Daily Lent Scripture Readings with Questions

Daily Readings for Lent, 2023 from the Revised Common Lectionary

During the season of Lent, in which we journey with Jesus toward his death and resurrection, we remember and acknowledge that through Jesus Christ, God revealed steadfast love (HESED) for humanity and commitment to a New Covenant in which the Spirit will be given to guide each human heart.  In Lent we peel back the accumulated messages that deny our identity as God’s beloved and our need for a Savior.

We join with Jesus’ disciples to receive this good news of Lent. We cannot save ourselves. We need a Rescuer. Our world needs a Rescuer. How does scripture reveal God’s heart and intent? What do you discover about a relationship with Jesus that brings freedom, community, and transformation? What is Spirit saying to you through these daily readings?.

We invite you to read any of these daily scriptures and remember that you are reading with people all over the globe. There is no test on what you read; this is for your own connection with God.

Here are some questions to consider as you read. You may want to keep a running journal.

1)      What do you learn about who God is?

2)     What do you learn about humankind?

3)     What is an invitation or message for your life?

4)     What questions do you have for God?

Note: Click on the reading and it will take you to Bible Gateway. You can choose your preferred translation.

·     Wednesday, February 22, 2023: Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 51:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

·     Thursday, February 23, 2023: Psalm 51; Jonah 3:1-10; Romans 1:1-7

·     Friday, February 24, 2023: Psalm 51; Jonah 4:1-11; Romans 1:8-17

·     Saturday, February 25, 2023: Psalm 51; Isaiah 58:1-12; Matthew 18:1-7

·     Sunday, February 26, 2023: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

·     Monday, February 27, 2023: Psalm 32; 1 Kings 19:1-8; Hebrews 2:10-18

·     Tuesday, February 28, 2023: Psalm 32; Genesis 4:1-16; Hebrews 4:14-5:10

·     Wednesday, March 1, 2023: Psalm 32; Exodus 34:1-9, 27-28; Matthew 18:10-14

·     Thursday, March 2, 2023: Psalm 121; Isaiah 51:1-3; 2 Timothy 1:3-7

·     Friday, March 3, 2023: Psalm 121; Micah 7:18-20; Romans 3:21-31

·     Saturday, March 4, 2023: Psalm 121; Isaiah 51:4-8; Luke 7:1-10

·     Sunday, March 5, 2023: Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17 

·     Monday, March 6, 2023: Psalm 128; Numbers 21:4-9; Hebrews 3:1-6

·     Tuesday, March 7, 2023: Psalm 128; Isaiah 65:17-25; Romans 4:6-13

·     Wednesday, March 8, 2023: Psalm 128; Ezekiel 36:22-32; John 7:53-8:11

·     Thursday, March 9, 2023: Psalm 95; Exodus 16:1-8; Colossians 1:15-23

·     Friday, March 10, 2023: Psalm 95; Exodus 16:9-21; Ephesians 2:11-22

·     Saturday, March 11, 2023: Psalm 95; Exodus 16:27-35; John 4:1-6

·     Sunday, March 12, 2023: Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42

·     Monday, March 13, 2023: Psalm 81; Genesis 24:1-27; 2 John 1:1-13

·     Tuesday, March 14, 2023: Psalm 81; Genesis 29:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4

·     Wednesday, March 15, 2023: Psalm 81; Jeremiah 2:4-13; John 7:14-31, 37-39

·     Thursday, March 16, 2023: Psalm 23; 1 Samuel 15:10-21; Ephesians 4:25-32

·     Friday, March 17, 2023: Psalm 23; 1 Samuel 15:22-31; Ephesians 5:1-9

·     Saturday, March 18, 2023: Psalm 23; 1 Samuel 15:32-34; John 1:1-9

·     Sunday, March 19, 2023: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41

·     Monday, March 20, 2023: Psalm 146; Isaiah 59:9-19; Acts 9:1-20

·     Tuesday, March 21, 2023: Psalm 146; Isaiah 42:14-21; Colossians 1:9-14

·     Wednesday, March 22, 2023: Psalm 146; Isaiah 60:17-22; Matthew 9:27-34

·     Thursday, March 23, 2023: Psalm 130; Ezekiel 1:1-3, 2:8-3:3; Revelation 10:1-11

·     Saturday, March 25, 2023: Psalm 130; Ezekiel 36:8-15; Luke 24:44-53

·     Sunday, March 26, 2023: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130;  Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45

·     Monday, March 27, 2023: Psalm 143; 1 Kings 17:17-24; Acts 20:7-12

·     Tuesday, March 28, 2023: Psalm 143; 2 Kings 4:18-37; Ephesians 2:1-10

·     Wednesday, March 29, 2023: Psalm 143; Jeremiah 32:1-9, 36-41; Matthew 22:23-33

·     Thursday, March 30, 2023: Psalm 31:9-16; 1 Samuel 16:11-13; Philippians 1:1-11

·     Friday, March 31, 2023: Psalm 31:9-16; Job 13:13-19; Philippians 1:21-30

·     Saturday, April 1, 2023: Psalm 31:9-16; Lamentations 3:55-66; Mark 10:32-34

·     Sunday, April 2, 2023 Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Matthew 21:1-11

·     Monday, April 3, 2023 Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11

·     Tuesday, April 4, 2023 Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 71:1-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; John 12:20-36

·     Wednesday, April 5, 2023 Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 70; Hebrews 12:1-3; John 13:21-32

·     Thursday, April 6, 2023 Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14; Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 ; John 13:1-17, 31b-35

·     Friday, April 7, 2023 Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25; John 18:1-19:42

·     Saturday, April 8, 2023 Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24; Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16; 1 Peter 4:1-8; John 19:38-42

·     EASTER SUNDAY Jeremiah 31:1-6; Acts 10:34-43; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-18

 What does it mean to you to live as a person of the Resurrection who is a part of a Resurrection community invited to follow Christ into new humanity work of reconciliation and restoration?

How would Jesus Parent?

“How would Jesus parent?”

This was the thought that came to mind as I walked the track at the YMCA this week.  I mean, he must’ve had to help out with his siblings being the oldest, so being around kids wasn’t foreign to him. His brother James likely had a good relationship with His older brother - so much so that he would follow Jesus as one of his apostles.

I asked Andrew what he thought about this and said, “ Why don’t you try asking the Spirit to bring a verse to mind that might help you.”  (Good advice.)

So what came to mind?  Matthew 19:13-15 (The Message)
One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus intervened: “Let the children alone, don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.” 

Come unto me.

So many times, I think, “I should be doing more - I am missing the mark with my kids” - and on the hook for their choice to know or not know God. When it comes to your kiddos, do you ever worry that you’ve plain messed it up?

But all He says is bring those kiddos to me and I’m ready to accept them just as they are.  He blesses and prays for them.  

One of my good friends said her goal is that if her children go looking for God, she wants to make sure they know where to find Him.  Not forcing faith but opening the door. The parents in Matthew knew where to find Jesus and Jesus welcomed them to His lap. So, what we’re doing is providing access. Access to love. Access to compassion. Access to the God of the universe who loves them beyond comprehension and wildly.  

So yes, we definitely want to provide access to Jesus and His love, but I’ll raise you one:  Belonging.  Jesus made it clear that the children belonged with Him.  Not as second class citizens standing by the wayside. 

Our Union Kids team gets this and I’m so grateful. I get goosebumps when I see the kids streaming into the cafe on Sunday mornings because I know they will have the opportunity to belong and no requirement to believe.  That’s not our job.  Our job  as parents and teachers is to show up, welcome kids, introduce them to God and then trust that Spirit has got this, got them.  We seek to be "access to God" in action. 

As our children get older, we know that our control over them - even though mostly that is an illusion to begin with - lessens.  So, in this season, we can serve as seed-planters, guides, comforts, but not a savior for our kids by any stretch of the imagination.  Maybe all that’s required is reminding your kids that they are loved, by you, God and our broader community. Reminding them that God is near, whether you think you've “parented right” or not. 

What do you think?  How would Jesus parent ?  Does that thought shape how we introduce our children to our Savior and seek to provide a space of belonging?  What resonates with you?

This Sunday, January 15
Chandra Jamerson will be leading our Union Kids time this week. Kids will join in the beginning of the worship time and then dismissed to the back.  Nursery care will be available for the entire worship time for children who are infants through age 3, led by Grace Lee and Linden Beeman.

Play and Learn Field Trip - Wednesday, January 18

Play and Learn will take a field trip this week to Uwajimaya on January 18, led by Sachiko Smith.  Please contact Sharon at 206.931.2392 if you are interested in meeting up with the group that morning.

Play and Learn returns to 415 Westlake on Wednesday, January 25 at 10 AM - 11:30 AM, with an optional snack time from 11:30 AM to 12 noon. This drop-in style play time for children ages infant to five. Please contact Kathy Foster at Kathy-Foster@comcast.net for more info.  

Parents’ Prayer (Zoom call), Friday, January 27
The next parents’ prayer time is January 27 at 12:30 PM.  Grab a bite to eat then jump on the Zoom call for 20 minutes and be ready for your next meeting at 1 PM or on to the rest of your day.  This is a time of guided prayer to pray for our children, as well as pray for schools, teachers and families. I will send a separate email with the Zoom link.

Blessings,
Sharon

Sharon Mead
Union Church Children’s & Family Ministry Lead
sharon@unionchurchseattle.org
206.931.2392 talk/text

ADVENT | CHRISTMAS | EPIPHANY

UNEXPECTED PAIRING

Advent Sermon Recordings LINK

Unexpectedly, the Word became flesh and made home among us. This is not what people EXPECTED of God–to condescend to human form and become one of us! Heaven meets earth. How does this change us, our relationships, our choices, our lives? Where are we invited to be OPEN to the unexpected? Where is God doing a new thing in and through us when we open ourselves to pairing ourselves with God’s gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love?

The unexpected pairing of Advent is mind-boggling and beyond any palatal sensation or eye-popping look…

 God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, reaches from the Highest heavens to condescend to the lowest form to become human cells growing in a woman’s womb.

 God who spoke creation into being, and yet who seemed silent for 400 years finds voice amongst God’s creation through a baby’s cry that will become the voice to declare, “God’s reign is here,. Now. …The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to liberate the oppressed.”
 Such an unexpected pairing – heaven meets earth. Heaven breaks into the humblest of dwellings on earth to declare:  God is with you, God is for you. God sets you free to be YOU in community – you are not alone begins with a baby.

And, so every Advent season we take time with the ordinary, and unexpected pairings we find in the infancy narrative of Jesus.  We must.

 For it is these stories that communicate, as Matthew says “the genesis of Jesus birth”.

God who spoke, “Let there be light, and there was light” – Speaks a new WORD that is the old, ancient WORD that has been with God from the BEGINNING.

It is the Beginning of this GOOD NEWS about Jesus Christ, Son of God that we celebrate again this year.

 God stoops to human form. God makes home among us in human flesh.

Spirit embodied.

Spirit nurtured.

 Into our very existence comes the one who affirms that our physical earthly life matters and we each hold the breath of God in our being.  We who wander and can feel aimless and purposeless and confused – we are the ONES for whom God broke into into human existence to TELL and LIVE a story of inclusion, embrace and hope.

And, it is story this is each of your story’s. The Spirit of God chooses to be paired with you. You in your unique, beloved body. You.

 SO, we  celebrate Advent though unexpected pairings:

Advent Daily Devotional
25 Days Seeking Justice Across Borders Email: truthandjustice.union@gmail.com

November 27 (Worship in Action)

Temple & Wilderness Luke 1:5-25; 67-30 Candle of Hope

December 4

Spirit & Body
Luke 1:38, 46-55; Matthew 1:18-25 Candle of Peace

December 11 (Second Sunday meal)

Holy & Profane Luke 2:8-20 Candle of Joy

December 17

10am | Cooking for the Neighborhood 7:30pm| Longest Night Worship

December 18

Sword & Star Matthew 2:1-18 Candle of Love

December 24

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Worship | 4pm and 6 pm
*5:15 pm hot chocolate, cookies, and community

January 1

New Year’s Worship Community meal

January 7

Grace & Truth
John 1
Prayer Retreat | 9:30 –11:30

Gratitude Companion

 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.   Colossians 2:6-7

"Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good." 

Maya Angelou 

Our first responsibility, the most potent offering we possess, is gratitude.

Robin Wall Kimmerer

Gratitude Journey

• Take a moment to give thanks for someone in your life. Spend time imagining you are wit this person. For what are you especially grateful?
  

•  Take a moment to give thanks for a particular moment  in your life for which you are grateful. Spend time giving thanks for what you learned about yourself.
  

•  Take a moment to give thanks for a unique quality that makes you – you.  Spend time giving thanks for the unique and wonderful way tht you are made.
  

•  Take a moment to give thanks for the earth that you walk and dwell upon. For the air that you breath daily.
  

   Take a moment to give thanks for those who have gone before you – tending the land, caring for creation.  Spend time giving thanks for a person, a moment of history that comes to mind. Give thanks for those who’ve gone before us teaching us and showing us the way.
  

• Take a moment for those who will come after us.  Spend time giving thanks for those who will learn from our mistakes, learn from our pride and prejudice that has brought divide and devastation.  Spend time giving thanks for those who will bring healing and restoration. 
  Spend time giving thanks for small acts of kindness and care – for how you can participate in healing and restoration now.
  

•  Take a moment and give thanks to God for WHO God is. Spend time giving thanks for a particular quality of God that connects with your life.

May gratitude be your companion during this season. Wherever you are, may you rest in this abiding truth, nothing can separate you from the love of God found in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Post-Election Confession 2022

Living Merciful God, we confess our need to be forgiven.

You love us and fill us like no other yet we are distracted and enticed by that which does not satisfy nor sustain us.

 You love us but we place our trust in political parties, bank accounts, technology-- things capable of good but not qualified to bring wholeness and instead feed fear and isolation from others, ourselves and You.

 You love us and yet we do not love as you have loved us. We keep score of wrongs against us, ignore the plight of others and discount the injustice around us.

 You love us yet we doubt your word, fail to let it permeate our mind and actions and instead develop doctrines and false theologies that try to own you and shape you in our own image.

 You love us, Lord, so we confess our sin, ask for your forgiveness and for the courage to love more extravagantly in response to your grace, mercy and love.

 Assurance

Friends, the prophet Isaiah records these words of our Lord:

 “Come now, let us reason together,
    says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
    they shall become like wool.

Hear the Good News: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen

ADVENT | 25 Prayers of Justice

Pray With Passion and Compassion This Advent

Our hearts are heavy with the injustices that continue to plague our world. This Advent, we invite you into a time of prayer, to seek Jesus and explore the depths of your heart as we pray together for our broken world. Let us be encouraged that "He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God." (Romans 8:27)

Breathe

To Unbury the Beloved

Congruence in Faith

Stewards of God’s Creation

A Prayer for Intersectionality

Hear Our Prayer

Communities

The Well is Deep

Lift Your Lamp

May Everyone Find a Home

All Things New

God of the Process

A Prayer of Repentance

Reaching Out

A Prayer (kind of)

A Nation in Need of God’s Deliverance

Finding Beauty in Suffering

Forgive Us for Being Lost

Streets for People

Prayer for Justice for Food Security & Workers

Waiting Actively

A Prayer for Mental Health   

A Prayer for the Release of Judgment

The Answer is Love

A Prayer for Christmas

New Beginnings | Fall 2022

Extra-Ordinary Living | Part 2

Fall is often experienced as a time of ebbing as the leaves turn color and quit trees,  but there is a sense of growth and new life pulsing through Union as we celebrate how the Holy Spirit is working through the OPOP (One Parish One Prisoner) team,  people returning to in person worship, a talented children’s team, the launch of the Table --our middle school and high school ministry, Artist’s Way on Wednesdays, small groups beginning, events in our building, ongoing relational connection in our neighborhood, and much more.

Yet, we also know that times of transitions stir up grief and longing. 

The words of Isaiah speak as needed and relevantly in our lives as they did it a time of Exile:

I am about to do a new thing;
    now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
    and rivers in the desert.   Isaiah 43:19 

Our 9/11/22 Sunday passage of John 21 is a story of new beginnings for Peter. With this story we begin our fall focus on the story of Peter, stepping out and living in response to the grace of Christ who invites him to a new beginning of participation in God’s dream of wholeness. Where are you being invited to step into a new beginning?  A new way of living in response to grace?

Our weekly connection that we call CLIMB ON is an invitation to be attentive to the new things God is doing now – even here and even now. 

If you have ideas for how our community may continue to grow dynamically and authentically as we imagine with God a new way, let us know!

Walter Brueggman states this invitation this way:

 “The God of the Gospel, however, not only curbs and checks our excessive ambition. We may imagine God doing a new thing among us. Perhaps we are arriving at a new neighborly normal:

Imagine, we are treating prisoners differently, even releasing some who constitute no threat

Imagine, we are mobilizing generous financing for needy neighbors who must have resources in order to survive.

Imagine, we are finding generous provisions for students and their debts.

The new thing God is making possible is a world of generous, neighborly compassion. It is before our very eyes! The God who does this new thing has also said, “Do not remember former things.” We have so much we will do well to forget

We may forget punitive measures toward outliers.

We may forget parsimony toward those in need.

We may forget predatory policies toward the vulnerable.”

 And, as James B said on last Sunday, September 4,  imagining a new way begins with confessing Jesus, the radical Jesus of the Gospels:

What do you fear about confessing Jesus?

Walking away from religious beliefs rooted in tradition, culture, comfort and  into the challenge of Jesus’ character and mission?

Being a sucker? Taken an advantage of?

Losing a promotion, being mocked?

All of those are real possibilities. In the short run.

But we are not living defined by the short run. We are defined by the One Risen from the dead who said, “Behold, I am with you always!” And eternity is a very long run.

There is a stench of a co-opted church in this country. Let’s continue to risk confessing Jesus in a variety of ways and give this land the life-giving aroma of Christ.

What does it look like for us as a church, for you to risk confessing Jesus—not the false Jesus we saw mixed in the crowd on January 6th but the Jesus who went to the cross for the world He so loves, rose from the dead and has changed your life?

What does it look like for us to risk confessing Jesus?

Let’s journey together!