Hello Church Family,
Attached to this blog post (click here!) you will find a devotional for the week. It is from Illustrated Ministry, a resource that we have used with both our children and adults in the past. It is from a devotional guide based on Psalms that is meant to be used during Lent. You can do it in place of Sunday School this week since we will not be able to gather, or you can do it anytime you want to carve out time to worship. I thought it was fitting not just because we are in the time of Lent but also because of the nature of the Book of Psalms. Adam Walker Cleaveland, the founder and illustrator of Illustrated Ministry writes, “Reading the psalms as a kid was a way into scripture that allowed me to figure out that emotions were a good thing, and that we shouldn’t try to hide them from God. Reading the psalms as a kid gave me words to express the feelings I had, and helped me to see that the authors of the psalms struggled with many of the same things I struggled with.”
I myself, sometimes have a hard time expressing my feelings with words. The writers of the psalms can help me with that. They also help me realize that I am not alone. People have felt similar emotions to my own throughout time, and God remains present and loving. A lot of us are feeling a range of emotions at this time. My hope is that we can feel closer to others and to God by gathering in our hearts in reading, reflecting, singing, and praying these words together (though apart) as believers have been doing for centuries. The devotional is meant to be inter-generational. It can be done alone or as a family. It has reflections and questions for children and for adults. To start the devotional series there is an introduction by the author followed by the first devotional. In the devotional it tells you to read the selected psalm and then has a web link for YouTube for you to go and listen to the psalm being sung. It is a beautiful new way to listen to the psalm and I highly recommend listening to the psalm as well as reading it. I also listened to the song as I colored the coloring page that follows the reflections and questions. You can do this or you can do it in silence. There is no right or wrong way. This may be a new way to worship for you and if it is I encourage you to give it a chance. If you try it and don’t like it, that is okay too. Find something during this time that works for you.
There are two coloring options that are attached. One is more complicated than the other. Do whatever feels right for you. I did the simpler one but that is because if things get too complicated I tend to focus more on what I am doing that focusing on reflecting. But for some people the devotion can be found in the details. Also, the irony was not lost on me that this specific devotion mentions travel and that future ones in this series mention sickness. I know these are sensitive subjects at this time. One of the questions for the children asks them where in the world they would like to visit. I think it is an honest and good question to ask at this time. It is a reminder that this situation is temporary. It is painful to know that we are shut-in at this time but we still have our hope to hold on to. But, as always, do what feels the most comfortable for you. Anxiety and depression are problems for many people even at the best of times, and if any of these things worsen that for you, know that it is okay for you to step back from it. Stuart and I are just a phone call away, and are happy to provide ministerial care.
Love and Peace,
Regina
P.S. I would LOVE to see your colored pages when you are finished with them. Please feel free to post them on our Facebook page. On Sunday, I will start a thread with mine so we can share with one another. It’s alright if you do not feel that you are an artist. It is not about the finished product, it’s more about the community and the process.