Daily Devotion - April 19
I will send a brief message each day (except Mondays)
while we are pausing gathering in person.
- Kara
Thomas (follow-up devotion from Pastor Lisa's preaching of John 20:19-13)
It was difficult for me not to cry this morning seeing the little boxes open up and fill up with your faces. I so miss being together in person, and also, I am surprised each week how this way we are together fills me. Thank you for showing up with and for each other, Church.
Today we were with Thomas, in his confusion and doubt and his beautiful longing to touch Jesus, to have a personal encounter. Lisa encouraged us that this is a faithful response. We long for God to meet us for real, right here, and it's ok to ask for that. Each day this week, it's ok to ask God to meet you concretely, right here in your life.
Lisa also encouraged us to begin thinking about what we want to bring back with us into life when things begin to gear up and a new normal takes shape. What was stripped away that we might want to leave gone? What feels most important and what have we seen in this time is not so important. How can we participate in resurrection? She referenced this helpful article.
May today feel like a reprieve, a gift, a joy.
And if it doesn't, if it feels hard and heavy, that's ok too.
This is temporary, and we are held in love that is permanent and eternal.
CONNECTING RITUAL:
while we are pausing gathering in person.
- Kara
Thomas (follow-up devotion from Pastor Lisa's preaching of John 20:19-13)
It was difficult for me not to cry this morning seeing the little boxes open up and fill up with your faces. I so miss being together in person, and also, I am surprised each week how this way we are together fills me. Thank you for showing up with and for each other, Church.
Today we were with Thomas, in his confusion and doubt and his beautiful longing to touch Jesus, to have a personal encounter. Lisa encouraged us that this is a faithful response. We long for God to meet us for real, right here, and it's ok to ask for that. Each day this week, it's ok to ask God to meet you concretely, right here in your life.
Lisa also encouraged us to begin thinking about what we want to bring back with us into life when things begin to gear up and a new normal takes shape. What was stripped away that we might want to leave gone? What feels most important and what have we seen in this time is not so important. How can we participate in resurrection? She referenced this helpful article.
May today feel like a reprieve, a gift, a joy.
And if it doesn't, if it feels hard and heavy, that's ok too.
This is temporary, and we are held in love that is permanent and eternal.
CONNECTING RITUAL:
Perhaps, tonight before we go to bed, whatever time that is in each of our homes, we might pray in this way, and so join our hearts:
Lord it is night.
The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.
It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done.
Let it be.
The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness
of the world and of our own lives
rest in you.
The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
all dear to us, and all who have no peace.
The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
new joys, new possibilities.
In your name we pray.
Amen.
(The sermons related to our series are here: Hannah, Mary, Anna & Simeon, John the Baptist, Samuel, David (we had a theater performance, here's an older sermon about David), The Samaritan Woman, Mary of Bethany (preached by Pastor Lisa), Martha, Lazarus, Mary Magdalene, Thomas (preached by Pastor Lisa, follow up devotion here)
Lord it is night.
The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.
It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done.
Let it be.
The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness
of the world and of our own lives
rest in you.
The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
all dear to us, and all who have no peace.
The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
new joys, new possibilities.
In your name we pray.
Amen.
(The sermons related to our series are here: Hannah, Mary, Anna & Simeon, John the Baptist, Samuel, David (we had a theater performance, here's an older sermon about David), The Samaritan Woman, Mary of Bethany (preached by Pastor Lisa), Martha, Lazarus, Mary Magdalene, Thomas (preached by Pastor Lisa, follow up devotion here)
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