Lenten Devotional Book

Tend my lambs, feed my sheep.

Devotions & Mission Focus for the 2021 Lenten Season

New Philadelphia Moravian Church

Dear Friends, When your former pastor, brother Worth Green, visited us in Honduras, we invited him to preach at the Moravian Church in Ahuas. The service was conducted in Miskitu, but Worth preached in English and I translated for him. He greeted the congregation and then said, “God is good!” And I said, “Dawan pain sa!” Then he said, “God is great!” And I said, “Dawan pain sa!” Then he said, “God is glorious and majestic!”

And I said, “Dawan pain sa!”

Even though Worth doesn’t speak Miskitu, he could certainly hear that I was saying the same thing every time! You see, sometimes some things can get lost in the translation. The Miskitu language doesn’t have all of the synonyms for or variations on “good” that we have in English. (Then again, Miskitu has at least half a dozen words for “wind,” depending on its direction, intensity, etc.)

Sometimes the same thing happens when Bible verses that were written down in Greek are translated into English. When we read John 21:15 — 17 in English, we hear Jesus asking Peter three times, “Do you love me?” And we hear Peter answering three times, “You know I love you.” But we know that there is more than one word for “love” in Greek.

Jesus used one word for “love” the first two times he asked the question (and Peter answered using a different word for “love”) and then the third time Jesus used the word that Peter was using.

One of the Greek words for love (that Jesus used the first two times he asked the question) has to do with holding someone in high esteem and the other one has to do with feeling affection toward them as a friend or as a brother. Jesus asked Peter if he loved him in both of those ways — with his mind and with his heart. And Peter said “You know I do” (and was even a little hurt by the fact that Jesus kept asking him).

But what I think is really important in this conversation is what Jesus said each time after Peter answered him. When Peter told Jesus that yes, of course, he loved him, Jesus told him how he could show that

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love. And he didn’t say, “Well then, if you love me, fall down and worship me,” or, “If you love me, do something good for me.” No, Jesus said, “If you love me, feed my lambs. If you love me, shepherd my sheep. If you love me, feed my sheep.”

All of these ways of showing love for Jesus were directed outward — things that Peter could “do unto others!”

In this Lenten season, as we reflect on all that Jesus Christ has done for us, we show our love for him by helping to feed his lambs and shepherd his sheep as we support ways to provide housing for people who are homeless; provide education and security for youth; provide food and sustainable food sources for those who are hungry; lift up those who are poor and find ways to address the causes of poverty; support those who minister beyond our borders…

The Miskitu people who listened to Worth’s sermon understood what he was saying even if they didn’t know all of the English words because they had experienced God’s goodness. And we don’t have to know Greek to understand the love that Jesus offers to the world through us. We can see that love reflected in the stories and concrete expressions of mission and ministry that we will find in this devotional guide. May God’s goodness and Christ’s love be seen in us throughout these forty days and beyond!

Pastor Sam

Sam Gomez 2

Day 1 (Ash Wednesday) Wednesday, February 17 ...and He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 2:2 (The Spiritual Formation Bible) We all arrive at your doorstep sooner or later, loaded with guilt, our sins too much for us, but you get rid of them once and for all.

Psalm 65:5 (The Message Translation) As I was sitting quietly for a few minutes on the first day of our new year, two words kept interrupting my thoughts. The first was intentional and the second was stillness.

A dear friend later shared with me that Light was the word that came to her mind and one she has adopted as a watchword for this year.

As I sought various translations of Psalm 65:5, I was drawn to The Message translation ... ”we all arrive at God’s doorstep loaded with guilt.” God certainly knew that we would need a way to find hope when we came to him “loaded with our guilt,” seeking a way for healing and forgiveness. He was ready for us wasn’t he?

Yes, God had the intentional plan of forgiveness through Christ, His son, as our atoning sacrifice.

We have the time from today, Ash Wednesday, until Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021, to spend extra moments with God, intentional stillness, emptying ourselves of our own ambitions and opening our lives to a renewed understanding of God’s gift in Jesus Christ as our atoning sacrifice. It is a challenge to take the time to be “still” before God, but it is only 46 days. What will we lose, what will we gain? I believe as we intentionally sit in stillness, we will find a renewed vision of God’s Light in our busy lives.

Prayer: Father God, Give us a renewed desire to seek you during these weeks of Lent. Open our eyes to your Light, showing us new insights and offering new ways to love you and others.

Janet Williams

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Day 2

Thursday, February 18

He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.” Genesis 18:3 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” Luke 19:5 The two passages of today’s devotional are parts of two stories that show us how we should act towards our guests, visitors, foreigners, NEIGHBORS. In the story of Genesis, it is Abraham who is speaking in the passage. He is speaking to the three persons that were passing by his tent (we know now that they were the representation of the Triune God). The story tells us the quick response to action that Abraham had towards complete strangers. He asked them to stay and rest and provided the best meal he could offer.

In contrast with the story in Luke, it is Jesus himself who offers to be the ‘guest of honor’ at Zacchaeus’s house. If we get to read the entire story, we find out that Zacchaeus was the chief tax-collector and a wellknown sinner. However, in both stories, there is a transformation. In the case of Abraham, he received a promise/blessing, a promise that brought hope in having faith that there is nothing impossible for God. In the case of the story in Luke, it is after sharing a meal with Jesus that Zacchaeus was transformed into a new person.

In both stories, we read of Abraham’s and Zacchaeus’s hospitality towards people they didn’t actually know, and in both cases, the strangers happen to be God. Now, how do we apply these two stories to our lives today?

There are passages throughout Scripture that describe how we should treat our neighbor (Lv. 19:33 – 34; Dt. 10:18 – 19; Eph. 2:12; Heb. 13:2). For many of us, however, the practice of hospitality to strangers has been defined by stereotypes and/or political agendas. Let’s keep these two stories in mind every time we encounter people that we do not know. Who knows, we may be talking to God himself and missing out on God’s blessing. Not for nothing Jesus said, “‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” (Matt. 25:40).

Prayer: Father, Help us as we seek to represent You in the ways You have shown us. Amen!

The Rev. Angelica Regalado Cieza Rev. Cieza represents Estamos Unidos, a ministry started by the Moravian Church Southern Province in 2017, whose vision is to reach out to the Hispanic community in Forsyth County.

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Day 3

Friday, February 19

O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your might; what god in heaven or on earth can perform deeds and mighty acts like yours! Deuteronomy 3:24 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27 In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he is writing about the mystery of faith. Eugene Peterson paraphrases Paul’s words this way: “This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it’s out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God’s glory. It’s that simple. That is the substance of our Message.”

Our message is simple, amazing but simple: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God’s glory. It is a message of confidence for the present and hope for the future.

Simple.

The difficulty is in the “balance” of our response. In the big picture, we must learn to “balance” the promise of glory with obedience. We must learn to “balance” riches with striving for maturity.

As God’s children and the heirs of his glory, we can approach each day in strength, in confidence. As we strive for maturity, that confidence must be “balanced” with humility so that we don’t see ourselves as better than any other of God’s creatures.

And as the counterbalance, we can be assured that we are not less than any other of God’s creatures.

We are His and we are exactly “enough”. In Him, our strength will be sufficient to the tasks we are called to do. In Him, we can humbly serve others, knowing that His glory abides in us.

We are enough.

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Prayer: Gracious God of Mystery, We acknowledge our weaknesses and our flaws. Help us to acknowledge, with equal assurance, the blessing of being heirs of your glory as we hold Christ within our hearts. Help us to walk and serve in a balance of strength and humility. May we know, today and always, that we are enough, as we offer ourselves to your service. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Evie Blum

Day 4

Saturday, February 20

And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders. Luke 15:5 This verse is found in the familiar “Parable of the Lost Sheep.”

Jesus was reminding the Pharisees and others how a shepherd feels when just one of his flock becomes lost. He searches for the lost sheep until it is found and returned to the flock. The shepherd then rejoices in what has happened.

Whereas the Old Testament emphasized the need for sinners to seek God (Isaiah 55:6 – 7), the Gospels of the New Testament show God seeking out sinners. This verse shows the Lord’s unbounded love for us. He is our shepherd and we are His sheep.

Every time we stray from the flock, He searches us out to bring us back into the fold. He does not do this to punish us for our sins but because He loves us so much and wants to shield and protect us from hurting ourselves.

It brings God joy to put us on His shoulders and bring us back to a right relationship with Him. We will stray because we’re human.

God’s love, grace and mercy will be poured out on each and every one of us, as He seeks us, finds us and brings us back into a loving, saving relationship with Him. Prayer: Dear Lord, we know you are hurt when we stray from you. Thank you for seeking us out, not to punish or condemn, but to love us even more than we can imagine. Amen Bill Donald

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MISSIONS FOCUS

Food Insecurity H.O.P.E. (Help our people eat) 355 NW Crawford Place W-S, NC 27105 | HopeWS.org The Mission of H.O.P.E.Winston-Salem is one of the top cities in the entire United States for hunger in families with children.

North Carolina and Louisiana are now the top states for hunger in children ages 0 – 4. One of every four children in North Carolina has insufficient food to meet nutritional needs!

Our mission is to use community-wide volunteer support to prepare and bring nutritious weekend meals to the thousands of children in Forsyth County who are at risk for hunger.

OUR IMPACT: 347,070 Meals to hungry children! 597,507 Pounds of produce to their families Kore Timoun Children’s Nutrition Program, Haiti Kore Timoun, 25 Rue St. Surent Chatuley, Leogane, Haiti Children’s Nutrition Program of Haiti P.O. Box 3720, Chattanooga, TN 37404 CNPHaiti.org Dr. Mitchell L. Mutter, a cardiologist from Chattanooga, Tennessee, founded CNP/Kore Timoun in 1998. In that year, as part of a medical missions team to Haiti, he and his colleagues fought to save the life of a severely malnourished three-year-old boy, who appeared to be an infant. Despite their best efforts, the child died. For years Dr. Mutter had known that in this land of extreme poverty and limited health care men, women, and children were dying from conditions and situations that would have been preventable or minor in the developed world. The death of this child sent him on a search to answer the question: “What are we to do about it?” And so, CNP/Kore Timoun was born.

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The Mission of the Children’s Nutrition Program in Haiti is to help raise a healthy generation of Haitian children, who can in turn raise Haiti from poverty. Every day, lifesaving services are provided to children and Mothers in Haiti to help prevent and treat malnutrition in some of the most vulnerable communities.

• 1 in 5 Haitian children are chronically malnourished.

• 1 in 14 children die before their 5th birthday.

• 2.5 million Haitians live in extreme poverty and many die from conditions or situations that would have been preventable or minor elsewhere. We envision a healthy generation of children capable of lifting Haiti from poverty.

The Children’s Nutrition Program of Haiti seeks to reduce childhood mortality & morbidity and improve the nutritional status of children and women through three primary types of interventions: • Community Mobilization & Empowerment • Growth Monitoring & Health Promotion • Therapeutic & Clinical Care With the support of public health professionals and support staff our Haitian team works alongside our communities and in collaboration with the local health system and our partnering non-profits, developing solutions to prevent and treat malnutrition by focusing on its root causes.

Whenever outside help is needed to realize these solutions, we assist by sourcing outside organizations with expertise, and grants to fund these projects. We then work to bring communities and partners together, and provide project management support to ensure projects are realized efficiently and effectively.

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Day 5

Sunday, February 21

He will also keep you firm to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:8 (NIV) While we are saved by grace through faith in Christ, once we repent and follow Jesus, we are required to live a blameless life.

“Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.”

Psalm 15 Being blameless does not mean we never make mistakes. It also doesn’t mean that we are without sin. Jesus’s death on the cross reconciled us in order to be presented blameless but we must make every effort to live a blameless life. Try as we might, without the Holy Spirit within us it will be a futile effort.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, I lay before you my regret, my guilt, my heartache, and my sin. I ask for your forgiveness, and trust in your everlasting grace to redeem me and guide me in the right way. Thank you for always being there for me. Amen.

Constance Linville

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Day 6

Monday, February 22

Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum.

Et exultávit spíritus meus: in Deo salutári meo.

Quia respéxit humilitátem ancíllae suae: Ecce enim ex hoc beátam me dicent omnes generatiónes.

Quia fécit mihi mágna qui pótens est: et sánctum nómen eius.

Luke 1:46 – 48 (Vulgate) And Mary said, I’m bursting with God-news; I’m dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened— I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!

What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.

(The Message) The Gospel of Luke does not begin at the second chapter but some worship traditions emphasize the Nativity rather than Luke’s first chapter that contains this revolutionary announcement.

These practices are a break in the larger Christian tradition: for 1500 years or so, many western Christians heard the Magnificat as part of the regular rotation of prayers using this Latin translation or a translation into the local language. Of the many musical renderings, including ancient chants, J. S. Bach’s original setting is nearly 300 years old. Since this church follows the Liturgical Calendar that begins with Advent, we are blessed by these ancient traditions as we hear all these anticipatory messages about Christ’s birth every year.

In these verses, Mary is telling us that something momentous will happen that will change the world radically. The sentence that is usually translated, “Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed.” (NRSV) becomes in Peterson’s paraphrase, “What God has done for me will never be forgotten…” (The Message).

This canticle tells of God’s promises that have been consistent from his Covenant with Abraham and will now be more completely fulfilled.

There are a couple of reasons the verses are not celebrated in some churches: 1) the usual phrasing is used so much in the Roman Catholic church and especially among those who emphasize the Marian traditions, and 2) the verses following this 10

opening tell everyone that the world will be radically changed to be more aligned with God’s promises.

Christianity promises change, radical change, to those who embrace Jesus Christ and follow his teachings every day.

However, there are many who do not want to contemplate whether they might be those who are “the powerful” (v. 52) or “the rich” (v. 53) who will be removed from their positions in this new world that God is moving toward.

Mary recognizes that all these changes will happen, but she still considers herself “the most fortunate woman on earth”. May we in this Lenten season join Mary and our Moravian ancestors in faith who considered themselves blessed to be part of spreading the radical Good News of the reign of the Risen Christ in which God’s promises to all will be fulfilled, which may mean a world we cannot imagine.

Mary Ruth McRae

Day 7

Tuesday, February 23

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8 These beautiful words of Isaiah’s have a background that gives depth to their meaning. King Uzziah died from leprosy in 739 BC after a long and generally fruitful reign. Isaiah began his prophetic ministry that same year. One day Isaiah had a vision and saw God, high and exalted, sitting on a throne. There were seraphim hovering and at the sound of their voices doorposts shook. Isaiah was very conscious that he was in the presence of God. Isaiah’s overall awareness was then drawn to what he was NOT: he wasn’t free from sin, he lived among people of “unclean lips”.

“Woe is me; I am ruined” he cried. Then a seraphim approached him and touched his lips with a live coal and relayed to him that his sins and guilt were taken away. In his thankfulness he heard the Lord asking whom should be sent to his people, the nation of Judah, with His message.

At this point Isaiah was overwhelmed and realized that he was forgiven and immediately desired to serve his Lord in any possible

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way that he could. He answers “Send me” with all the love and desire to serve that he had, once he doesn’t see himself as being unworthy. His response to God is like a blank check to God for whatever He needs. Isaiah doesn’t ask what was needed … he just totally gives himself to God. God has not asked him to volunteer, nor was God speaking directly to him. But Isaiah is caught up in the moment, and gives himself to whatever God needs.

We too have received forgiveness. What is our response? No matter what, if we answer as Isaiah did, we must see the commitment that entails — unconditionally, and not knowing where God will lead. It will not always be easy, but God is constant and always with us and we know we are His. We sing the hymn “Here I Am, Lord” which comes from this passage:

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night I will go, Lord, if you lead me I will hold your people in my heart

Think about this passage and Isaiah’s commitment — and yours — next time we sing this.

Prayer: God, help me to be an obedient disciple, doing what is your will for me. Help me to know you have forgiven me and to feel the same enthusiasm of Isaiah in serving you. I don’t always feel confident in knowing your purpose for me, but I want it to be for you. Amen Nancy Holland

Day 8

Wednesday, February 24

And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. Matthew 14:20 We have all heard the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand; it has been familiar since childhood. I remember making playdoh models of loaves and fish during Sunday school when I was younger. My daughter Amanda brought me a piece of pottery that she got in the Holy Land during a Youth Convo trip, and it is painted with two fish and a basket of bread. It stays on my kitchen counter as a daily reminder of God’s provision.

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The book of Matthew tells us that a crowd had gathered around Jesus, and he had cured their sick. At the end of the day, they were hungry! We’re also told that Jesus had compassion on the people. When given the meager offering of only five loaves and two fish, Jesus looked up to heaven and blessed the food. God multiplied this food so that everyone was fed, and then the disciples gathered the leftovers of 12 additional baskets full of food (interestingly, Google tells us that the fish were either sardines or sea salmon!).

This text states that 5,000 men were present; they are listed separately, because men and women usually ate separately in the Jewish culture at that time. There were up to 15,000 people in the crowd when women and children are included in the headcount.

What happened here? Do we really believe that the bread and fish were literally multiplied to feed thousands? I believe that nothing is too hard for God. God is able to use all our offerings and multiply them for his glory; our role is to remain faithful to him. He cares for us, feeds us, protects us, guards us, fills us with joy, and provides hope.

God feeds us in many different types of ways: before/during/ after COVID! Just as Jesus had compassion on this hungry crowd, our heavenly father has compassion on us during our times of need.

As I write this during January, I am reminded of a favorite Christmas carol, “In the Bleak Midwinter” by Christina Rossetti: What can I give him poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would give a lamb. If I were a wise man I would do my part. But what can I give him? I will give my heart.

Prayer: Dear Holy Father, thank you for providing for our needs.

Help us to open our hearts during this Lenten season to see your hand in our lives when we feel inadequate or lacking. We know that with you, it will be more than enough. Amen.

Mona Brown Ketner

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Day 9

Thursday, February 25

I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us form the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 Why was Paul able to state this belief with such certainty? Because his faith was based on “reasoned conviction”, meaning that it was not based in emotion but with hard evidence and truth.

In Acts 26, Paul gives a testimony to King Agrippa. He described his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, where he was blinded by a bright light, and heard a voice saying to him “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Now get up and stand on your feet for I have shown myself to you for a reason — you are chosen to be my servant and a witness to what you have seen of me today, and of other visions of myself which I will give you…”

After that kind of experience, it is understandable that Paul’s belief in Jesus as Lord was firm, unshakable, and non-negotiable.

It didn’t matter how many times Paul was beaten, tortured, imprisoned, threatened with death — he was immovable on the subject of Jesus as Son of God, the One he was called to serve.

Not only did the Damascus experience prove the existence of Jesus to Paul, but it also convinced him — some translations use “persuaded” — of the inseparable love of God in Christ. These two words, convinced and persuaded, mean that Paul had conquered any arguments against or doubts about the personal and profound love of God; rather, his faith was strengthened, and his convictions gave him extraordinary stamina and perseverance to meet and overcome obstacles throughout his ministry. So convinced was he of the love of God that nothing could deter him from service.

What does Paul’s experience and what do his convictions mean to us?

God’s love for us is a matter of historical record. The crucifixion was recorded not only by Biblical authors, but by other writers, including the historian Josephus. But to have the faith and conviction of Paul, requires something more: Meeting the risen Jesus.

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This is only day 9 of Lent. There are 38 days left in this special season of discipline to spend time with Jesus, to converse with Him by reading His Word, and to serve Him by serving others. I am convinced and persuaded that He will meet us in a new way, a way that will strengthen our faith and bring us into a fuller relationship with Him, if we continue seeking Him with our whole hearts.

Prayer: Lord, we desire to meet you, and ask your Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the fullness of your love for each of us. Give us the strong faith to serve you in extraordinary ways. Amen Anonymous

Day 10

Friday, February 26

Jesus prayed: “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me from the world.

They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. John 17: 6-7 This passage is part of a lengthy prayer that Jesus prayed shortly before His arrest. In this prayer, He prayed for Himself to be glorified, He prayed for His disciples, and He prayed for all believers.

These two verses are a portion of the prayer that He prayed for His disciples. Jesus’s words show His humble obedience to His Father and also His love for His disciples. Jesus is praying to His Father on behalf of His disciples. He is telling His Father that He has taught the disciples and they now know that everything comes from the Father.

Jesus knew that the time was nearing for the great sacrifice He was going to make. He was willingly obeying His Father but He also knew what an agonizing death He would endure. Yet, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death on the cross.

His disciples believed in Jesus and kept God’s word, which gave glory and honor to the Father.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Help us honor you in our daily lives. Thank you for the great sacrifice you suffered for us. May we always demonstrate your love and sacrifice to others.

Carol Garber

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Day 11

Saturday, February 27

Like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions.

Deuteronomy 32:11 In last year’s devotional, I wrote about how the Lord speaks to me through music, so it is rather appropriate that this chapter is referred to as “The Song of Moses.”

After their escape from Egypt, the Israelites spent 40 years in the desert. During this time, they forgot the mercies the Lord had shown them, the strength that He had given them, and the protection He had provided. They had completely turned away from God. In his last days, Moses lamented the faithlessness of his people and reminded them of the goodness of our Lord in this song.

In this particular verse, Moses reminds his people of how the Lord found Jacob in the desert after he betrayed his brother, Esau. He was alone and had only the earth for a bed and a stone for a pillow. That night, as he slept, the Lord sent him a message in the famous dream of the ladder that stretched to Heaven. In this dream, the Lord promised Jacob that he would father the nation of God and inherit many blessings. Jacob awoke with these words: “I thought that I was all alone, but God has been with me.”

This story magnifies the grace of God. It illustrates God’s protection, even to those who have sinned against Him. He is the glorious eagle who spreads its wings to protect its children. Not only does He shelter His children, but also lifts them from their sin and despair and up to even greater glory.

It should come as no surprise to you that this story reminds me of one of my favorite songs by Josh Groban. The lyrics are as follows: “When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary, When troubles come and my heart burdened be, Then I am still and wait here in the silence, Until you come and sit awhile with me. You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains. You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas. I am strong when I am on your shoulders. You raise me up to more than I can be.”

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How timeless is this story! From Jacob’s ladder, to the Song of Moses, and even now to us, the Lord protects and lifts His people from sin and despair to greater good and glory!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for your mercy and grace. Continue to protect us, even in our faithlessness and despair. Lift us from our sin so that we may use our talents to glorify Your holy name. Amen.

Tamara LaMontagne

MISSIONS FOCUS

Poverty & Social Concerns Sunnyside Ministry 319 Haled Street, W-S, NC 27127 SunnysideMinistry.org | 336-724-7558 The Mission of Sunnyside Ministry is to follow Christ by providing hope through service, education and empowerment to those in need within our community.

Sunnyside’s Food and Clothing Ministry is provided to residents of Forsyth and Northern Davidson Counties. The focus is on families in the 27107 and 27127 zip codes of Forsyth County.

Financial Assistance is provided to qualifying clients for: • Housing — mortgages (must bring foreclosure information), rent (must bring an eviction notice), and first month’s rent (must bring a receipt for the rental deposit).

• Utilities — power, gas, and water (must bring a disconnect notice). Utility deposits are included in the assistance we provide.

• Heating fuel — Furnace Oil for use in furnaces only. Propane may be considered, requires a fixed permanent tank.

Sunnyside’s Food Pantry offers hundreds of pounds of food annually to men, women and families. Personal care items are also available.

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Through the Clothing Center, gently used clothing, bedding and other household items are distributed to qualifying clients.

Forsyth Jail & Prison Ministries PO Box 11802 | Winston-Salem, NC 27116 ForsythJPM.org | email: info@forsythjpm.org The Mission of the Forsyth Jail & Prison Ministries is to use Christ’s love and forgiveness to transform lives and break the cycle of crime and punishment.

Our Purpose: Through Christ’s love and compassion, we are taught not to condemn, but to love. It is not only our civic duty to serve, but our calling as Christians to help imprisoned men and women find Jesus Christ through study, through counseling, through worship and through actions.

Founded in 1977, the Forsyth Jail and Prison Ministry has helped thousands of incarcerated men and women discover the true meaning of Christianity, and what it means to live as a Christian.

Only through the help of hundreds of volunteers does this program work.

The Ministry: Through the leadership of our ministerial staff and our broad volunteer base, the ministry offers a variety of programs, including Bible Studies, Worship Services, Mentoring, Literacy, Music, and more.

Donations: The FJPM thrives on the efforts of volunteers. We survive on the donations of others. Please give prayerful consideration to supporting this important and powerful ministry that exists to improve and change the lives of the people it touches.

Winston-Salem Salvation Army 1255 North Trade Street | Winston-Salem, NC 27101 The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

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Our Local Programs: The Salvation Army’s Winston-Salem Area Command serves Forsyth, Davie, Stokes and Yadkin Counties and offers a number of services and programs, including: Emergency Shelter. The Salvation Army Emergency Shelter is the only shelter in Forsyth County serving families and single women. In addition to three daily meals, housing referrals, transportation, and full case management are available to all residents.

Food. Emergency food boxes are available by appointment and a community breakfast is served 365 days of the year.

Emergency Assistance. Emergency and supplementary financial assistance is available for rent and utilities.

Christmas Assistance. Each year, The Salvation Army, with the help of the community, provides toys, clothes and food for those who would otherwise go without.

Emergency Disaster Services. The goals of these services are to minister through material support, physical comfort, emotional comfort and spiritual comfort. Food, clothing, shelter and other basic survival needs are provided to victims of disasters (weather, fire, etc.).

The Boys & Girls Club offers a safe place for kids, and provides quality after-school and summer programming designed to enable all young people, especially those in the most need, to reach their full potential and help them to become productive, caring, responsible citizens.

Corps Community Centers. The Salvation Army Winston-Salem Area Command operates two Centers for Worship and Service providing Sunday Services in three languages. In addition, afterschool programs and programs for all ages are offered.

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Day 12

Sunday, February 28

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8 – 9 This is one of those texts where you know there’s some kind of message inside it but it’s up to you to figure out what it is. Now usually when I have a situation like that, I start with the farfetched possibilities and I go until I find an explanation that I can deem “good enough”. I thought for a couple minutes and one idea actually seemed somewhat logical.

I think we all have been told from the beginning that God is with us, God is always there, etc. But what does that actually mean?

What does that mean for us in our lives other than the priceless assurance that we’re not alone? Then I remembered something that someone told me a while back: As bad as life may be going for you, having God in your corner means you always have something positive going for you too. I think that philosophy is perfect for this scripture.

Looking at the first part, “we are hard pressed on every side but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair”. When God is in your corner, no matter how hard or stressful your life is, you are not crushed or hopeless because He gives you the ability to do something about it. Even if you’ve given up, he hasn’t given up on you. Looking at the last part, it’s the same concept: “persecuted but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed”. Not only can I relate this part to our personal lives but there are plenty of examples in the Bible of God being there to prevent abandonment and destruction.

I know my thought process is somewhat wacky but I hope you got something out of this that can help keep you going when all seems lost.

Prayer: Dear God, we are grateful to always have you in our corner. Thank you for the peace we find in knowing that you will never abandon us.

Ryan MacReynolds

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Day 13

Monday, March 1

Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:4 In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he encourages people to imitate Christ’s humility. Throughout Jesus’s life he demonstrated acts of humility toward others leading finally to the most humble act of dying on the cross as the ultimate gift to humanity.

How can we take these examples and put them to work in today’s world? Events over the past few months have shown humility at work with medical personnel putting their lives at risk helping sick patients. Teachers have been called upon to work with young people in trying situations. Others have shared food, given special time to shut-ins or provided financial assistance to those with needs.

People generally step up to help others in trying times. The secret to lasting humility is how we react when life is not quite as hard. May we follow Jesus’s example as we learn to put others needs in front of our wants.

Prayer: Our beloved teacher, you have demonstrated the gift of sharing. We thank you for your sacrifice. May we take these lessons and apply them to our lives for the benefit of the people around us. Amen.

David Stanfield

Day 14

Tuesday, March 2

Who is wise and understanding among you?

Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. James 3:13 (NIV) When I received my assignment of a scripture verse for my contributing devotional, my first reaction was, troubled. Write about James. To me, James’ letter was stating the opposite of what Paul made clear. Whereas Paul, in Romans and elsewhere, taught that we are justified through God’s grace by faith in Christ alone, James seemed to be saying that good works are just as important and are needed to be an accepted child of God. How

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am I going to write a devotional about what James is telling us when I don’t agree with or believe it?

But as I reread the assigned verse, I kept asking myself, what does James mean by “deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom?” Could this be a clue to James not being a contradiction of Paul, but a complement?

So, I did a bit of research. The Reverend Charles Swindoll wrote: “Paul was explaining how one gains entrance into salvation.

James is examining how one gives evidence of it.” The “deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom” are not the keys to the kingdom; they’re the “thank you” because accepting Jesus as your savior has opened the door. We are not justified because we do good works, we do good works because we are justified.

As we approach Easter and the resurrection of our Lord, considering His sacrifice for you, how have you said, “thank you?”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us words from James that spur us to good work. May we possess the gratitude that comes from humility as we ponder the marvelous gift of salvation.

Amen Bob Saturn

Day 15

Wednesday, March 3

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. John 19:26 – 27 Even as he died upon the cross, Jesus displayed great love for his mother (who we believe at that point was a widow) by making arrangements for his close friend John to care for her.

We can only wonder what stories of the life of Jesus John may have heard from his mother’s perspective in the years that followed. Throughout Jesus’s earthly life we read of other instances where he forged new relationships among people.

In a passage in Matthew’s Gospel (MT 12:46 – 49), Jesus redefined his family in ever-widening circles: “...pointing to his disciples, he

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said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’”

Near the end of his ministry, Jesus redefined his role of teacher with his disciples: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.” (John 15:12 – 15) Besides the illness itself, it has been heart-rending to see how the pandemic has kept people isolated, even from members of their own family. As we draw nearer to God in our own lives, may we see opportunities to draw nearer to each other as a Christian family.

Jesus, loving to the end Her whose heart Your sorrows rend, And Your dearest human friend: Hear us, holy Jesus.

May we all Your loved ones be, All one holy family, Loving, since Your love we see: Hear us, holy Jesus.

[MBW 352, verses 7 & 9] Prayer: Dearest Jesus, whenever we sing the words “Near the cross was Mary weeping, there her mournful station keeping, gazing on her dying Son,” we too experience the sword that pierces our souls. Keep our hearts tender and our eyes open to those around us who suffer in loss and loneliness. May we be drawn together as family in you. Amen David Blum

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Day 16

Thursday, March 4

The watchword for today in the Moravian Daily Texts is

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSV) The doctrinal text is For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. Colossians 1:19 – 20 (NRSV)

The watchwords that we read in our Daily Text for a specific day in a specific year are chosen in Herrnhut, Germany a couple of years before we read them, and the doctrinal texts are selected to accompany the watchwords. A month’s worth of scriptures are sent to Moravian clergy and laypersons, who choose or write hymns and write prayers to accompany the scripture for each day. (This happens in many parts of the world; our version’s hymn and prayer contributors are in United States and Canada.)

On many days especially during the past year, a number of us have remarked about how specifically the texts, hymns and prayers spoke to what was happening in our lives and in our world even though they were written and chosen more than a year before. This is not to suggest that the coincidences are some version of magical realism, but that in listening to God’s word for us and spending devotional time in intentional stillness as another devotion writer has offered, we can hear God speaking to us (and sometimes through us).

When planning travel, it is often good to see a bigger picture, a larger map than just the point by point directions on Google maps. Even the larger view we see is limited — we may not see all the detail of road construction or delay — yet God’s direction in Jeremiah 29:11 can assure us that our traveling-through-life and our travel-to-new life plans offer us a future with hope. In a now space between the already has been and the not yet, a space and time that seems so disordered, we can hear God’s promise of peace and reconciliation, the plan for a future and a hope. In the Colossians text, we hear that God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things in the peace through the cross.

Reconciliation (re meaning back and conciliate, bring together) 24

in the paraphrase of the Colossians text in The Message says “all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe — people and things, animals and atoms — get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies” because of Jesus’s death on the cross.

Again and again, in small ways and large, our lives reflect a cycle of order-disorder-reorder, but while we are in the “disorder” part, we sometimes have trouble seeing the bigger picture and become fearful about going forward — too many road hazards.

During a pandemic and upheaval in so many parts of our small lives on earth, it’s so easy to see only the small part of the map and be concerned for the road hazards, but our scripture today can allow us to see that even if God’s bigger picture is not completely visible to us, we can trust in the path.

Today, about two weeks into our season of Lent and a month from Easter, as we meditate on the watchword and doctrinal text together, we can see hope and peace in both scriptures. We can listen to God’s assurance that even in the disorder, God’s plans are for good. We can look for the peace, the reconciliation that Jesus brought from death and disorder to new order, new life.

Prayer: God who creates all, redeems us and sustains us, help us to reflect on the roadmap you offer, knowing that you never abandon us. Fill us with peace and hope on this day as we go forward. Amen.

Kay Windsor For more on the history of Moravian Daily Texts, see the “New Every Morning” introduction in a Moravian Daily Texts or see a brief history at moravian.org.

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Day 17

Friday, March 5

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 The Oxford dictionary defines anxiety as “a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.” The American Psychiatric Association (APA for short) explains anxiety as “a normal reaction to stress and can be beneficial in some situations. It can alert us to dangers and help us prepare and pay attention.” I took humor in knowing that the Brits, a historically stoic brood, give a stronger connotation to anxiety than a group of psychiatrists, but maybe the shrinks are hoping to collect a co-pay before delving into the matter.

Philippians is known as the book of joy despite having been penned by Paul from prison. Paul had learned to be content and focus on the pure joy he received from knowing and obeying Christ. This was a man who knew about anxiety, about uncertain outcomes and being alert to dangers, and even from prison could find joy. He conquered these feelings through his relationship with Christ. He tells the early Christians to pray away their anxiety.

The APA lists ways to self-manage anxiety. Stress management techniques, meditation, support groups, education about the specifics of a disorder, and enlisting the help of family and friends are some of their suggestions. These are lovely strategies, but thankfully God doesn’t want us to self-manage.

These days we are all facing massive anxiety on top of situations already worrisome. We all seriously need to THINK .... Could we pray away CoVid? Could we pray away inequality? Could we pray away homelessness and unemployment? Could we pray away a broken government? While prayer is not a magic genie in a bottle used to grant wishes, it is a TOOL to lessen the burden of these various issues, and prayer DOES inspire miracles. We need to present these petitions and any other trouble to God. Philippians 4:6 hits me so terribly hard. It’s a verse I have underlined, cut and pasted, memorized and even prayed yet 26

never fully been able to attain. God tells me not to be anxious. I try so very hard. He knows and hears my prayers of forgiveness for failing Him in this task. He presents it so simply. I follow it multiple times daily, yet I know this will remain an unanswered prayer until it’s God’s time. It’s hard to not feel discouraged or let down, but I keep trying and finding thanksgiving for all the ways His support, grace and love has enveloped me during this CoVid crisis. I do pray and petition, with thanksgiving, my requests to Him. Hopefully, you do too.

Prayer: Job says to forget my complaint, change my expression, and smile. Lord, thank you for giving me the ability to hand you my worries so that I can do just this ... SMILE. Amen Tiffany Henshaw

Day 18

Saturday, March 6

He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.” Luke 11:2 It so happens, on the day I sat down to reflect upon and write my devotion, a friend shared the following devotion with me. It is written by Don Huffman. He is a member of Clemmons Presbyterian church, and also lives in my neighborhood. Since my assigned verse is the beginning of the Lord’s prayer, Don’s devotion seemed to fit perfectly. His devotion was also published in “Open Windows,” by Lifeway Publishing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

“Read Romans 12:2, 9 – 13 Be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God” At the end of each day, during my prayer time, I close my supplications to God with Jesus’s prayer: “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Were this powerful prayer to be answered in our time, I believe we would have peace in our world today, and love would prevail over hatred and violence. Justice would be achieved. The intrinsic worth of each individual would be fully recognized. There would be an end to all that separates us from our neighbors, whether it be the color of our skin, our wealth or our religion. God’s creation would be cherished by all as a gift from Him. The power of our Lord’s

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prayer, I believe, is that in the very reciting of it, we are called again and again to seek to know and live out God’s will each day of our lives, relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance and direction.

We know that we can share His love with our neighbors. We can work for justice in our communities and nations. We can seek to eradicate prejudice when we see it happening. We can help preserve the gifts of God’s creation for our children and grandchildren. We know that only when our Lord returns to reign, will His own prayer be truly fulfilled. Only then will His “will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” In the meantime we can seek to live our lives fully as His servants, wherever His Spirit leads us.

I pray that my own life and yours will ever be inspired by our Lord’s prayer “thy will be done…”

Prayer: Lord, let your prayer be on our lips and guide our actions each day. Amen Prayer Focus: For peacemakers all over the world.

Beth Byrd

Andy Henshaw

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MISSIONS FOCUS

Education & Youth Greek Intervarsity — Dusty Harrison Regional Greek Coordinator 443 N. Garrett Street | Central, SC 29630 Dusty is a Winston Salem native and graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. Since responding to God’s call in the fall of 2007 to move to SC to plant a new Greek IV chapter at Clemson, Dusty has seen God work in some incredible ways and has grown tremendously in his own walk with Christ. He is praying for greater things yet to come: To Him be all the glory!

Chapter Ministry brings God and Greek Life together, relying on student participants to encourage each other. Dusty explains that while many Greeks may not go to church or other Christian gatherings, they will have conversations about faith or attend a Bible Study led by one of the brothers or sisters who they know and love. We believe that this presents the best opportunity to connect people with Christ, more so than a pastor, parent, or professor might have!

Dusty says: “It only takes one person to make an impact. If only one person started a Chapter Ministry in your fraternity or sorority, then every one of your brothers and sisters would be just one friend away from Jesus. Why can’t that friend be you?”

Dusty is married with two children, and is currently a MDiv student at Gordon-Conwell Theological seminary.

The Winston Salem Street School 630 W. 6th Street | Winston Salem, NC 27101 The Mission of the W-S Street School: The Winston-Salem Street School is dedicated to the belief that a quality education is the most effective way of transforming many disenfranchised members of our society into productive citizens.

The Winston-Salem Street School seeks to provide not only and opportunity for students to earn an accredited high school

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diploma, but gain the necessary skills and tools to ensure educational, vocational, and personal success in life.

Guiding Principles: The school was founded upon a commitment to Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord, and is guided by His example of compassion for the poor and forgotten people among us. He is our motivation and example for all the work done through and by the school.

Our Program: The Winston-Salem Street School is a private alternative high school serving the at-risk youth of the greater Winston Salem area of North Carolina. It is designed to meet the needs of students who struggled in traditional schools due to academic or behavioral obstacles, many of whom were expelled or dropped out. The WSSS was specifically created to target these students and offers them the chance to earn a diploma recognized by the State of North Carolina.

The WSSS is a small, nurturing educational environment where students can develop and grow. Our student teacher ratio is 10:1, which allows us to give students the individualized attention they need. We use a holistic approach to education, strengthening students academically, socially, physically, and spiritually. Our faculty and staff are dedicated to doing everything within their power to help students achieve, providing them with a patient, loving, and positive educational environment. Our students’ next steps include moving on to college, the military, or into the work force.

In the past 15 years, over 200 students who had formerly dropped out of the Forsyth County public school system graduated from the WSSS and earned their diplomas. This education helps them move out of the oppressive cycles of crime, poverty, and despair.

The WSSS is accredited and a member of the National Association of Street Schools.

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Alaska Bible Seminary Bethel, Alaska The Alaska Bible Seminary serves the Moravian church of Alaska and the greater body of Christ by biblically training church leaders for the future. Alaska Bible Seminary in Bethel, Alaska exists to raise up pastors and other church leaders for Alaska’s Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta villages. While specifically serving the Moravian church in Alaska, the seminary strives to train from Scripture leaders to serve in Moravian or other Gospel-preaching churches across Alaska and beyond. Alaska Bible Seminary is located on the tundra of southwestern Alaska at Bethel on the property of the Alaska Moravian Province and the Bethel Moravian Church. Bethel is about 80 miles by river from the mouth of the Kuskokwim River and 400 air miles west of Anchorage.

Moravians began ministry in Alaska in 1885 at the invitation of the Rev. Sheldon Jackson, a Presbyterian minister, accepting the invitation as a call from God to proclaim the gospel among the Yup’ik people. In time, other Christian denominations followed the Moravians to Alaska to minister to the native people. The first five missionaries held a worship service on June 21, 1885.

Within five years three native helpers, Hooker, Lomuck, and Kawagaleg, were assisting the missionaries. Within ten years of the founding of the mission, more than twenty native helpers attended the first General Church Conference, in addition to the missionary staff.

The Rev. John Kilbuck was perhaps the most influential and capable missionary during those first years. He instituted new strategies of outreach, centering the proclamation of the gospel in the existing villages, rather than establishing mission stations as had been done by Moravian missionaries in Greenland and Labrador.

Kilbuck, a native American himself, quickly learned the Yup’ik language and established it as the language of the Moravian Church in Alaska, a policy which continues to the present.

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Day 19

Sunday, March 7

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. 2 Corinthians 4:5 We have lived in unprecedented times lately. This Covid pandemic has separated us from our family, friends, and community.

Gatherings have been uncertain. Masks are worn (how can you see if people are smiling?). We know Moravians have a hard time going to church without hugging or shaking hands. Tapping one’s heart or elbows with another is fine but just not the same as what my Mother and I call a “two-armed hug.” Yet through the uncertainty, we have known that God is surely with us! His grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love are our foundation. Even in tough times, we know we are servants of our Lord.

Pastor Sam stated one Sunday morning that our quarantine times have opened mission fields; it has made us more aware of how we can help others. Bringing canned and boxed food for our Blessing Box has been a wonderful way to help. One day when I was putting snacks in the Box, a young man had been there but walked away when I drove up. I asked if he would like some granola bars; he said yes. I asked if he wanted a second box; he said to leave them for someone else who was hungry.

What compassion! As he walked away, I cried. The week Chuck and I filled the box in December, a man drove in and said he had passed the box many times meaning to donate money to help others. Again I cried. Someone who was not a member of our church found a way to minister to others he did not know, and I shopped for him with great care to be a good steward of his donation. A friend asked if she could help. Another friend asked her co-workers to help. That mission field on Country Club Road is there to “take what you need and give what you can.”

Years ago I was able to go on a Mission trip with Ross and our NPMC high school students. We were in western Virginia with a large group from a Methodist church in northern Virginia. They came in rented vans that were new and clean. Ross had driven our church bus, and two parents had driven their cars (Tina and Zach, you are awesome!). All week long it rained and those beautiful vans were pushed out of the mud daily by our group.

The Methodists kept saying “what does it mean to be Moravian?”

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The last morning of camp, both groups were in the mess hall.

The director asked Ross to say the benediction. He started by saying that all week we had been asked what were Moravians?

He simply said our group was the one who had helped them during the week with their vans before going to our work projects. He also reminded them that John Wesley was on a ship to America in 1736 when a life-threatening storm occurred. The Moravians were praying and singing!

Ross asked that our youth close our work camp by singing the “Jude Benediction.” That moment will stay in my heart always. I carry the words to the “Jude Benediction” in my wallet along with my “Clyde Dula” cross.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we wake each day help us realize you have given us another day to serve you. We are not alone, even in quarantine. You have comforted us with your love and given us strength to push ahead and look for ways to show others what being a Moravian means. Perhaps this hymn will sing in our hearts this day and many days ahead: We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord And we pray that our unity will one day be restored And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love We will work with each other, we will work side by side We will work with each other, we will work side by side And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

Amen. In all things love, Nancy Hoover

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Day 20

Monday, March 8

But the Lord said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I [Paul] will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (New International Version) Each time he said, “No. But I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people.” Now I [Paul] am glad to boast about how weak I am; I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power, instead of showing off my own power and abilities.” (Life Application Bible) Weakness is not usually a quality or character trait that most of us strive for. And if we are honest, we are not usually too impressed with someone who appears timid or weak. And yet, in the above passage, it is clear that when we are willing, the Lord uses our weaknesses to demonstrate His power and strength. Paul prayed that the “thorn in his flesh” be removed.

But instead of removing the “thorn”, the Lord tells Paul that His grace is sufficient. The Lord can use Paul’s weaknesses (the “thorn” in Paul’s flesh) to demonstrate His strength and power.

Of course, we realize that it is not just Paul to whom this passage is directed, but also to us!

So, how do we respond? Are we willing to be “weak”? Are we willing to let the Lord use our weaknesses/our trials and troubles/ challenges to show His power? Are we willing to admit our weaknesses to affirm the Lord’s power? When we are weak, is that not when we are more likely to rely on the Lord’s strength, and in doing so, be able to show what He can do, rather than what we can do? And, isn’t it a wonderful gift and blessing to know that the Lord has promised that He will provide grace that is sufficient for all that we encounter through life’s journey?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your promise of sufficient grace.

Help us realize there is strength in weakness and please provide us with the courage to be servants for You. Amen Marie Rodden

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Day 21

Tuesday, March 9

“Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again.

Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” Micah 7”8 Reading over this passage in Micah, I am reminded of how lonely it can feel to suffer, especially when we have made a mistake or been reminded of our transgressions. When I think of the darkest times in my own life, how often did I feel alone in my suffering, as though the world were against me? How often did I feel God was not with me?

When Jesus was condemned and crucified, I wonder how he must have felt to have so many turn against him? In the final hours of his life, Jesus said, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” What exactly did he mean? Did he feel God was not with him? Did he feel alone in his suffering? Or, was he showing us what it is like to be perfectly human — that in our suffering, we all feel at times forsaken?

The promise by Micah that when we fall, the Lord will be our light gives me comfort. For me, that light is Jesus, who teaches me that to feel forsaken is perfectly human. And that light of love, no matter how dim it may be, is what gets me through.

Prayer: Jesus, how grateful we are for the light you are in our lives, a light that burns brightest when we are in dark places.

Amen Tina Spach

Stella Key

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Day 22

Wednesday, March 10

I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jeremiah 31:3 The Israelites were chosen by God to be his special people. But some times even special people err and go their own way.

God redeemed the Israelites from a life of bondage in Egypt, guiding them through their wilderness journey and providing for their well being all the while. At one point they broke their covenant with God and had to be punished. Some of the time they chose to abandon God by living a rebellious life and rejecting His commands. But God never rejected them! He stayed steadfast in His love for them. Ultimately He fulfilled His promise by bringing them back to their cherished land and restoring their salvation.

The God of the Israelites was a God of patience, kindness and above all, love. He is the same today. He waits for us to come to Him and ask for His love and forgiveness when we are wayward.

Then He draws us unto Him in mercy and loving kindness.

Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for loving us and those before us. This Easter may we praise you for your son and our risen Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen Sandra Chitty

Chloe Rogers

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Day 23

Thursday, March 11

Contribute to the needs of the saints; practice hospitality.

Romans 12:13 (RSV) In one of my study Bibles, chapter 12 of Romans is titled “A Living Sacrifice to God.” “Manifestations of Love” is the title used for the passage beginning with verse 9 and continuing to the end of the chapter.

Indeed, verse 9 tells us that love must be sincere. I like the translation from the Life Recovery Bible: “Don’t just pretend that you love others: really love them.” All of the instructions that follow this verse, including the commandment in verse 13 to give to the needs of the saints, and practice hospitality, flow from this foundational truth.

The “saints” to whom we should practice hospitality are God’s people, those with whom we share “the supernatural bloodline based on Christ Jesus,” as Julie Camarin states. She goes on to remind us “the bond we share in Christ is eternal. Because of this we should consider one another, contribute to needs of one another and share in the necessities of the saints. Paul told us earlier in Romans 12 that we were called into one body and each of us belongs to one another. So it only makes sense that if one of us suffers the entire body suffers along with that one.”

Should we have doubts or questions about “God’s people” — who they are and who they aren’t, we might remember the ways in which Jesus has answered our needs, whether we were worthy, or deserving. We might remember that He has opened “His heart to give us hospitable welcome there,” according to theologian Alexander MacLaren. His hospitality to us has been without condition. If we truly are devoted to God, and if we love the way He intends us to love, then our relationship with Him will bear fruit in the way we care for others and their needs.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I want my relationship with you to bear fruit. Help me to love more deeply those whom You place in my path, and may that love be sincere; may it be a reflection of the love and blessing that I have from You. Amen Anonymous

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Day 24

Friday, March 12

For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.

Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. Romans 14:8 This text is the foundation of our lives, in that none of us exist to serve our own agenda. We should not claim the right to follow our own path to our own goals. Rather, Christ redeemed us.

Meaning he paid for us. We have been bought with a price, or as Paul puts it, we live to the Lord and, eventually, we die to the Lord. Whether living or dead, the Lord owns us.

The fact that we live to the Lord means that our choices must be made for His honor and in service of His agenda. Choices not only include whether to eat meat or observe a special day, but it should include all the choices we make in this life.

We also die, to the Lord, meaning not only that we die in God’s perfect timing, but also that we will continue to belong to the Lord after we die and through eternity. The fact that we will forever belong to the Lord should impact how we view every choice we make.

Our choices and freedom should always be guided by submission to God. Prayer: Dear Lord and Savior, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ, who died for our sins. Help us to remember that we belong to you and the sacrifice you made for us. Help us to live a life that reflects your word, may we do your will. Bless all those who call upon your name. Through Christ our Lord! Amen Evon & Carol Crooks

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Day 25

Saturday, March 13

Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:15 In America, we thrive on being busy. We often measure success by how much we do or accomplish. While this is a part of success, it cannot be the entire picture. When we strive for this form of success, we lean on planning every detail of our lives. When we do this, we think that we are fully in control of our lives, but this just isn’t the case. God, the creator of the universe and all that is in it, is the one who is in control.

When we try to plan out our lives, we either become boastful in our accomplishments or we crash and burn because we chose the wrong path. God cares more about our relationships with Him than our earthly success. Doesn’t it, then, make sense that His plan for us is the greatest path for our lives? This isn’t saying that we shouldn’t plan out steps in our lives, but that we must know who is in control and be fully okay with that. When we do this, we will find success by having a relationship with God that is far greater than any earthly success we could ever acquire.

Prayer: Thank you, God, for being in relationship with us. We are grateful for the plans you have for us and for leading us along right paths. Amen Zach Wright

Luke Gomez

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MISSIONS FOCUS

International Mission Support Kevin and Charity Manous — Campus Crusade for Christ ourlifeamongthmagi.wordpress.com Charity Manous grew up at New Philadelphia Moravian Church and it remains her home church. The Manous family has been serving with Campus Crusade for 11 years now in what they refer to as “Magi-land” to protect the people they are working with.

They work day by day alongside the people of their village to disciple them and bring them along in believing the word of God. They work one by one developing relationships with people, developing trust and then sharing God’s word.

Sierra Leone Moravian Ministry — Safie Braima The Sierra Leone Mission Area emerged as the result of a vision that God gave to Mohamed and Safiatu Braima (originally from that country). In the early 1980’s, the BWM had explored the possibility of ministry in Sierra Leone, but discovered that many other churches were already ministering and growing in the area.

In the 1990’s, after ten years of tragic war, that situation changed drastically. Refugees returned to their homeland to discover that church buildings had been destroyed and mission agencies had been forced to leave. The Braimas, who had been living in North Carolina for the past 30 years, had come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and had joined the membership of Little Church on the Lane in Charlotte, knew that the time was right to live out the vision that God had given them for their country.

With support from Little Church on the Lane, a library, a mission house, a church building and, later, a high school were built in the town of Luawa Yiehun in the Ngehun district of eastern Sierra Leone. In 2010, the Unity Board designated Sierra Leone as a Mission Area under the supervision of the Southern Province through the Board of World Mission. A covenant was signed which brought together the BWM, the Southern Province, Little Church on the Lane, the Braimas and the LYCC (Luawa Yiehun Community Church) in a ministry partnership. Brother Mohamed 40

Braima was ordained as a Deacon in the Moravian Church in February, 2012.

Brother Braima passed away in November of 2018. He was the driving force in moving the Sierra Leone mission effort forward and Sister Safie now seeks to continue the important work that she and her husband had begun. Sister Safie has been approved as a Provincial Acolyte, which allows her to administer the sacraments of Holy Communion and baptism in the mission area.

A significant ministry in Sierra Leone is the Moravian Secondary School in Ngehun, supported with prayer, time, talent and treasure by the Sierra Leone Mission Committee of Little Church on the Lane Moravian Congregation in Charlotte, N.C. The School, which educates about 200 students each year, is a source of pride for everyone in the village. Even the Muslim parents are grateful to be able to send their youth to this Christian school, which provides a quiet, daily witness. But true to the way Mohamed and Safie do everything, no religious beliefs are forced, only shared.

Here is Sam Gray’s report of the school after a visit: “I was surprised to discover that, because of the high percentage of superior scores by Moravian Secondary School students on the national tests, some students from other schools (who did not pass the test) have moved to the village to attend the Secondary School, and many more students have enrolled in the Junior Secondary. So now there are over 400 students in the school (we used to say 200 — 250).

There is a need for teachers and desks. Plans are in place for building housing quarters for teachers in order to attract more teachers to be willing to live in the village. While I was there, there was a meeting with two representatives from the Sierra Leone Ministry of Education. They officially announced that the Moravian Secondary School has been fully accredited by the government and certified teachers will continue to be paid by the government — good news!”

The hard work and determination shown by the church leaders in Sierra Leone is a testament to their commitment to sharing the love of God, and to work for peace and justice.

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Ray of Hope Orphanage Michael & Ceci Tesh Mobasa, Kenya Facebook: Ray of Hope Kenya The Ray of Hope Ministry is dedicated to serving the youth, communities, and the church of Africa. The Mission of the Ray of Hope Orphanage is to reach out to the young people in our area and make them disciples.

There are 102 children in the school begun by Ceci and Michael Tesh.

DeeDee & Allen Iobst iobstsinspain@gmail.com French/Spain Ministry DeeDee and Allen Iobst serve in France with Operation Transit through Campus Crusade. DeeDee is the crisis manager for the Por City team and Allen helps with the area finances. With the more virtual world of the pandemic, they are utilizing Zoom as a platform to reach people in North Africa and the Middle East through their team’s social media outreach.

After college graduation (DeeDee from Michigan State in 1991 and Allen from University of Michigan in 1989), DeeDee and Allen decided to join the staff of Campus Crusade because they wanted to help give others the same opportunities they had been given to know and follow Jesus Christ and to grow in that relationship and in faith.

They describe their work this way: In 2000 we moved to the Straits of Gibraltar, the busiest travel point between Europe and Africa. Many people heading from one continent to the other travel by car or bus to a port city and wait in long lines to board the ferry boat that will take them across the water to their work or to their families on the other side. We help plan and run a mission project in which hundreds of people come from all over the world to join us in the work of distributing gospel packets at these ports in France, Spain, and Italy. Our teams meet the travelers and offer them the New Testament, a movie about the life of Christ, and other Christian materials in their language. The gospel packets we offer them explain how they can enter a 42

personal relationship with God though Jesus Christ — no matter their language, literacy, or age. The packets also tell them how to find out more about the message of Jesus, and how to contact someone for answers if they have any questions about Jesus, Christianity, or the Bible. Alongside the outreach, we have a spiritual enrichment program for the volunteers. As one participant told us afterwards: “You don’t just care for those we distribute to, but you care for us and our well-being and spiritual development as well.”

In 2019 the Iobsts moved from Spain to France to continue this same ministry, now working out of the regional headquarters near Paris.

Day 26

Sunday, March 14

I will send a famine throughout the whole country, it won’t be food or water that is lacking, but my Word! People will drift from one end of the country to the other, roam to the North wander to the East. They’ll go anywhere, listen to anyone hoping to hear God’s Word — but they won’t hear it!! Amos 8:11-12 (Message) I was trying to think of a time when we were unable to hear the Word of God. We are fortunate to have so many resources to hear God’s Word whenever and wherever we want, the main source being our Bibles! However, if you didn’t have a Bible available, where would you go? Church, internet, TV? Yes these resources are readily available to a lot of us—however, today there are still a lot of people who don’t have such luxuries. They need to be reminded daily that God is still with them. And those who have never experienced the love of God need more then ever to hear about such love.

Jesus stressed throughout His ministry the importance of hearing God’s Word and obeying it. Our Gospel lesson for today reflects this.

When a women in the crowd shouted” Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you!” Jesus replied” Yes, but even more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and obey it!” Luke 11:27-28 In this story from Luke, Mary more than likely was in the crowd at the time. Jesus may have been letting her know that while she

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was, indeed, blessed, it was not because of His birth, but because of her obedience to God. Jesus knew what sacrifices she had made for Him and loved her all the more for them.

Hearing the word, and obeying the word: These are the themes of today’s scripture passages. And what does God expect of us?

May we be as willing to say as Mary did: “I am the Lord’s servant and willing to do whatever He wants.” (Luke 1:38) Prayer: Father God, Show us how to bring Your words of love and comfort to those isolated and in need of encouragement.

Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee, Your will be done. Amen Darla Bonnett

Day 27

Monday, March 15 We cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard. Acts 4:20

The story began with a miracle. A man, crippled from birth, was healed by Peter. Predictably, the event attracted a crowd that went wild with excitement. Predictably, Peter used the attention to preach.

This was Peter’s second sermon, and he made it all about Jesus.

It was faith in Jesus that had healed the cripple, Peter told the crowd, thus proving that Jesus had, indeed, risen from the dead.

Jesus’s power was still available to men of faith. Peter preached repentance, forgiveness and salvation. About 5,000 believers were born that day.

The message didn’t please everyone. In particular, the Sadducees found the message irritating. They were the most materialistic, aristocratic and powerful party in Jerusalem, and their income was linked to temple revenues. They didn’t believe in a future life; thus, they would have been threatened by descriptions of a risen Jesus, whom they helped to crucify. For them, there was a natural, if temporary solution: Peter and John were arrested.

The next day, a Council made up of church leaders was going to get to the bottom of the undeniable miracle. They asked Peter and John, “By what name or by what magic have you done this?”

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Peter’s bold answer was truthful: “It is in the name of Jesus of Nazareth that this man has been healed.” Peter couldn’t stop himself, and went a little further, telling them that there is “no other name under heaven upon which they can call to be saved.”

As maddening as the message was, the Council could do nothing more than threaten the pair of preachers and order them to stop preaching in the name of Jesus. Their threat was rebuffed. “Tell us whether God wants us to obey you or Him?” Peter and John asked. And then came the statement that bought their release: “We cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Peter and John had known Jesus, seen His miracles, and witnessed His death and return. They had been empowered by all they had experienced, and by the Holy Spirit, to preach and heal in the name of Jesus. It is the same Holy Spirit that is at work today, available for you and for me. How bold will it make us?

Prayer: Give us courage, Lord, to share the Good News in Your name. Amen.

Anonymous

Day 28

Tuesday, March 16

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”

John 14:8 – 9 These verses, spoken at the Last Supper, followed Jesus’s description of Himself as the Way, the Truth and the Life. He taught that He was the only way to the Father, and told the Disciples that if they have known Him, then they also would have known and seen the Father.

Jesus met Philip’s request to be shown the Father with a response that showed His disappointment and, perhaps, melancholy. The request is a natural one, however, and one that we, in Philip’s shoes, might have made too.

We — all of us — have always been curious about God. Admit it, wouldn’t it be wonderful to have an actual conversation, an

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eyeball-to-eyeball, a tête-à-tête, with God? Wouldn’t it be more satisfying to have an audible answer to a question than to wonder and wait and try to discern? Wouldn’t it be great to put your arms around God? God had shown Himself in various ways throughout the Old Testament. Whether it was the burning bush, or the rainbow after the Flood, or allowing Moses to see a part of His glory, there were numerous visible manifestations of the Living God. That was what Philip wanted. It wasn’t idle curiosity to ask to be shown the Father; it was a desire to have evidence of the Messiah.

And maybe that’s why Jesus’s response sounds mournful.

Because He had already given Philip all the evidence He needed!

Jesus’s life and His teaching had shown the Disciples His divinity.

But even if that wasn’t enough for Philip, how about the miracles?

They alone should have satisfied him. Perhaps this is the first lesson for us in this passage: Jesus has shown us who He is throughout the Bible. His life, His ministry, His parables and teachings show us what God looks like.

There is a second lesson. Philip’s request, “show us the Father and we will be satisfied, might also be translated, “If we see it we’ll believe it!” Jesus asks us to do just the opposite, and makes us this promise: “Believe in me, and then you will see.” Faith in Christ and the understanding that in Him we see God is greater than what we merely see with our own eyes.

Of course, faith doesn’t come easily, at least not for everyone.

Yet it is where our spiritual lives begin, and it is the gift we most desperately seek. As one scholar said about faith in Jesus as Incarnate God and Savior: Only such a faith draws down the blessing of a questioning intellect answered, a hungry heart satisfied, a conscience, accusing and prophetic of a judgment to come, cleansed and purified…and so the key to all divine knowledge and the sure road to the truest vision of God, is faith.

Prayer: Jesus, how often do we say, “I believe, but help me in my unbelief.” Today we ask for faith — strong, unwavering faith — so that when you invite us to believe in you, we might answer: We believe that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” Amen Clyde Manning

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Day 29

Wednesday, March 17

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” Genesis 16”13 (NIV) All of you must clothe yourselves with humility. 1 Peter 5:5 As a servant of Sarai, Hagar was forced into circumstances that left her with deepening feelings of anger and resentment. In her desperation, she fled. However, the angel of the Lord found her and told her what she needed to do.

While we may lose sight of God in anxious or uncertain times, He never takes his loving eye off of us. God has a plan and a path for us to follow. Pulling back from our emotion- driven determination to take action, and waiting for His guidance allows that path to come into view.

The comfort of knowing we are seen and cared for provides strength and courage for what lies ahead. We are never invisible to our loving heavenly Father.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to remember to keep our eyes on you, just as you keep your loving gaze on us. Continually remind us to reflect that love to others. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Jerrie Andrews

Shiloh LaMontagne

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Day 30

Thursday, March 18

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.

Proverbs 16:9 As children, I imagine we all dreamed about what we would be when we grew up. I dreamed of being a missionary doctor (until I got a “C” in chemistry)! As human beings we have a desire to plan the future - to decide what we want to do and where we want to be. We make daily plans, weekly plans and even lifetime plans! There is nothing wrong with making plans as long as we realize we are not in charge of what happens along the way. No matter how much we plan, we cannot see what is on the road ahead. No matter what the plan may be, the Lord determines our steps each day.

When I was younger, having a plan was what was most important to me but as I’ve grown older I have learned that seeking the Lord’s guidance for each day and spending time with Him on the journey is what the real plan IS!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being our constant Guide and Companion in our journey through life. Help us to seek You more and to be willing to follow wherever You lead. In Your name, Amen.

Sandra Gray

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Day 31

Friday, March 19

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24 Words come at us from all directions and can be very easy to ignore, especially depending on the source. Words come from friends. Family. Bosses. Coworkers. Neighbors. From whom do we hear things, and whom do we actually listen to? Often “hear” means to just observe sounds. In this context, Matthew means that when we hear, we pay attention, leading to action.

I’ve definitely felt like God has spoken to me at times, usually in the form of a feeling or hunch that seemed like God nudging me in one direction or another. Unfortunately, there have been times I’ve chosen to ignore that feeling, only to wish later that I had paid closer attention.

When I recognize these “aha” moments I try to learn from them and be more in tune the next time I feel a nudge, and to listen to what God is telling me. I know God tries to point me in the right direction, and I also know that my ego can direct me elsewhere.

It’s humbling to realize I got in my own way. It’s also very encouraging when I realize the path I chose was a good one and it was because I chose to listen. I paid attention. I know it can be difficult to listen to that still, small voice, but I also know it’s important to be open to hearing it.

Prayer: Hearing you means I need to pay closer attention to the feelings I can easily ignore. Help me to know that those hunches and feelings are often you speaking to me, and let me be humble enough to listen. I know you have good things in store for me, and that following your word is way better than following my ego.

Paul Williams

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Day 32

Saturday, March 20

“Pardon me, my lord, ” Gideon replied, ”but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘ Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

Judges 6:13 (NIV) After the Israelites were delivered from Egypt and given land, the Lord told them not to worship the gods of the Amorites.

However, they did not listen nor follow through with what the Lord had told them to do. As a consequence, the Lord told them to live in the land with the Midianites for seven years. Their living conditions were very oppressive.

An angel of the Lord appears to Gideon and says, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

Gideon’s response in Judges 6:13 questioned God about the hardships that he and the Israelites were experiencing. He also questioned why God had not intervened to help them. What Gideon did not do was accept any responsibility for the misdeeds that the Israelites had done when they disobeyed God. He looked beyond personal accountability for himself and the Israelites, blaming God and others for their problems. Gideon’s response did not bring relief to his problems or a closer relationship with God. This verse focuses on the importance of personal accountability for our words, thoughts, and actions involving others. Personal accountability is difficult because it means that there are times when we have to admit to a mistake and claim ownership for a problem. Going to God in prayer and self-reflection can help us through many of life’s challenges and to grow in personal accountability.

Prayer: Our Father: We pray for our country as local, state and national leaders and citizens deal with many challenges. We give thanks for our churches that are anchors of support in our community. We thank you for the blessing of many people who go the extra mile to serve others. Amen Toni Bigham

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MISSIONS FOCUS

International Mission Support Phil Raiford Mexico Ministry Phil has been in the mission field in Mexico for the past 14 years, working with the Mihay people, one of the 70 indigenous groups in the country. Phil and his wife, a medical doctor who works in a clinic/pharmacy, live in a village called San Juan Miles Mihay.

Their mission is to share with the Mihay that “God loves His people for who they are and where they are.”

Phil’s home church is Friedberg Moravian Church in Winston-Salem.

Robert & Anne Thiessen Mexico Ministry The Thiessens describe their mission as “God wants us to meet people in their ‘heart language.’” There are 400 languages spoken in the area where the Thiessens live. There are 30 million indigenous people in Mexico and most of them are unreached.

The Thiessens’ focus is on these unreached people in their community.

For the last year, the Thiessens have been working with Sin Fronteras, a Mexican organization that has been a ministry incubator for twenty years. Sin Fronteras has 25 ministries to date, among them Anne (who is currently working with language learning) and Robert Thiessen.

Amani Children’s Foundation 3279 Robinhood Rd. | Winston-Salem, NC 27106 The Mission of Amani Children’s Foundation: Amani is a US 501c3 charity that raises funding and awareness for New Life Homes in Kenya. New Life Homes has four homes across the country of Africa in Nairobi, Nyeri, Nakuru and Kisumu that take in infants between birth and three months of age. The babies have been found abandoned in the most awful conditions and are lovingly welcomed into a home of the highest standards. By the age of two, nearly all of the children are adopted into Kenyan families.

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Shop online, at Amani Market in Winston-Salem or at an Amani party near you. All gifts are handmade by Kenyan artisans.

The proceeds go directly to care for the babies at New Life Homes in Kenya!

ARMF (Armando Rusindo Mission Foundation) In 1997, Armando Rusindo, a Catholic Priest from Cuba, met some Moravians in Jamaica and was inspired by the way they worshiped. Upon his return to Cuba, he began to study about the Moravian denomination. The more he studied, the more it became clear that God was calling him to share with his fellow Cubans the Christian faith through the Moravian Church.

As time passed, he began to spread the “Moravian” word from Havana to Guantanamo. People began to hold services in their homes without the official approval of the Cuban government.

Eventually the communist government of Cuba gave official approval for the Moravian Church to be recognized as a sanctioned church on the island.

In 2012 Reverend David Guthrie (President of the Southern Province of the Moravian Church in America), Jorgen Boytler (Unity Business Administrator) and Bishop Sam Gray traveled to Cuba to give official recognition to the Cuban Moravian Church by the Moravian Church of America.

In 2013, Bishop Sam Gray and Joe Jarvis attended the first official National Conference of the Cuban Moravian Church. Fifty delegates from five provinces were in attendance representing all the Moravian churches from across the island. The Book of Order was approved by the Church and the Cuban government and Armando Rusindo was elected as its first president. As the Rev. David Guthrie pointed out, “This was a truly historic event for the Moravian Church.”

Since that momentous day in 2013, the church has grown faster than anyone could have imagined. The second National Conference was held in 2017, where Tania Sanchez was elected president and Armando was elected Bishop. Three members of the Church participated on the board of the Cuban National Council of Churches. The church in 2019 is now worshiping in 8 different provinces across Cuba and membership has gone from a few hundred to over a 1,000. Most importantly, all the churches have ongoing projects that are not only supporting their individual congregations, but their local communities as well.

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Day 33

Sunday, March 21

My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; Isaiah 48:13a In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him… John 1:1-2 Today’s scripture in Isaiah chapter 48, and John chapter 1 talk about God as the ‘creator’ and the ‘foundation’. This brings us back to the core principle of life. God gave it to us, and he is the foundation on which we stand. No one else.

Think about that for a moment. In all honesty, sometimes I look at my house and my paycheck as the foundation of my life. Doing my best to provide for myself and my family, and keeping a roof over our heads feels like a pretty good accomplishment some days. I can see and feel that foundation tangibly when the mortgage is paid, when the utilities are paid, when we have food on the table, and when we have laughter in our home.

But that’s a short-sighted view of my foundation, and it requires me to step back and intentionally look at things from a much broader perspective. God did not give our family the home we have in Lewisville. God created the heavens and the earth, sent his Son to die for our sins, and gave us the hope of eternal life through Him. He gave us a fantastic opportunity. Through the foundation He created we have a finite amount of time to do our work, raise our family, and to try and do something good.

It’s easier said than done these days, but when you consider this day try and figure out specifically the good you will bring to this world before you lay your head down tonight.

It’s been heartbreaking to watch the effects of physical distance and limited face-to-face interactions over the last 10 months in our church community. But the foundation He gave us is still here, the gift of life is happening to you RIGHT NOW. Let us choose to be God’s people in this world until we meet again, because this world needs each of us at our very best.

Prayer: God we thank you for our blessings, and especially those we might take for granted each day. Please guide us to your will, and use us for your service in this life. Please be with

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all who struggle, all who are sick, all who are lonely, all who go to bed at night hoping for something better, all who are angry and tired, and please continue to bless this Congregation and our Staff as we all chart the path forward. Amen.

Bob MacReynolds

Day 34

Monday, March 22

And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:5-10 Our verse today is Luke 11:10. This verse concludes the parable above where a “man” goes to his next-door neighbor/friend at midnight to borrow three loaves of bread to serve an arriving guest. The neighbor/friend persistently refused. “Our man” presses to the point where his friend realized the only way to get back in bed was to get up and give his friend the three loaves of bread he wanted. The parable begs the point of how demanding and pressing we should be in our prayers and petitions to God. Jesus points out that in God’s world if we ask, God will provide; if we seek God we will find Him; and if we knock at his door he will open it for us. This does not mean God will immediately answer our prayers and requests and give us what we ask for. It does assure us that God hears our prayers and requests but His answer may not be exactly what we requested, but what He sees as our real need is provided.

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There is a country song “I Thank God for Unanswered prayers” because in hindsight the songwriter realizes that what God gave him was so much better than what he asked for. We should continue to bring our prayers to God’s door; live our daily lives seeking God’s direction; and be assured our prayers will be acknowledged to fill God’s plan for us.

Prayer: We thank You for being our Father and showing tender and fatherly love for us, and also for being our God, the creator and ruler of our world. Thank you for sending Jesus to live as human here in your creation and give us words and lessons that allow us to be Your people here in this world. Amen Melvin Holland

Day 35

Tuesday, March 23

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 The Apostle Paul and Timothy have worked tirelessly together for years to bring the gospel to the world.

After Paul is in prison and awaiting his execution, he sends Timothy a letter of encouragement. He reminds Timothy not to let his death cause Timothy to be timid and fearful in preaching the gospel but to persevere in faith and obedience.

God has given us all the spiritual resources we need.

• Power to overcome fear in our lives; great faith does away with fear • Love that centers on pleasing God and putting the needs of others before our own • Self-Discipline to control our lives with godly wisdom and confidence Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, in a world filled with chaos, help us use the gifts you have provided us. When we are at peace with you and man, our minds are clear. Amen Susie Tickle

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Day 36

Wednesday, March 24

God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Genesis 1:28 (NASB) This passage follows the first of the two creation accounts in Genesis. After humans are created in God’s image, they are blessed and given the task of reproducing to populate the planet and of subduing/ governing/ bringing under control the Earth.

“Rule over” is most commonly translated as “Have dominion over”, but The Message uses “Be responsible for”, which suggests the idea of stewardship and management rather than mere subjugation.

In many respects we have followed God’s direction. We have certainly been fruitful and multiplied. In Jesus’s time worldwide population is estimated to have been 300 million. It took 1800 years to reach 1 billion and today (only 220 years later) it stands at around 7.7 billion. This exponential growth ultimately has to strain the planet’s ability to support human life. Unrestrained population growth cannot be the best strategy in the management of resources.

We have filled the Earth, how about subduing it? We have dammed mighty rivers, irrigated barren land to produce vast amounts of crops, bred wolves into lap dogs. We have developed fossil fuels to propel industrialization and transportation, heat and cool our homes, but have contributed to pollution of the air, and greenhouse gases have, along with other human activity, made 2020 the hottest year on record. In fact, the 10 hottest years have taken place in the last 15 years.

God’s creation includes microorganisms that can cause disease.

In the 20th century, antibiotics, vaccines, and a safe water supply made infectious disease no longer the number one cause of death. We have done wonderful work on smallpox, polio, and tuberculosis but malaria is still responsible for over 400,000 deaths per year. The majority of those deaths are children in subSaharan Africa. We are in the midst of learning if we can subdue COVID-19 with masking, distancing, and vaccines developed in record time.

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How have we done in managing the animal life? Five hundred species have gone extinct since 1900 and many more are endangered. Not such a good record.

I was expecting to find an uplifting message in my assigned scripture passage. Sorry, but I remain hopeful for the same reason we displayed our Moravian star months before Advent. It reminded me daily that, even during a deadly pandemic, Jesus is the light of the world and God is still in charge of the world he created. We are only temporary stewards of this Earth and He will ultimately set all things right.

Prayer: Lord of Creation, thank you for giving us the ability to succeed where we have met the challenge of caring for your beautiful, life-giving planet. Forgive us where we have failed, and give us vision and strength of purpose to find a better path forward to give you glory and honor in leaving a more sustainable world for future generations. Amen Van Teague

Day 37

Thursday, March 25

Then he said, “Jesus remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:42-43 (NIV) Jesus was on the cross, between two common criminals, who were also to be crucified. In efforts to humiliate and discredit him, he was being mocked and ridiculed by the guards and others, and then by one of the common criminals who challenged Jesus to save himself. On the cross, the other criminal had found true faith and supported Jesus saying, “this man has done nothing wrong.” He then rebuked the first saying, “Don’t you fear God,” acknowledging his newly found belief that Jesus was the Son of God. He then asked Jesus for forgiveness and to remember him when he is in his new Kingdom. The man’s newly found faith proved to be strong and true and Jesus promised him eternal salvation, with him, in Paradise.

During the past year, we have all had to deal with the stress and fears caused by the unprecedented number of National and World problems. We have lived with this, plus, the depressive

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feeling of our isolation from one another. We pray and look to others for support, but the closeness we feel from our Christian fellowship has suffered because of the isolation from one another since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis. Faith, and the healing effect of Prayer has gotten me through many life difficulties and it’s so now as I pray for forgiveness and to keep myself, family and friends safe and well. And for Jesus to be with those who are not safe and well. It is comforting to know that, because of faith and true belief, as it was with the criminal on the cross, Jesus will answer our prayers.

Prayer: Lord; thank you for hearing and answering our prayers.

In these trying times, help us deal with our stress, fears and isolation and help us to be better Christians. In Jesus name.

Amen Bob Rustad

Day 38

Friday, March 26

Yet I planted you as a choice vine, from the purest stock. How then did you turn degenerate and become a wild vine? Jeremiah 2:21 This question from Jeremiah reminds me of one God posed to Eve millennia earlier. After discovering that she had sinned by eating forbidden fruit, He asked: “How could you do such a thing?” He had provided a true Paradise for Adam and Eve; yet, it wasn’t enough. Temptations were too enticing. His boundaries were overstepped. The blame game began. The human condition was born.

In Jeremiah, God was still at it, still creating and loving, and still being disappointed. The prophet scolded and lectured the Israelites throughout chapter two, comparing God’s chosen people to a young bride who, in the beginning, was eager to please and follow God, but, over time, deserted Him, and turned to idols. Jeremiah called the Israelites “restless camels, wild donkeys, thieves and harlots.”

In verse 21, Jeremiah uses the choice vine metaphor to make his point. As I read his question, “How then did you turn degenerate

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and become a wild vine?” I immediately thought of Jesus’s words about a vine, spoken some 650 years later. In the 15th chapter of John, Jesus describes himself as the true vine and His followers as the branches. He warns them that unfruitful branches will be cut off; the key to fruitfulness is to remain or abide in Him. This is the relationship that Jesus desires, the one that should exist between Himself and His disciples.

The Israelites became a “wild vine” because their trust in God was replaced by idols. Something carved or fashioned by their own hands superseded their faith in the God who breathed the world into existence. “Abiding” in Him faded away.

So, for us, what does it mean to abide in Jesus? How do we make sure that we don’t supplant our relationship with Him with idols of our own making?

Pastor Sam Gray suggests several ways to gauge whether we are abiding in Christ, all grounded in scripture: • We bear much fruit (John 15:5) • We walk just as He walked (1 John 2:6) • The word abides in us (1 John 2:24) • We stop sinning (1 John 3:6) Developing habits (such as daily Bible reading and prayer) will lead us in the right direction as we strive to be close to Jesus, in this Lenten season and beyond.

Prayer: May we keep our eyes on you, Lord, in our daily thoughts, words and deeds. Amen.

Anonymous

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Day 39

Saturday, March 27

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 The book of Thessalonians is a letter Paul wrote to the Church in Thessalonica with the goal of providing instruction and encouragement to the new believers. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul is encouraging the Church to “be thankful in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” The three-word phrase “in all circumstances”, is a gem of wisdom for life.

We tend to think of circumstances in terms of either “good” or “bad”, or “in plenty” or “in want.” It seems on the surface that being thankful in good times “of plenty” would be the easier of the two conditions. Being thankful “in want” seems to be the real challenge. However, Paul thought it important to note that we need to be thankful in all circumstances. In Deuteronomy 8:12-14, Moses writes to the Israelites. He warns them “lest when you have eaten your fill, when you have built your good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold multiplied, and your heart be lifted and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of slavery in Egypt.” He warns them against the temptation to believe their blessings come from the “might of their own hands.” How easily power and wealth can corrupt our hearts and if we are not mindful, we human folk can forget from whom our blessings flow.

I think both Paul and Moses knew that having an attitude of gratitude is the real key to supernatural joy in all circumstances.

Even in midst of great trials, we can choose to be thankful. Viktor Frankl was an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, author, and Holocaust survivor. He suffered greatly in the concentration camps. He shares, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms--to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way”. Wow! What a divine understanding! We can choose how we respond in any given circumstance and choosing gratitude can make all the difference in our quality of life.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we know all good and perfect gifts come from Your hand. Thank You for our blessings, our gifts, and our opportunities. May we never forget how blessed 60

we are! We know that You are at work in our lives, always redeeming what the enemy means for harm. Thank You for the lessons we learn from the challenges we face. Thank You that no matter what trials we face, You are with us and will never leave us. You have done more than enough! You have made a way for us through Christ Jesus to be in Your presence for all eternity.

Amen Holli Gomez

MISSIONS FOCUS

Homelessness City With Dwellings 520 N. Spring Street | Winston-Salem, NC CityWithDwelings.org The Mission of City with Dwellings: A Community First Initiative works to end the crisis of homelessness in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, providing a unique platform for volunteers across the community to connect and build relationships with individuals who are experiencing homelessness.

In 2012, community leaders responded to the critical need for additional winter emergency shelter in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, mobilizing congregations, community groups and civic organizations to create a multi-site shelter outreach which is still in operation today. The grassroots efforts of those leaders grew into City with Dwellings, a dynamic non-profit organization committed to building community with individuals struggling with homelessness, housing insecurity and issues contributing to those circumstances.

CwD currently operates four integrated programs focused on building community to end the crisis of homelessness. We engage with the individual experiencing homelessness to fully understand the unique circumstances he or she must overcome to successfully access resources. This person-centered approach builds trust and creates meaningful community with homeless

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individuals, enabling CwD to facilitate a coordinated community response to help house individuals and reduce recidivism.

As an organization dedicated to the well-being of our community, we are closely watching the developments surrounding the spread of COVID-19. Even with the challenges of the pandemic, we are more committed than ever to our community.

Samaritans Inn 414 E. Northwest Blvd | Winston-Salem, NC 27105 The Samaritan Inn shelter opened in 1988, as a collaboration between five downtown churches: First Presbyterian, First Baptist on Fifth, Centenary United Methodist, St. Paul’s Episcopal and Augsburg Lutheran.

Today Samaritan serves homeless men who need safe, temporary shelter for a maximum of 90 days. All shelter guests are referred to appropriate agencies for further assistance with medical care, job training, temporary housing and other needs.

In 2019, Samaritan provided 26,133 nights of shelter to 762 different men. Providing shelter, along with breakfast and dinner costs $27.74 per guest, per night.

The Winston-Salem Rescue Mission 718 N, Trade Street NW | Winston Salem, NC 27101 WSRescue.org The Winston-Salem Rescue Mission exists to help hurting men find healing in the gospel of Jesus Christ and hope through the new life Christ gives. Examples of our impact include: • 53,000 meals provided each year at our Food Pantry • 34,310 nights of clean, safe shelter and over 150,000 meals provided each year for men in our recovery programs • 6,000 people served each year through our community outreach • 1,107 patients served each year at our free medical/dental clinics • 10,000 pieces of clothing distributed each year through our Clothing Ministry We are a Christian organization that believes in the triune God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and affirms the transforming life, death 62

and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the salvation for all humanity, and seeks to put Christ at the center of all we say and do.

We are a non-denominational ministry that provides services for anyone who calls on us for help regardless of race, religion, cultural or ethnic background. We follow the example of Christ who came “not to be served, but to serve” and carrying out the Great Commandment to “love our neighbors as ourselves”. We seek to glorify God in all we do, believing that by serving the needs of our neighbor, showing kindness and compassion to the hurting and the lost, and sharing the good news of the gospel of Christ with all people we bring glory to God and fulfill our purpose in life.

Needs are met on three basic levels: 1. Physical needs are met by providing food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, education, work training and other services that create healthy and whole persons; 2. Emotional needs are met through integrated Biblical counseling, addiction recovery programs and caring support; 3. Spiritual needs are met through Bible study, chapel services, personal counseling and a call to Christian faith and practice.

The Mission is a 501©3 organization and is privately funded with the majority of our donations coming from individuals, churches and businesses. Eighty percent of our donations are used to directly fund our programs, which help those in need. We also receive gently used donations for our Thrift Store. Over 400 volunteers a year with 6,000 service visits on campus support the Mission.

Solus Christus P.O. Box 416 | East Bend, NC 27018 SolusChristusInc.org Mission: Solus Christus shares the hope of the Gospel with women in addiction. We provide safe housing, discipleship programs and transitional living. Our primary mission is to preach the Gospel, giving grace and hope to those caught in the snares of addiction, offering them abundant life in Christ.

Solus Christus strives to meet the emotional and spiritual needs

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of women experiencing homelessness, trauma, and addiction as well as supporting their physical needs of food, clothing, and shelter.

Solus Christus is located on an 11-acre farm in East Bend. Since its inception in 2008, over 1,200 women have been assisted. The Solus Christus program includes Bible study, 12-step meetings, help with cooking meals, and outside work.

Each woman’s story and reason for coming to Solus Christus is hers alone. The road to recovery requires patience from staff, the grace of God, and the desire for a new way of living.

Day 40

(Palm Sunday) Sunday, March 28

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:35-36 The ninth chapter of Matthew continues the narrative of Jesus’s ministry and we see a rhythm to His day. He was followed by people who were desperate for healing from a variety of maladies - the deaf, the paralyzed, a woman who was bleeding, and a dramatic interaction with demon possession, just to name a few.

Interspersed with that we find Jesus meeting with His critics — those who constantly challenged what He did and His authority to do it. As the day ended, He got in a boat to get away from the very needy crowd and the next day He started all over again. So, verse 35 can almost be glossed over as a mere summary statement of verses one through 34 — or could it be more?

Jesus not only addressed physical needs. He proclaimed that He had authority to forgive sins. He proclaimed that a person’s faith could result in healing. He proclaimed that He came not to call the righteous but sinners. While these proclamations almost get lost in the drama surrounding His actions, they were golden to a people who were helpless and hopeless. And that is why this verse is important.

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We know what Jesus did and because of verse 36 we know His mindset when He did it. When our Savior saw the crowds, He had compassion on them. They were a mess. They were poor, forgotten, ignored, in need of protection and guidance. You know - sort of like sheep without a shepherd. When I reread the chapter against the backdrop of that verse, I am not just awed by the power and authority of Christ over sickness and death. I am amazed by the extension of God’s compassion to a wretch like me.

I am by profession a teacher, recently retired. I spent the last fourteen years of my career teaching in a Title I public high school. We had the same garden variety of issues that plague all schools, but homelessness was such a concern that we had one staff member whose sole job was to keep track of students who HAD NO PERMANENT ADDRESS. I was moved by the compassion shown by a school administration that offered, quietly so as not to embarrass, showers in the gym and access to the athletic department washing machines to these kids.

Some might ask is this the function of public schools? To those I would say, read the ninth chapter of Matthew. It is hard to teach a student who lives in a car or who shares a motel room with six other people spanning three generations. Likewise, there is a reason why mission efforts often consist of putting roofs on houses, providing mosquito netting or digging wells for fresh water. Compassion dictates that we meet people where they are. That’s what Jesus did in this passage, it is what He does today and He calls us to join Him in that endeavour.

Prayer: Father, this has been an exhausting time. We thank you for the light at the end of a tunnel called COVID 19. Keep us mindful of the needs of others as we consider the magnitude of the challenges of the future. Hold in our hearts the gifts of love, mercy, grace and compassion that You give so freely to us every day and give us the mind of Christ to extend them to others in the days to come. Amen Trudy M. Farnell

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Day 41

Monday, March 29

The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name. Zechariah 14:9 When given a scripture passage, I like to look at the big picture to get a better understanding of how things fit together. Since our focus this year is on peace, I was shocked to find this passage sandwiched between some rather graphically violent and disturbing passages of scripture that were anything but peaceful.

We have been living in a time of unrest — experiencing our own graphically violent and disturbing events. Divisiveness, mistrust, plagues, and battles are described in vivid detail in Zechariah’s dreams. Yet in-between chapter 14 of Zechariah, this passage stands out: The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.

God will rule over the whole earth — not just some, but the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. One day, the peace of God will rule over the whole world — bringing the whole world together as one body.

Zechariah 8:16-17 also tells us that we, too, have a part to play.

God calls us to repentance and to follow God’s commandments.

“These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely.

I hate all this,” declares the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, we pray your peace will come quickly to unite this world under your rule. Help me to recognize the part I may play in creating divisiveness — whether complicit or unintentionally — and to seek ways to heal and to ask forgiveness. Amen.

Valerie Crane

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Day 42

Tuesday, March 30

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government will be on His shoulders; and he will be called wonderful, counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 The prophet Isaiah wrote almost 740 years before the birth of Jesus and foretold His birth and who He was! Oh to be sensitive to the voice of God like Isaiah!

During this Holy Week, may we “slow down” our lives enough that we can hear God’s voice? God still speaks to us today by the power of the Holy Spirit if we but seek Him. His light shines brightly through believers who trust Him to order our thoughts, our desires, and our actions to serve others! The results of which fill our hearts with joy.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may we bring your lights to others through service, and may we all have the “joy of the Lord” this glorious Easter season.

Anne Geis

Day 43

Wednesday, March 31

Jesus said: Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

Luke 23:34 On the surface, the message of this verse is both simple, and profound: Even in agony, Jesus was able to ask God to forgive those who were the cause of his excruciating death.

Rejected, he refused hatred for love; in agony, He chose forgiveness over revenge. The depth of this is beyond our comprehension.

For whom was the prayer intended? Was it for the Jewish nation and its leaders who screamed for His crucifixion? Was it for all those who had fabricated allegations and testimonies? Was it for the high priest, Caiaphas, who had organized the plot against Him? (The same Caiaphas who told other leaders: “You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” John 11:50 NIV)

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Was it for Pontius Pilate, who gave the order for his execution?

Was it for the Roman soldiers, who pounded in the nails and later cast lots for His garments?

It was for them all, and extended beyond them all. A writer of the Daily Verse explains it this way: Christ’s heart of forgiveness… stretched right back to the first fallen couple, who disobeyed God by eating of the tree of knowledge, and reached forward into the far-distant future — for His gracious forgiveness includes you and it includes me.

The love that flooded from the heart of the Father and blood that streamed from the body of the Saviour was a demonstration of divine forgiveness and love divine — so that all who believe on His name are forever forgiven.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, how grateful we are to know that no sin we’ve committed is too great for your forgiveness. As we are forgiven, release us from our own feelings of rejection and pain, that we might be freed to love and forgive others. Amen Anonymous

Day 44

Maundy Thursday, April 1

Jesus answered the high priest, “I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said. John 18: 20-21 These verses represent Jesus’s response to Annas, to whom he was first brought after being captured and bound at the Garden of Gethsemane. Annas, father-in-law of the high priest, Caiaphas, asked Jesus about his disciples, and about his teaching. On the surface, ordinary questions. But Jesus, no ordinary man, knew that this was yet another trap, another way to use any answer

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against him. And so He answered with a non-answer, telling his questioners to get their answers from those who had heard his words. They were furious.

Why were these leaders and politicians so cunning, so desperate to trick Jesus? Because they had nothing on him. No evidence of wrongdoing. No guilt. The words that Jesus preached, the lessons that He taught — well, they may have been an affront to the Jewish leaders and made many uncomfortable, but they still didn’t violate Roman law.

And so the evil of the crucifixion began to ramp up. With no place for truth, those after Jesus had to create conspiracies, and lies, and an alternate reality.

The book, Varina, by Charles Frazier, is the story of Jefferson Davis’s wife. There’s a paragraph in the book that rings so true I committed it to memory. Speaking of the general culture of the time, Varina said that it was “often stupid or evil and would vote out God in favor of the devil if he fed them back their hate and fear in a way that made them feel righteous.” Varina had great insight on the human condition. She could have been describing what happened 1,900 years earlier in Jerusalem.

Jesus came and through His ministry described a New Jerusalem.

One that elevated the poor; preached forgiveness; mandated care for the outsider. And it scared people and made them so mad that they “voted him out” so that they could feel better and remain comfortable in lives built around their own hatred and fear.

This Lent we’ve had a chance to get it right, as we’ve searched for truth and leaned on Jesus for His leading. Our Lenten journeys have set us on a path, and we have taken steps of faith. May our walk in His light continue throughout this year, and into the next.

Prayer: Create in me a clean heart, O God. When I am uncomfortable with your truth, or don’t like the way it challenges my thinking, keep me steady and focused on You. Amen Clyde Manning

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Day 45

Good Friday, April 2 Christ is our peace. Ephesians 2:14

Christ himself is our peace. Such is the message of Ephesians 2:14. This should not be a difficult theological concept. Quite often we say to someone, “You are this or that.” To one person we may say, “You are my sunshine . . .” and to another “You are the promised kiss of springtime, . . .” while to another we may say, “You’re like a breath of fresh air.” Surely you can imagine some of the less complimentary things we say about various people in our day-to-day experience. But of Christ, Ephesians tells us, he is himself our peace. So, how is that?

Well, you may think that we have it rough trying to bring Republicans and Democrats, gays and straights, vaccers and anti-vaccers, dark and light skinned people together in the halls of congress, the local bar or in your Christ-named congregation.

You may think that, and you’d be right. But if you think that’s all there is to it, you need to think again. Jesus was, of course, Jesus, but he was also Jewish and he lived in a segregated Galilee and Judea. The Romans had moved into the neighborhood and God seemed to be always putting Samaritans and other ritually (legally) unclean humans in his path. Grace required him to stay on that path.

Once when I was working as a missionary relating to a small Southern Baptist congregation in the mountains of our state, I had been asked to show up at a women’s Bible study. A few of the ladies in that group wanted me to meet a new woman in town who had begun attending their Bible study. She was charismatic — and I mean that in the biblical sense of the word.

At that time, the early ‘70’s, there was nothing more threatening, more frightening to a denominational congregation than the “infiltration” of the women’s Bible study by a charismatic charismatic. As I crossed the lawn I recognized all of the women but one, who strode down the front porch steps, locked her eyes on me and, by way of greeting, said to me: “You know Jesus, don’t you?” It made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, so I swallowed hard and mumbled something like, “Yes, M’am.” She said, “I can see it in your eyes. You know, the eye is the light of the body —scripture says so!” I didn’t tell her this right away, but I could see Jesus in her too. I was not afraid. Christ, himself, was 70

our peace. The Christ, that visible image of the invisible God, saw through all that fear and potential enmity between us and took up a peaceful residence in our relationship.

Scripture also tells us that we were created in the image of God. I take that to mean that there is a “bit ‘o the Christ” in each of us.

Take a moment to look into the eyes of that Republican or Democrat who lives on your street. You know where they live — you saw the signs. Look for a moment into the eyes of the LGBT child or neighbor. Gaze into the eyes of that person with whom you are discussing the relative merits of vaccines. Glance for a little longer than usual into the eyes of a person whose eyes are encased in a skin that is colored differently than your own. This is a good time to do this. Eyes are about all we can read on anyone’s faces with these masks. You might just see Jesus (aka the Christ) in them, and they in turn might see Jesus in you and Christ himself will become your peace.

Prayer: Christ, you are our peace.

Shine forth from our eyes and from the eyes of the other, in order that we might make peace out of our brokenness. AMEN. Michael Crane

Day 46

Saturday, April 3

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit… (1 Peter 3:18) Since the very beginning, sin and death have been linked. Adam and Eve preferred the serpent’s lie “You will not surely die,” but because of their disobedience, God told them, “for dust you are and to dust you will return.” The apostle Paul quite succinctly and memorably wrote: ‘the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Isaiah wrote: “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you.” (Isaiah 59:2)

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A few lines excerpted from Charles Wesley’s hymn “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” (MBW 724) places in stark contrast our sinful state against God’s righteousness: “…just and holy is thy name, I am all unrighteousness, false and full of sin I am, thou art full of truth and grace.”

But in today’s doctrinal text we read Peter’s perspective on what God has done through Jesus to bridge that vast gulf between us and our loving Creator. He who was without sin suffered the death we all deserve in order that we might have life in him and have it abundantly.

The Greek word used for “once” is not the “once upon a time” kind of once. It is the “once and for all” or “once and done.” When on the cross Jesus said “It is finished,” he did not mean his earthly life. He meant his work of salvation for us was now complete.

On this Great Sabbath, as we contemplate the death of Jesus and his rest in the grave, it is worth reading the phrase after today’s text: “For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit… in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison,” This is what is referred to when we recite the creed: “…He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.”

Even in Jesus’s death and while his body rested in the grave, God spanned that gulf which had seemed impenetrable for those who lay in death’s strong bands. As Martin Luther wrote: It was a strange and dreadful strife when life and death contended; the victory remained with life: the reign of death was ended.

Stripped of pow’r, no more it reigns, and empty form alone remains; death’s sting is lost forever! Alleluia! [MBW 367, verse 2]

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and so now we can sing with assurance the words of Charles Gabriel’s gospel hymn: “How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be; How marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Savior’s love for me!”

Prayer: Blessed Redeemer, as we anticipate the joy of Easter morning, we do so in the anticipation of hope, health, life, and peace. Show us ways to spread hope, love, and faith in Easter joy. Amen David Blum

Ceci LaMontagne

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Day 47

Easter Sunday, April 3 He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

In the 1980’s, I was teaching at the Moravian Bible Institute in Ahuas, Honduras. Lorena was volunteering at the clinic and being a good mother to our two and four year-old sons (Christian wasn’t born yet). In the midst of all that, she would always try to have something ready for lunch and, if she weren’t home, she would leave a note to let me know what I needed to do to prepare it.

One day when I came home for lunch I found a note sticking out from between the pages of a book that was on the kitchen table.

The note said, “Take the cake out of the oven and enjoy.” Wow! This was my lucky day. I went straight to the stove, opened the oven door and found… nothing. “What a mean trick to play,” I thought to myself. I pulled the note out of the book and found that there was more to it. It started with a list of ingredients (flour, sugar, eggs, etc.) and then a list of directions. And then came the part that I had seen: “Take the cake out of the oven and enjoy.” Of course, it was a recipe.

Sometimes we have to be careful about reading Bible verses in the same way that I read that note. Sometimes there’s more to the story. In Exodus 33:14 there is a wonderful promise that God makes to Moses: “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” In other words, I’ll take care of you like a shepherd takes care of the sheep. But, you guessed it, there’s more to it.

Earlier in the story, God was giving Moses the tablets with the 10 commandments but the people were impatient and decided to make their own “god” — a golden calf. This was a direct affront to God and God could have easily cancelled the covenant that God had made with them or taken back the promise. But God is faithful, even when we are not. God’s promises are sure and certain.

Still, the people needed to learn a lesson. God had PROMISED to lead them to the PROMISED land — to PROTECT them and PROSPER them and PREPARE them to take possession of the land. Most importantly, God had promised to be PRESENT with them. They needed to know that God’s PRESENCE is what makes the rest of the PROMISES meaningful. So God told Moses to go ahead and take the people to the Promised Land and that 74

they would be protected and they would prosper. But, God said that He would not go with them. Moses realized that without God’s presence, none of the other promises would matter. So Moses pleaded with God to go with them and God replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

God wants us to realize that God’s presence is not just the icing on the cake. God’s PRESENCE is the recipe for experiencing all of the ingredients that God has PROMISED us.

Pastor Sam Gray

Ava Parks

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Aubrey Rosby This is the nineth consecutive year that we have produced a Lenten Devotion Guide here at New Philadelphia. As always, thanks goes to everyone who helped create this Guide, including our writers for sharing their thoughts about their assigned passages, and Paula Chrysson for providing graphic design and layout. And a big shout out to the young artists who provided beautiful artwork for this guide!

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New Philadelphia Moravian Church 4440 Country Club Road Winston Salem, NC 27104 336-765-2331 NewPhilly.org

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