Easter Sunday Celebrate BAPTISM!  Along with the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, Easter Sunday was the traditional day to baptize new believers in the early church. I have been to sunrise services on Easter Sundays when the minister takes a leafed branch, dips it in water at the baptismal font to sprinkle the congregation – a [...]

Holy Saturday Christ is the image of the unseen God, The first-born of all creation Colossians 1:15

Good Friday  Jesus dies. The life in me trickles away, days of grief have gripped me. At night-time, sickness saps my bones, I am gnawed by wounds that never sleep. It has thrown me into the mud where I am no better than dust and ashes. I cry to you, and you give me answer; [...]

Maundy Thursday– This is the day when Christians remember Jesus washing his disciple’s feet. Joseph Beuys was a Performance Artist when he re-enacted this foot washing in the streets. His action was met with the same consternation as at Jesus’ time. It seems to be our nature to resist another’s kind service….but it need not [...]

Wednesday of Holy Week The traditional primary theme for this day is our human need for healing and forgiveness. If we know that ‘God is love’ and so, promises to forgive us anything that would separate us from this love, why do we find it so hard to forgive ourselves? Holding ourselves accountable when God [...]

Tuesday of Holy Week Jesus said: I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The woman who loves her life will lose it, while the woman who hates her life in this world [...]

Monday of Holy Week – Jesus said: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first a greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Matthew 22: 37-39 Close your eyes and breathe slowly, in and [...]

By Flossie Peitsch Essence Theme LENTEN OVERVIEW: This is the last week of my Lenten 5 minute mini devos. I added a few thoughts for Easter too. These writings have been my Lenten commitment to you… but in my doing this, YOU have helped my journey. It is traditional to give up something for Lent [...]

5th week of Lent, Saturday – Lack of air circulation makes things stale or rancid. That is why we ‘air things out”, ideas and belongings. Look at one object within your view. Blow a tissue of paper held by two fingers. Let your eyes examine it – trace all its edges, colour, light, etc. Let [...]

5th week of Lent, Friday – Breathing poison means death or even worse. Jesus died on a Friday but he dies many times over in the suffering of his people and in his world. Auschwitz, Chernobyl, even in smoking’s effects. Pause for the suffering in the world. Remember to be compassionate. Compassion. Not popular but [...]

5th week of Lent, Thursday – At what is now called Pentecost, there was the sound of a mighty, rushing wind. The Holy Spirit had arrived in this sensation. The wind is a stirring that can be felt all over your body…with anticipation, excitement, and more. Who wouldn’t want more of this divine spirit? But… [...]

5th week of Lent, Wednesday – God breathed life into the newly created human. He breathed and continues to breathe life into all things. Without God, there is nothing. You are a unique part of it…and have a responsibility to God’s entire creation and to it as community. Could it be that without you, God [...]