thee,

In love I will follow Thee, ne’er will I quit Thee,

Lord Jesus, both spirit and life is Thy word;

And is there a joy which Thou dost not afford?

Special thanks to Journeys of Faith contributor- 

Natalie Grace Hartwig.

Back Yard Labyrinth

It doesn't take long for creative people 

to move into their personal gig.

COVID 19 is bringing out the best in people.

This is the Lenten labyrinth

 shared by Natalie Hartwig.

Right in her own backyard.

Personal prayer space.

Just you and God.

Talking over the things

 in this world today.

During these days of self quarantine 

we can walk beneath the shadow of the cross, 

meditate, and pray in our own back yards.
A can of spray paint?
And a labyrinth in the making...

Thanks to Natalie Hartwig
 and her "at home" 
encouragement for these days.

Lenten Devotion- This is not a Drill

I recently saw a young man wearing a Tee-shirt

 with a drawing 

of a claw hammer below the words:

 "This is Not a drill."

I laughed, thought it an appropriate 

public health message, 

and dated myself by remembering 

Peter Paul and Mary singing "If I Had a Hammer."

I sang it all the way across the soccer field.

I stepped through the door at home

 and looked at the cross artwork hanging on the wall.

I thought of that shirt in terms of the Lenten season.

  I thought of the people 

who did not answer the call 

of church bells this past Sunday,

(perhaps they never do)

 and all of the churches across our world

 that did not gather their people

together for worship.

Because a hammer was used to hammer nails 

through the hands and feet

 of the Christ, born to be crucified for me,

 I do have a bell to ring.

And all of God's people

 have a song to sing!

 

Thanks to Natalie Hartwig for her devotional thoughts

 as we move in our world in new ways and new patterns, 

especially this Lenten season.

What everyday clues might be meaningful

 in your everyday walk right now ?

Preschool Chapel and Young Disciples Telling the Story

 Bonnie Hughes teaches at

 Prince of Peace Lutheran Preschool

 in Springfield,Virginia.

Not only does she work 
with the littles--- 2 1/2 year olds,

she is the Director of the Art

 that happens in the building.

 Over a period of about 2 weeks, 

she works with the students as they begin to visualize

 the stories leading up to and during Holy Week. 

Zacchaeus leads into the Holy Week prep.
The 4 year old classes make most of the murals.The
Teachers read the Bible story of the mural
 they are going to work on. 
Then they ask the children for ideas 
of how they could tell this story by way of a picture.

The Kindergarten class makes
 the Last Supper mural.
The classroom teacher reads 
multiple versions to the students
 of the mural they are creating.
They also look at different artist's
 interpretations of that story.
Then they discuss how they could
 tell the story and what the essential elements
would be for the mural. 
  Children then create the pieces

 that make up the large murals.

They measure about 3 by 4 feet.

 They are mixed media

 and mixed process creations.
What I really love is how Bonnie talks
 about the art and the young creators.
"This art is an example of 
children working not only as artists, 
but as disciples of Jesus,
 telling important faith stories through their work."

 Painting, cutting, and glueing.

This has been a tradition at Prince of Peace 

for over 30 years.

 I can remember the Easter chapel

 for our own children when the murals lined up

 in the front of the sanctuary for worship.

Now a grandson attends this very preschool 

and will bring this faithful tradition
 to another generation.

The murals remain in the narthex 
to visually tell and enhance

 the Holy Week and Easter story

 to all who step into the building.

You can almost hear the shout- 

Alleluia- Jesus is Alive!

Thanks to Visual Faith coach Bonnie Hughes
 for the photos and this story.

A Visual Lenten Journey

So what does a LENTEN journey look like?

I have been doing this practice for 7 years now 

and it is always amazing to me

 to see the Ash Wednesday to Easter

 list of words, terms, 

and prayer prompts for this reflective time.

Once again we are doing this 
personal meditation time

 and sharing in community as folks choose.

You can download either 

of these journaling calendar templates here:
Visual Faith Ministry-Seasonal Resources

You may use any devotional book

 that your church gives out for Lent

 or one you already have.

We suggest choosing 4 colored pencils

 and a Fine-point non-bleeding Sharpie pen

 or Micron pen.

(then you don't have to deal with smearing ink)

The LENT WORDS 2018 can be found here:
lent-words-2018

Join any of the 14 Visual Faith Facebook groups
 to share your Visual Lenten journey with all of us.
Here are a few:
Visual Faith DC METRO

Visual Faith DELMARVA

Visual Faith North Carolina

It is about a prayer time focus
 in God's Word-
 and that is just a great way
 to move forward in Lent.

Lenten Labyrinth

Lenten Labyrinth

Natalie Hartwig shares some thoughts 
for a devotional practice 
that you might consider for Lent this year.

"In this contemplative season the Spirit leads us quietly

 to walk more closely in God’s love. 

One way to do this is to follow a labyrinth while singing.

 A finger labyrinth coupled with a liturgical chant

 or a hymn from the Taize’ Community 

can open your heart and mind to God’s loving care.

This link will take you to a printable finger labyrinth.

Chartres Labyrinth

(There are many more options online.)

The labyrinth formed by concentric lines 

around a heart is my personal choice.

 You can modify most labyrinth designs
 by adding a straight line drawing

 of a cross in the center.
That keeps our focus on Jesus
 as the center of our Lent meditations.

  I also plan to work a labyrinth design 

either with yarn or with fabric paint on canvas 

to create a raised shape that I can trace-
 even with eyes closed.

I suggest starting your chants with the Agnus Dei

 from the communion liturgy. 

Other chants that are favorites of mine are:

 “O Lord, Hear My Prayer”; “Lead Me, Lord”;

 “Jesus Remember Me”; “Eat this Bread”;

 “Open Our Eyes”; “Lord Be Glorified”; 

and “Father, I Adore You.” 

It is advisable to use only one chant per week,

 but if the Spirit moves you
 to use multiple chants- LISTEN.

The Taize’ hymns are not easy to find in 

Lutheran hymn books, 

but some searching on You Tube 

will help you find free downloads of recordings. 

Another source is your own memory 

of music used at retreats, or worship. 

I look forward to using “Allelu!” on Easter Sunday

 while I follow the labyrinth."

Thanks to Natalie Hartwig- a featured contributor
 to the Journey of Faith blog for sharing 

a doable, practical Lenten prayer focus.

This is a great combination of visual and kinesthetic
  movement that may help us to
 keep our focus and deal with distractions.