Bethany Lutheran Church

“Tears of sadness for the hands that kill
Tears of joy when life is born
Hear the song of freedom and my sails are filled
In a rusty nail a cross and a temple curtain torn”

Psalm 22 forms the framework for the passion narrative in the Gospels. I’ve recorded the reading of the psalm. You can listen to it at http://www.bethany-denver2.org/psalm-22/

I’ve included a picture of post-it notes being burned on a cross. One of the activities of our First Communion faith formation experience was to ask the students and their parents to write down on a piece of paper a sin. I shared with the kids that if they didn’t know how to spell it they could draw a picture of it. I also offered the parents that if they needed more than one post-it note, they were welcome to take as many as they needed.

We all then stuck the sins on the giant nail and walked to the courtyard. There we nailed the sins onto the cross and lit them. As the post-it notes burned the wind blew and the pile of sins resembled a rose bud. Soon the rose disintegrated. We all stood there with a holy and certain hope that God’s forgiveness is total, complete and makes us whole.

The prayer for today says it all,

Almighty God, look with loving mercy on your family,
for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed,
to be given over to the hands of sinners,
and to suffer death on the cross;
who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and forever. Amen

Be Crossin’ today

Peace,

rtg

“Ever walk with me Lord
Each night and day a rejoicing
With kindness the harmony, justice the beat
You’ve turned my footsteps to dancing
Oh Ever walk with me Lord”
“Ever Walk With Me Lord” by Peter Mayer

I had a wonderful time in St. Louis. One of the benefits of being back in that fine city was the opportunity I had to spend time with dear friends. Cynthia (who performs so many tasks in getting these devos out to you in a manner that is timely, lovely and efficient) and I were able to have lunch together on Friday. After our lunch I was following her car because sometimes when I am in a familiar town I experience “crypto déjà vu.” In other words, I tend to get lost because I remember parts and pieces of directions but not all of them like I should. So, as we were driving along, I thought I knew where I was going, and so I honked and waved while passing her car. Not too long after that she called on my cell and said, “I think you missed your exit back there.” And of course, she was right. I missed the turn I should have taken. She also gave me a suggestion on how I might compensate for my mistake.

Now that’s a true, dear friend, isn’t it? Someone who is willing to give directions to the directionally challenged or destination impaired. For some time I’ve been getting directions from the Book of Psalms. So, today I’d like for you to think about the Psalms as a friend who gives directions when one has “missed their exit.”

An oldie but goodie Psalm is the 23^rd Psalm,

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

I fear no evil;

For you are with me;

Your rod and staff-

They comfort me.”

I also love,

“You search out my path and my lying down

and are acquainted with all my ways” (Psalm 139:3)

And listen to this marvelous promise,

“The Lord will keep you from all evil;

he will keep your life

The Lord will keep

Your going out and your coming in

From this time on and forevermore,” (Psalm 121:8).

“Oh Ever walk with me Lord”

Peace,

rtg