Journey to the Cross

 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
(Revelation 7:9-10)

Saturday, 5th week in Lent

Almighty, ever-living God, you have given the human race Jesus Christ to be our Savior and a model of humility.  He fulfilled your will by becoming man and gave his life on the cross to redeem the world from sin and death.  Help us to bear witness of Him by following his example of compassion and being willing to serve others. Thank you for making us worthy to share in his resurrection and life by his cross and empty tomb. In the name of Jesus.  Amen

Dear friends,

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday.

It’s hard to believe that we are about to celebrate Holy Week without being together physically.  Yet we are together spiritually!  We are One Body in Jesus Christ.  We are One in the Spirit.  Though we are separated one from another out of compassion for those who are high risk among us, we do so from a common solidarity.  The world has become united through this crisis in a way that it has never been before.  We all are experiencing a moment that we all share in together; whether we are from Ethiopia, Italy, China, Europe or America, we all have common experience.

God is also uniting people in this world through his Son, Jesus Christ.  In Revelation 7, God gives us a glimpse of what is yet to come at the end of time: “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb (Jesus).”  What were they doing?  They were praising God and giving a strong witness of what God has been up to from the foundations of the earth–“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Only God saves.  Not us.  Not our leaders.  God.  He saves us through His Son, Jesus.

In that Revelation picture, did you notice what each person had in their hands while they were singing praises to God?  Palm branches!!  No matter how subdued our celebration of Palm Sunday is tomorrow, we have a spectacular one waiting for us when God brings all things to fulfillment at the end of time.  Be encouraged!  Take heart!  And wait upon the Lord.  He will deliver us just as he said.

Walking with you in the journey to the cross,
Pastor Langdon Reinke

P.S.   Hope you and your family are faring well.  If you want to talk, call me or respond to this email.  I will get your message and we can chat. We are in this together.  We have help available if there are needs.  Please let us know.

Have something to share?

Do you have a thought, a devotion, a scripture, or prayer to share? Send it to me at pastor@beautifulsaviorspokane.org.  I look forward to sharing what God puts on your heart.

Frank Fischer shared a new hymn for 2020 written by Carolyn Gillette and sent to him by his sister from Denver.  Carolyn apparently writes hymns as a hobby.  It’s all about the new reality that we face:  celebrating Easter without being together in one place!

This Easter Celebration

(Sung to the tune of “The Church’s One Foundation” AURELIA 7.6.7.6 D)

This Easter celebration is not like ones we’ve known.
We pray in isolation, we sing the hymns alone.
We’re distant from our neighbors— from worship leaders, too.
No flowers grace the chancel to set a festive mood.

No gathered choirs are singing; no banners lead the way.
O God of love and promise, where’s joy this Easter Day?
With sanctuaries empty, may homes become the place
we ponder resurrection and celebrate your grace.

Our joy won’t come from worship that’s in a crowded room
but from the news of women who saw the empty tomb.
Our joy comes from disciples who ran with haste to see—
who heard that Christ is risen, and then, by grace, believed.

In all the grief and suffering, may we remember well:
Christ suffered crucifixion and faced the powers of hell.
Each Easter bears the promise: Christ rose that glorious day!
Now nothing in creation can keep your love away.

We thank you that on Easter, your church is blessed to be
a scattered, faithful body that’s doing ministry.
In homes and in the places of help and healing, too,
we live the Easter message by gladly serving you.

Tune: Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864
Text: Copyright © 2020 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.
Email: carolynshymns@gmail.com New Hymns: www.carolynshymns.com
Churches are given permission for free use of this hymn, including in live streaming and posting it online. Drop me an email if you want this new hymn in MS Word and/or a PDF with music: carolynshymns@gmail.com

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