A witness has seen evidence or has firsthand knowledge, and then testifies about it.
Jesus said, “Come and see!”
Jesus also said, “Go and tell!”
(John 1:39, Matthew 28:19-20)This devotional plan for Lent 2023 has a component to help us “come and see” and “go and tell.” In other words, we will practice seeking God’s grace AND sharing the loving message of Jesus (two components of our mission here at Lakewood UMC).
Each week we will read scripture that tells the story of the last days of Jesus. As you read, notice the people who witnessed the life, death and resurrection of Christ. Notice their responses and their reactions. Consider how these might mirror our own human responses and reactions.
Each week there is a prayer practice for you to try as a part of seeking God’s presence.
Finally, do not neglect to “go and tell.” Each week you will take a step to reflect on how you have witnessed Christ in your life, but you will also be challenged to take a step to tell others what you have seen, experienced and believe about the Risen Lord.
May you experience a holy Lent and a joyous Easter!
Come and see!
The Journey to Jerusalem (Lent Week 1, Feb 26)
Dig into scripture noticing the witnesses in the stories.
Luke 18:31-43
Luke 19:1-10
Luke 19:11-28
John 12:1-11
Prayer practice: Labyrinth Prayer. A labyrinth is a helpful tool for focusing prayers. A labyrinth is a path marked out in a field, painted in a parking lot, or shown on a carpet that you walk while you pray.
While a labyrinth may look like a maze, it is not. It is a single path leading participants into the center and back out. While entering the labyrinth, prayers are focused on confession. Participants then pause in the center to read scripture, sing, or worship another way. On the way out of the labyrinth, prayers for others, self, and anything else that occupies the mind are offered. Since labyrinths are not always readily available, a finger labyrinth makes a great substitute. You can pray this three-part prayer while slowly tracing the path with your finger. Or, if you would rather walk, pray similarly while strolling around your neighborhood or on a nearby hiking
trail. (See www.labyrinthlocator.com for information on locations).
The image on the previous page is a replica of the labyrinth at Pulaski Heights UMC in Little Rock. Other labyrinths of interest include St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, North Little Rock, Arkansas House of Prayer, Little Rock, Hendrix College, Conway, Mount Eagle Retreat Center, Clinton, Arkansas (a UM retreat center).
So, try it out! Walk a labyrinth, take a picture of the one you walk, share your prayer experience on your social media platforms, and send to us at gkehler@expandingthelight.com so we can share it, too!
Go and tell!
Be a witness. Create a life and faith timeline. Draw a timeline from birth to the present, with decades indicated (age 10, age 20, etc.). On the top of the timeline, mark life milestones, both positive and negative. Examples might include graduations, marriage, the birth of children, relocations and career changes, deaths, and divorces. On the bottom of the timeline, mark milestones in your relationship with God and Christ. Examples might include outward events such as baptism, confirmation, but also inward moments when God felt very present or absent, times of palpable grace and times of doubt. What do you notice? Are there larger patterns? Were there any surprises? What does this timeline show you about God and your journey of faith?
Come and see!
Jesus Enters Jerusalem (Lent Week 2, March 5)
Dig into scripture noticing the witnesses in the stories.
Matthew 21
Mark 11
Luke 19:28-47
John 12:12-18
Prayer practice: Praying scripture. Take time to pray Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 as an act of praise.
Go and tell!
Be a witness: Over the next two weeks, write your spiritual autobiography – write a ‘prose’ version of your faith story using the details of your choice from your timeline. Here are some questions to help:
• Describe some defining moments of your faith journey. What made them significant?
• Who are the people who guided your faith journey? How did they do that?
• How has your faith been reflected in your work, your hobbies, your values, your choices, and your priorities at various times in your life?
• In what ways has your faith guided and supported you over your lifetime? How has your church/faith community guided and supported you?
Come and see!
The Last Supper (Lent Week 3, March 12)
Dig into scripture noticing the witnesses in the stories.
Luke 22:1-23
Luke 22:24-38
Matthew 26:17–29
Mark 14:12–25
I Corinthians 11:23–25
Prayer practice: Bake some bread, give thanks, and share with someone. Send pictures of your experience to gkehler@expandingthelight.org so we can share on our social media platforms.
Here’s a recipe for Unleavened Bread to try: Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup vegetable oil, teaspoon salt, ⅓ cup water. Directions. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix flour, oil, and salt together in a bowl; add water and mix with a pastry cutter until dough is soft. Form dough into 6 balls; press into disks onto the prepared baking sheet with your hands. Bake in the preheated oven until bread is cooked, 8 to 10 minutes.
Go and tell!
Be a witness: Continue writing your spiritual autobiography. Write a ‘prose’ version of your faith story using your timeline using as much detail as you choose using the questions on the previous page.
Come and see!
Stations of the Cross (Lent Week 4, March 19)
For weeks 4-6, you are invited to dig into the scripture that tells the story of the Stations of the Cross. “Stations of the Cross, also called Way of the Cross, [are] a series of 14 pictures or carvings portraying events in the Passion of Christ, from his condemnation by Pontius Pilate to his entombment. The devotional exercise of visiting and praying in front of each of the 14 stations and meditating on the Passion of Christ stems from the practice of early Christian pilgrims who visited the scenes of the events in Jerusalem and walked the traditional route from the supposed location of Pilate’s house to Calvary.”
Dig into scripture noticing the witnesses in the stories. Stations 1-4:
1. Jesus on the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:39-46)
2. Jesus, betrayed by Judas, is arrested (Luke 22:47-48)
3. Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66-71)
4. Peter denies Jesus (Luke 22:54-62)
Prayer practice: Use the prayer of examen at the end of your day to examine your day, give thanks to God and ask for forgiveness. (See the back cover of this guide. See also Lectio 365 application’s nighttime prayer).
Go and tell!
Be a witness: Have you ever talked to your children, grandchildren, spouse or close friends about your faith story? Share your spiritual autobiography with a trusted friend or family member. Ask them for feedback and to identify any themes or main ideas that they notice.
Come and see!
Stations of the Cross (Lent week 5, March 26)
Dig into scripture noticing the witnesses in the stories. Stations 5-9:
5. Jesus is judged by Pilate (Luke 23:13-25)
6. Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns (Luke 22:63-65, John 19:2-3)
7. Jesus takes up the cross (Mark 15:20)
8. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross (Luke 23:26)
9. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem (Luke 23:27-31)
Prayer practice: Breath prayer. Breath prayers are a way to become more aware of God’s presence. The Holy Spirit is as near as the air we breathe. A common way to practice breath prayer is silently repeating a single-line prayer with each breath. As you inhale, address God with something like, “Jesus, Son of God.” Then, as you exhale, express a request to God such as, “be merciful to me, a sinner.” Other examples are, “Creator God, allow me to see your beauty around me,” “Holy Spirit, let me feel your joy,” “O Lord, show me your way,” and “Holy One, heal me.” Repeat the prayer with each breath for several minutes. Listen for God.
Go and tell!
Be a witness: Shorten your spiritual autobiography to a 2-5 minute version that you could easily share. Consider using this format to crystalize your story. Share with a friend or family member.
Jesus is my ______________. There was a time that I __________, but then __________.
And since then ____________.
Come and see!
Stations of the Cross (Lent Week 6, Holy Week April 2
Dig into scripture noticing the witnesses in the stories. Stations 10-14:
10. Jesus is crucified (Luke 23:33, 47)
11. Jesus promises his kingdom to the good thief (Luke 23:33-34, 39-43; Psalm 22)
12. Jesus on the cross, his mother and his disciple (John 19:25-27)
13. Jesus dies on the cross (Luke 23:44-46)
14. Jesus is placed in the tomb (Luke 23:50-54)
Prayer practice: Pray the stations of the cross at Lakewood UMC April 3-7, in the Sanctuary, 9-4 daily (closing at noon on Friday). Prepared by the LUMC youth.
Go and tell!
Be a witness: Share your story with others using the prompt below. Get creative by combining written words, photos, artwork, or video. Social media is a great way to share, and we would love to share your story, too. Send it to us at LUMC at gkehler@expandingthelight.org. You can do it!
Jesus is my ______________. There was a time that I __________, but then __________. And since then ____________.
You are invited to attend Holy Week worship services at Lakewood UMC: Maundy Thursday (4/6) and Good Friday (4/7), both at 6 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Invite your friends and family to join you for Holy Week and Easter.
Come and see!
Jesus Lives! (Easter Week April 9)
Dig into scripture noticing the witnesses in the stories.
Luke 24:1-12
Matthew 28:1-10
Mark 16:1-8
John 20:1-18
Acts 1:1-11
Prayer practice: Pray this Easter prayer. Share it on your social media platforms.
When everything was dark and it seemed that the sun would never shine again, your love broke through. Your love was too strong, too wide, too deep for death to hold. The sparks cast by your love danced and spread and burst forth with resurrection light.
Gracious God,
We praise you for the light of new life made possible through Jesus.
We praise you for the light of new life that shone on the first witnesses of resurrection. We praise you for the light of new life that continues to shine in our hearts today.
We pray that the Easter light of life, hope and joy, will live in us each day; and that we will be bearers of that light into the lives of others.
Amen.
You are invited to attend worship services at Lakewood
UMC: Easter Sunday, April 9, Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. at the Lakewood POA Pavilion, 9 a.m. in the Sanctuary and Wesley Hall, 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary.
Go and tell!
Be a witness: Take time to imagine yourself as an eyewitness to the resurrection. Recognize how you have been a witness to the light of Christ throughout your life. Pray that the Holy Spirit will give you opportunities and words to tell others your experience and invite those you love to “come and see!”
Sources:
Acts 1:8
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Stations-of-the-Cross
https://www.ignatianspirituality.com
https://www. labyrinthlocator.com
https://michiganumc.org/new-ways-to-pray-during-lent/
https://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/worship/lent-and-easter/prayers-forlent-and-easter/
www.expandingthelight.org
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
We are a community of faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit to expand the light of Christ in the world. We are growing together as we seek God’s grace, serve others, and share the loving message of Jesus with the world.
