Third Sunday in Easter
Scripture: John 20:19-31 and John 21:1-19

Faith in Action Idea: Caring Conversation
Talk or write about what you heard in the Bible text/story.

1. What is something you long to see?
2. How do you experience Jesus in the world without seeing his physical presence?
3. How does the resurrected Lord become evident—seen—in your life?

Faith in Action Idea: Ritual
Jesus appeared to the disciples while they were fishing. The fish has been used as a Christian symbol from the earliest days of the church. The Greek word for fish is ichthus. In Greek, the letters making up the word form an acrostic for Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior. Early Christians practiced their faith and worshiped secretly in their homes. A fish painted on the door of a house let Christians know that they would be safe and welcome inside. Draw an ichthus symbol to display at the entrance to your home as a sign of your faith in Jesus as your Savior.

Second Sunday in Easter
Scripture: John 20:19-31

Faith in Action Idea: Caring Conversation
Talk or write about what you heard in the Bible text/story.

1. What is something you long to see?
   
2. How do you experience Jesus in the world without seeing his physical presence?
   
3. How does the resurrected Lord become evident—seen—in your life?

Faith in Action Idea: Service
Jesus calls us to serve our neighbor in love. Based on the Daily Bible Readings and theme for this week, how might you help others see Jesus through your actions and words?

Good Friday
Good Friday is a day of thoughtful consideration for Jesus' sacrifice, his death on the cross, for each one of us. The spiritual practice for this time of worship will be Tenebrae, a service of meditation on Christ's suffering.

Preparing for Worship in Your Home
Although no items are required, you are welcome to gather 7 candles and extinguish them in succession with the worship leaders.
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Faith in Action Idea: Caring Conversation
Talk or write about what you heard in the Bible text/story.

1. Take a moment to tell or think about a recent mountain high and/or valley low in your life.
2. Hot cross buns are traditionally served on Good Friday. They are marked with a cross on top to represent Jesus’ crucifixion and have spices inside to symbolize the spices placed on Jesus’ body after his death. Buy or make your own hot cross buns to eat on Good Friday. Place the buns on a table, light a candle and turn all the lights off. Say: Jesus Christ is the light of the world. The light no darkness can overcome. While sitting in the candle light, think or talk about Jesus’ death and what it means to you. Close with the Lord’s Prayer.

Faith in Action Idea: Service
Jesus calls us to serve our neighbor in love. Based on the Holy Week Bible Readings and theme, how do you show through actions and words that you are a follower of Jesus?

Maundy Thursday
Scripture: Matthew 26:17-30

During Holy Week in the Christian church, Maundy Thursday is recognized as the day of Jesus' Last Supper with the disciples, his friend's betrayal, and his arrest. It is a day we gather around a meal in remembrance and assurance of Jesus' presence.

Preparing for Worship in Your Home
To prepare for this time of worship and spiritual practice please gather: a candle, water, bread, wine or grape juice, and a cross.
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Faith in Action Idea: Caring Conversation
Talk or write about what you heard in the Bible text/story.

1. ​Tell or think about a time someone hurt or disappointed you.
   
2. Tell or think about a time you hurt or disappointed a friend.
3. When have you felt you have failed Jesus as his follower?

Faith in Action Idea: Prayer
Compassionate God, you stop at nothing to deliver us from sin and death.
​Thank you, Jesus, Son of God and our Savior and Lord forever. Amen.

Palm Sunday
Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11 and Luke 22:14—23:56 and Isaiah 50:4-9a

Faith in Action Idea: Caring Conversation
Talk or write about what you heard in the Bible text/story.

1. When have you been unfairly judged or mistreated by others?
   
2. How does Christ’s mistreatment help you when you experience unfair treatment?
   
3. How has Christ’s victory over evil and death been a comfort for you when you have experienced mistreatment?
   

Faith in Action Idea: Service

1. How can you give glory to God and show love through an act of kindness this week?
   

Fifth Sunday in Lent
Scripture: Philippians 3:4b-14 and John 12:1-8

Faith in Action Idea: Caring Conversation
Talk or write about what you heard in the Bible text/story.

1. How do you show someone that you love them through actions and/or words?
   
2. How do you show your love for God in Christ through actions and/or words?
   

Faith in Action Idea: Scripture to Dwell on
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection. (Philippians 3:10a) NRSV

Fourth Week in Lent
Scripture: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
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Faith in Action Idea: Caring Conversation
Talk about what you heard in the Bible text/story. Some questions to guide you:

1. What does it mean to be lost? What does it feel like to lose a toy, leave your phone at home, or misplace your homework?
2. How amazing does it feel to find a lost item?
3. What about if you are lost? There are times in our lives when we separate ourselves from God, and in those moments, we are lost. God rejoices when we decide to return to God’s loving embrace. How does it feel for you to be “found” after times of separation from God?
4. “It’s not fair.” How often do we say those words? What causes us to see something as unfair? When bad behavior is overlooked or forgiven? When someone gets more than they deserve? But who are we to decide what anyone deserves?
5. Jesus tells this story when he is asked why he eats with people who have done bad things. Jesus suggests that rather than calculate what is fair, and who deserves what, better to be prodigal in our love for one another.

Faith in Action Idea: Prayer
Use the :44 mark to find time to spend with God

• Do you ever have those mornings when you’ve barely woken up, and you already know you have a tough day coming? 
• Set a timer for the :44 mark of every hour. When the timer goes off, pause whatever you’re doing to thank God for three blessings from the hour and hum a praise song. It only takes a minute, but it works like a reset button for my heart, and it keeps me focused on the good things in the day instead of the hard things that aren’t going my way.
• Hint: I choose the :44 mark because of Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always!” This is “rejoice always” and “give thanks for all things” in action!

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances…”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Faith in Action Idea: Walk 
Lent is about connecting to God in intentional and meaningful ways. Go for a walk in a nearby park/nature trail/neighborhood and see what God is doing all around you.

• As you walk this week, when have you felt God close to you?

Third Week in Lent
Scripture: Luke 13:1-9
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Faith in Action Idea: Caring Conversation
Talk about what you heard in the Bible text/story. Some questions to guide you:

1. How would you describe what life is like in today’s world?
   
2. What do you think God sees that is lacking in the world today?
   
3. How does knowing of God’s care for us change your way of thinking and behaving in the world?
   

Faith in Action Idea: Prayer
Dear God, we thank you for your love that reunites us to you through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Faith in Action Idea: Walk 
Lent is about connecting to God in intentional and meaningful ways. Go for a walk in a nearby park/nature trail/neighborhood and see what God is doing all around you.

• Psalm 107:1 Reminds us that God's love endures forever. God shows us how much God loves us through many different expressions in nature.
  When you go on your walk this week, look for signs of God's love for us in nature.

Second Week in Lent
Scripture: Luke 13:31-35
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Faith in Action Idea: Caring Conversation
Talk about what you heard in the Bible text/story. Some questions to guide you:

1. When have you doubted your ability to do something you wanted to do?
2. How does life in the body of Christ help give you self-confidence?
3. Who in your life is a role model as one who follows Jesus, and why?

Faith in Action Idea: Prayer
God of power and might, help us to see more clearly that we may gladly follow you into a life that brings hope and joy through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Faith in Action Idea: Walk 
Lent is about connecting to God in intentional and meaningful ways. Go for a walk in a nearby park/nature trail/neighborhood and see what God is doing all around you.

1. What are the animals doing?
2. What plants do you see?
3. What looks like it is living?

First Week in Lent
Scripture: Luke 4:1-13
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Faith in Action Idea: Caring Conversation
Talk about what you heard in the Bible text/story. Some questions to guide you:

1. What is something happening in the world that makes you sad?
   
2. What is something happening in the world that makes you thankful?
3. What evil do you see or read about happening in the world that will not last forever?
   

Faith in Action Idea: Prayer
Almighty God, give us courage to trust in your power over all things that seek to destroy goodness and mercy, through Jesus, the Son of God. Amen.

Faith in Action Idea: Walk 
Lent is about connecting to God in intentional and meaningful ways. Commit to a time when you will go on a walk this week in your neighborhood and look for God's presence.