Our Director of Children and Family Ministry, Debbie Barber, has created a devotional resource for all at Emmanuel. These devotions can be done a day at a time and directly correlate to Christ’s ministry during the passion events. Blessing to you this Holy Week!

 

The Journey

 

 

As Jesus journeyed to the cross, we, too, are on a journey.

 

On a sheet of paper, draw a large circle, and continue creating an inward spiral as you pray and reflect on your life’s journey. As you move toward the center, confess and let go of things that hinder your relationship with God. Reflect on some of the many good things God is doing in your life. Tell God about the challenges you are facing. Often we journey on the open road. Sometimes we have to navigate crossroads and difficult paths. Sometimes we have companions on the journey. Sometimes we seem to be alone.

 

In this time of isolation, who are your traveling companions? (They may be close by or far away.)

 

Who is helping you in this difficult time?

 

Who can you reach out to to help?

 

And here is the paradox of our faith. We seek God. We travel toward God as pilgrims. But God is with us, to guide us, to be our companion. So, as you journey toward the Cross, remember that you are not alone. God is your companion on the journey.

 

Anointing

 

Before Jesus headed to Jerusalem, a woman washed his feet with her hair and then anointed him with costly perfume. After his burial, the women headed to the tomb to anoint his body as well. These acts were signs of love and extravagance.

 

Find your favorite essential oil or scented lotion. Anoint your own hands or feet with the oil or lotion.

 

How often do you allow others to do something generous for you?

 

How often do you allow yourself to be generous to yourself?

 

While there are many good reasons to be generous to others, it is equally important to allow people to be generous to you and to care for yourself. Is that had for you to do? Why? What self care actions can you take this week to be generous with yourself?

 

Pause to offer a prayer that you will live generously and allow other to be generous to you as well.

 

Loss

 

Take some clay or play dough and knead it as you think about loss or disappointment you are experiencing. Use the clay to form a symbol or letter representing that loss. Hold the clay in your hands as you pray, asking God to help you be aware of His presence with you in your loss and disappointment.

 

Keep your symbol or letter as a reminder of God’s presence, or smash it as a reminder that you can give your hurt to God and leave it with Him.

 

Foot Washing

John 13:1-20

 

Jesus rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. . . .

 

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

Take time to live into the text with your imagination. Read it again. Take off your shoes and wash your feet (or take turns washing each other’s feet). Imagine Jesus washing your feet. Consider your reluctance.

 

Why is letting another person wash your feet difficult?

 

What are some other ways of caring that are difficult to accept?

 

Why do you think Jesus chose this action to model for his disciples?

 

Denial

John 15:1-5

 

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

 

Jesus spoke these words to his disciples after he washed their feet and told Peter that he would soon deny him. Jesus didn’t reject Peter, even though he knew that Peter would reject him!

 

Think about times you have turned your back on Christ or denied him. Draw a simple flower shape and write a word or phrase to represent a prayer asking for forgiveness. Then reread John 15:1-5, asking God to help you fully abide in and accept the forgiveness you have been given through Christ. Use markers or crayons to color in the flower, covering the words as a sign of your forgiveness and in hope of the fruit that will come.

 

Death and Resurrection

John 12:23–24

 

And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

 

Find a seed and hold it in your hand. This little seed contains all of the information needed to create new life. But it first must experience death. On a piece of tissue paper, write something you want to bury, or have die, or say goodbye to. Then wrap some seeds loosely in the paper. Go outside and plant the wrapped seeds in the soil.

 

Pause to think of the darkness the seed experiences before it can spring to life. On Good Friday, we remember the darkness and death of Jesus on the cross. But new life emerges from the darkness of the tomb on Easter.