Agnus Dei
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Grant us peace.
Composed by Georges Bizet

Performed by Vidalia Patterson
Accompanied by Ju Hyun Kim

Click Here to view
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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11
Please watch the video reading of this story by Mac Lambeth
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youtu.be/3eQZ0sAIuIs
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The Tale of Three Trees
A Traditional Folktale
Retold by Angela Elwell Hunt
Illustrations by Tim Jonke

Jesus walked this lonesome valley;
He had to walk it by himself.
Oh, nobody else could walk it for him;
He had to walk it by himself.
We must walk this lonesome valley;
We have to walk it by ourselves.
Oh, nobody else can walk it for us;
We have to walk it by ourselves.
You must go and stand your trial;
You have to stand it by yourself.
Oh, nobody else can stand it for you;
You have to stand it by yourself.
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Dance choreographed and performed by Glenna Durbin
Accompanied by Ju Hyun Kim
“Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley”, American Spiritual

A Sanctified Art  has generously given permission for NRPC to view the preview version of THE WISDOM OF THE FIG TREE worship film at no charge.  We thank them for this! Please view the video below.
​vimeo.com/311758536​
Art, Film, and Words by Lisle Gwynn Garrity – A Sanctified Art – LLC – sanctifiedart.org

There are a number of instances in the bible depicting Jesus finding quiet and solitude outside in nature.  “But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.” (Luke 5:16)  After his baptism, Jesus spent 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness.  He was also often outside preaching and walking from town to town.
God’s creation is the most sacred of the “sacred arts” and provides us with countless opportunities for spiritual practices.  Today, take a walk and leave behind at every stop along the way, a sin that you want to confess or forgive.  You can walk anywhere: your backyard, your neighborhood, a wooded area, the church grounds.  Or, if you prefer, take a “picture walk” using the photographs provided.
During your walk you will be picking up various items that will represent sins you want to ask God to forgive or grievances you might have against someone whom you need to forgive.  Choose when and where you wish to stop, read and pray.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN:
 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Matt. 6:12)
Pray asking God to lead you in prayer.  Begin your walk.  

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​STOP 1
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Col. 1:15-17)
Notice God’s creation surrounding you.  Consider what Jesus might be revealing to you today in what you hear, see, smell, or touch.  Take a leaf letting it represent something you want God to forgive you for or a grievance you might want to forgive someone for.  Crumple the leaf, drop it, and give it to God.
Pray.  Move on.

STOP 2
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. (Ps. 55:22)
Pick up a stone and hold it tightly.  Think about what is burdening you today. What sins or grievances do you want to give up?  Throw the stone as far as you can knowing that Jesus has done the work; that your burdens have been made light.
Pray.  Move on.

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STOP 3
Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!  (Prov. 30:4)
Look up to the sky above you.  Notice how tall the trees are and how they sway in the breeze.  What do they tell you about the majesty of God?  Consider the roots that you cannot see.  Pick up a stick as you think about the sin or grievance you hold inside.  Break it and throw it on the ground knowing that Jesus will help you stand firm.
Pray.  Move on.

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Stop 4
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”  Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples! I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:37-40)
Consider what Jesus may have meant by this response.  How does creation praise God?  How does or doesn’t humankind praise God in creation?  How have you fared in taking care of God’s creation?  Pick up a small handful of stones and think about the sins/grievances you need to drop.  Gently drop the stones knowing that Jesus was born and died to take away the sins of the world.
Pray.  Move on.

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STOP 5
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,
      to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
     and provide for those who grieve in Zion--
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:1-3)
Look at the magnificent trees around you – created and sustained by God, and beautifully displaying God’s splendor.  Consider what these verses say is required of us in order to become an “oak of righteousness”.  Paul tells us that God is always revealing himself in creation – which we all witness daily wherever we are.  Lay your hand on the trunk of a tree.  As you pull it away, leave your sins and grievances behind.
Pray.  Continue your walk with hope in your heart.

Photos by Michelle Snead
Ideas revised and edited with permission from The Sanctuary Centre © 2013www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet

Take some time to just sit with this painting. How does it make you feel?
Listen to Danny and Caroline as they read from Matthew 4:1-11. During and after the reading consider these questions: What were the temptations? Was there something the temptations had in common? What temptations do you experience in your life? How does Jesus respond and what might we learn from his response?
Click here to watch the video and share in this spiritual activity.
Now, offer a prayer to God.

Painting: Christ in the Wilderness by Ivan Kramskoi, 1872
Readers: Danny Dove and Caroline Pitts

SPIRITUAL PRACTICES WITH SACRED ARTS DURING LENT
After Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights… (Matthew 4:2) In The Bible, the number forty stands for a long time of hardship, waiting, and wandering.
AFTER the earth flooded, Noah spent 40 days in the ark BEFORE God made a covenant with his family. 
AFTER hearing God’s commandments, Moses fasted 40 days and 40 nights BEFORE leading the Israelites in the wilderness.
AFTER leaving Egypt, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness 40 years BEFORE reaching the Promised Land.
AFTER his baptism, Jesus was led into the wilderness for 40 days to be tempted BEFORE starting his ministry.


​Forty is an in-between space – between the AFTER and BEFORE – where transformation takes place. What do you need to take with you in the wilderness? Who do you need to take with you? What supplies do you need?   (Used with permission from Theresa Cho)
Join us in your own journey during Lent. You will be given a baggie which will contain air drying modeling clay and one candle. You will simply fashion a candle holder from the clay and move the candle each day during Lent. As you move the candle one space each day pray for a person or a place going through dark, difficult times. As your candle journeys in 20 steps and journeys out 20 steps, pray they will know light in their darkness as they journey through the wilderness.

"WHAT FEEDS YOUR SPIRIT”? In the coming weeks, different leaders in the church will share videos of themselves addressing that question. We hope that in sharing our varied spiritual practices we might encourage and connect with each other in new ways! Please see our videos in this series below!