Calvary United Methodist Church

4700 Locust Lane, Harrisburg, PA 17109

www.calvaryunitedmethodist.org

calvaryumcharrisburg

@CalvaryUnitedMethodistChurch

The Commission on Education would

like to thank all the members of Calvary

and friends of Calvary who contributed to

this Lenten Devotional Booklet. We

would also like to thank YOU for taking

the time to learn and reflect on the

Stained Glass Images at Calvary. We

hope you learned something new or now

look at the Stained Glass Windows in a

new way!

The Story of The Stained Glass Window in The Chapel (prepared by Rev. Charles E. Snyder)

These remarkable windows were produced by Saltzer Stained Glass lo-cated just across the street from the church. Each of the 5 panels tells its own unique story, but in combination they have a faith narrative as the symbols are interpreted individually and collectively. The color patterns in the blue background vary from a subtle nearly clear to a deeply defined angry sea or light sky tone. The symbols immersed in the panels vary from the individually defined to those interspersed into the backgrounds. When approaching the set, read from left to right, from the Alpha “A” to the Omega “arch” or horseshoe. Concentrate on the subtleties as you pe-ruse the panels: there are a number of them. When the viewer comes with the eyes of faith, there are secrets lurking among the most obvious images. By the time you reach the “Horseshoe” outline of “Omega” you will have encountered a basic outline of a faith venture. PANEL 1 (on the Left side facing windows) Center medallion with “A” the first letter in the Greek alphabet, “alpha.”

Yes the whole letter scheme we call the Alphabet hinges on the first two letters in the Greek language “Alpha” and “Beta.”

The Star “Annunciation or Proclamation” Light Streams The Lamp, a light. “The Word” PANEL 2 (Center set of 3, left window) Tablet “10 Commandments the O.T. Green hill up toward right side First Cross “A Thief” CENTER PANEL 3 Christ’s Cross – the largest feature INRI ‘lesus Nazareth Regnum ‘Iodioi “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the

Jews” The Servant Cloth on the Cross The Dove with 3 leafed branch The Green Hill The Box in the hill below the Cross The Lamb “laid down for others” extended foot, closed eye. PANEL 4 (Center set of 3, right window) Sea shell w/3 droplets (Sacraments) Baptism Thief Cross (between two) N.T. Green downhill PANEL 5 (On Right side facing the windows) Center medallion the Greek letter “Omega” like a standing Horseshoe.

The last letter of the Greek alphabet. “The End” The Chalice “Communion”

Easter Sunday, April 12 ____________________________________________________

Elongated Nimbus The symbols in Calvary’s sanctuary window are both beautiful and meaningful to me. For the many years I taught the Fourth Grade Sunday School Class, I enjoyed teaching the children the meaning of each symbol. However, I never really understood the reason for the blue arcs on the second and fourth panels. I finally learned the answer to my dilemma from Rev. Martin Hopkins when he returned to Calvary as a part-time minister in the early 90’s. Rev. Hopkins was the pastor of Calvary from 1954 to 1965, dur-ing the very formative years, including in 1961 when the sanctu-ary was added with its inspirational window. Marty often men-tioned the meanings of the symbols in sermons. When I asked him what the purpose of the blue arcs were, he was quick to tell me; “They are elongated nimbuses.” I knew elongated meant something longer in relationship to its width (long and thin). In a science class, I learned that a nimbus was a type of cloud. Rev. Hopkins explained that in artworks, the nimbus is a ring of light (a halo) surrounding the head of a deity, saint, or other sacred person. In Calvary’s window, the elongated nimbuses highlight the holy monogram for Christ- Chi Rho, the first two letters of Christ in Greek (Khristos). Chi is represented by X and Rho by P.

Prayer: Heavenly Father , thank you for sending us your Son, Jesus Christ, to connect with us. May our Christian symbols, tradi-tions, and rituals continual-ly remind us of your great love and provide hope for our lives. Amen.

Mary Alice Dumbauld

The Story of The Stained Glass Window in The Sanctuary

Organized on December 6, 1953, the congregation of Calvary

United Methodist Church embarked on a building project that re-sulted in the construction of the “First Unit.”

In response to continuing growth and the need for a larger wor-ship space, groundbreaking ceremonies were held on August 6, 1961 in preparation for the construction of a new sanctuary. A committee was formed to work in tandem with Willet Studios of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to design a large stained glass window which would serve as a visual focal point for worship.

The committee selected twenty five individual and clustered symbols which were then arranged into five narrow lancets that stretch from the floor to the roofline of the chancel area. The sym-bolism of each panel is described below:

Panel I: Beneath the hand of God are the symbols of the six days of creation: the universe, the heavens and the earth, tree and plants, fish, animals and humanity. The recreative power of the Lord in the new birth of disciples is depicted by the symbols of bap-tism.

Panel II: The Alpha affirms the power and authority of God at the beginning of all things and in the birth of Jesus as represented by the star and manger of Bethlehem and the Chi Rho.

Panel III: The cross of Christ on the hill of Calvary dominates the center of the window. The wounded Lamb at the top of the lan-cet is resting on the book of the seven seals. Symbols of Jesus’ pas-sion and crucifixion are located below the crossbar on both sides of the upright.

Panel IV: The Omega represents the presence of God at the conclusion of history and in the death and resurrection of Christ. The empty tomb of Easter includes an alternate Chi Rho design.

Panel V: The power of the Holy Spirit in the ongoing witness of the church is the subject of the lancet at the far right of the window. Five prominent figures from the apostolic era, the Reformation and the founding of Methodism are remembered, along with the ele-ments of the communion: the symbol of the sacrifice and presence of Christ in the life of the congregation.

At the time of its construction in 1962, the cost of the window was $5,500.

Ash Wednesday, February 26 ____________________________________________________

Ashes

Joel 2:1 Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my ho-ly hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand.

Psalm 51:1-2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your un-failing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

It was a cold mid-winter morning, I questioned if anyone may stop by the church on this Ash Wednesday. At 5:30 a.m. I turned on the heat and lights in the sanctuary prior to anyone arriving to pray before work. Programs had been prepared listing pages of scriptures, prayers and hymns to assist in focusing on repentance and new life. The morning was slow with only several folks stopping by the church but it was a Holy time for me. For me, this day has always been solemn as I remember my sins as well as the promise of new life.

In our busy schedule, I’m not sure we take enough time to re-flect. When I do, I’m sometimes shocked to recall the past. With thanksgiving, I remember the sacrifices of my parents, who made a way for me to go to school, to assist me in growing into a child of God, to place my feet on a path of permanent salva-tion. Where would we be if it were not for the love and devotion of those around us. More so, where would be without the gift of God’s son, Jesus Christ, who has shown us the way to new and abundant life. He who has given his very life that I, that we, may have new life.

In recent years, I have taken the palms from Calvary and burned them that we may use the ash for the following year’s services. This is a stark reminder that on one day, we are celebrating and the next, forgetting the one whom we honor. May this season of Lent remind us to live boldly for Jesus Christ. Remember, "Repent, and believe in the Gospel" Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Let us make our lives count for the Gospel. May God help us be faithful to what we proclaim. Jesus, our Savior, our redeemer.

Pastor Jeff Fisher

Holy Saturday, April 11 _______________________________________________________

The Tomb As a young boy my parents home was next the town cemetery. My mothers’ family home was next to another cemetery. Like most children, I didn’t understand the meaning of all that took place at cemeteries. When I was in fourth grade my cousin died and I was asked to be a pallbearer. To say the least, I had questions about death as I saw this young cousin laying lifeless and all my family hurting with broken hearts. Fast forward twenty years and entering ministry with much train-ing with death and dying. I continue to have questions—still more questions than answers but I do have a different perspective. I’ve observed the passing of the young and the old and what I have come to realize is the gift of life is more real than ever. It sounds strange but some of the most joyous and meaningful moments of my minis-try have been shared with families during the time of the passing of a loved one. Yes, each situation is different, yet the promise of new and abundant life is the same. In this earthly kingdom I will never understand pain and suffering. I will not understand the loss of young ones who have yet to experi-ence much of life. I do not understand long suffering. I do know we are never alone. Our Savior who went off to pray in the garden. Our Savior who was abandoned by all his friends, Our Savior who went to the cross, didn’t stay there. God, our Father received him home. Jesus was laid to rest. All odds by this world’s standards proclaim it was the end. But God has proved to the world that His promise to bring new life became a reality. We continue to meet at Calvary. Christians around the world gath-er because the tomb is empty. We don’t serve some God who was. We serve our God who IS!

While there is much sadness in cemeteries, there is also celebration. If you have never joined our sunrise service, I invite you to come. When the sun rises, and we join in singing, “He Lives,” or “Up From the Grave He Arose,” we are all reminded of the rest of the story. Praise God! The tomb is Empty and we have the gift of new and eternal life. God bless everyone in this Holy Easter Season.

Pastor Jeff Fisher

Good Friday, April 10 ____________________________________________________

Jesus – The Alpha and Omega Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek al-phabet. Among Jewish rabbis, it was common to use the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet to denote the whole of anything, from beginning to end. Jesus as the beginning and end of all things is a reference to no one but the true God. One meaning of Jesus being the Alpha and Omega is that He was at the beginning of all things and will be at the close. It is the equivalent to saying He always existed and always will exist. As God incarnate, Jesus has no beginning, nor will He have any end with respect to time, being from everlasting to everlasting. A second meaning of Jesus being the Alpha and Omega is that the phrase identifies Jesus as the God of the old Testament. Isai-ah ascribes this aspect of Jesus’ nature as part of the triune God in several places. “I, the Lord, am the first and with the last I am He (Isaiah 41:4). “I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God” (Isaiah 44:6). I am He; I am the first, I also am the last” (Isaiah 48:12). These verses are clear indications of the eternal nature of the Godhead. Christ, as the Alpha and Omega, is the first and last in so many ways. He is the “author and finisher” of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), signifying that Jesus begins it and carries it through to completion. He is the totality, the sum and substance of the Scriptures, both of the Law and of the Gospel (John 1:1,14). He is the fulfilling end of the Law (Matthew 5:17). He is the begin-ning subject matter of the gospel of grace through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9). He is found in the first verse of Gene-sis and the last verse of Revelation. Yes, He is the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Only God incarnate could make that statement. Only Jesus Christ is God incarnate.

A Friend of Calvary

February 27 _______________________________________________________

The Crowing Rooster This is a conversation between Jesus and Peter as recorded in Mat-thew 26: 33-35: Peter said to him, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times. Peter said to him, “Even though I must die, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples. (NRSV) Often before or during a worship service at Calvary, I meditate on specific symbols in our beautiful sanctuary window. During Lent, the center panel of the window contains much meaning for Chris-tians- the sacrificial Lamb of God, the cross of Calvary with the crown of thorns, a reed and sponge with a ladder, the whips at the whipping post, and the cup with the pointed cross of Gethsemane. The symbol which holds much meaning for me, raised as a farm girl, is the rooster (a synonym for cock, a male fowl). I remember how annoying a particular rooster was when he crowed very early in the morning when I wanted to sleep. My mother had won him as a chick. I can’t remember how she won him, but he ruled as the “King of the Chicken Coop” for many years. Mother never allowed him to be Sunday dinner. The reason this animal is included in the church window is the crowing of the cock after Peter denied knowing or being associated with his Lord. Peter had been warming himself by a fire in the courtyard of the high priest during the time of Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin. As Jesus had said to Peter earlier at the Last Supper, be-fore the cock crowed, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. The account of this incident is found in both Matthew 26: 69-75 and Luke 22: 54-62. Though the stories vary somewhat, Peter’s re-action was the same. Peter wept bitterly. The crowing rooster symbol reminds me that like Peter, many

Christians, myself included, are tempted to de-ny our Lord, and sometimes actually do, by our actions but many times by what we ne-glect to do. When I get a nagging feeling that I should be doing something or possibly not be doing it, I hear a crowing rooster in my mind.

Mary Alice Dumbauld

February 28 ____________________________________________________

Animals

Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.

~Daniel 2:37-38 (NIV)

Photo Submitted by Neena Selfridge

Maundy Thursday, April 9 _______________________________________________________

Communion Scripture Readings: Luke 22:14-20; Hebrews 9:11-15 Devotional: We struggle with sin. We know that it’s not OK, but in weakness still disobey God’s will. Jesus became human and died for our sins. We remember Jesus’ sacrifice as he taught his disciples, using bread and wine to represent his body and blood. Communion is not an opportunity to “earn” forgiveness—but to remind us of Jesus’ suffering and resurrection; to thank God for His grace in pardoning our sins; and to anticipate Jesus’ return and coming reign. Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your son Jesus to suffer for my sins so that I may have everlasting life. Help me to always re-member His extraordinary sacrifice and live my life as you intend-ed. Amen.

Mike Stephens

April 8 ____________________________________________________

The Green Hill Most biblical scholars agree that the meaning of green in the bi-ble is immortality and symbolic of resurrection, spring, praise, growth, and new beginnings. Psalm 23:2 The Hebrew word ‘yereq’ is one of the earliest Hebrew words used for green. In Genesis, it is a word that describes the green-ness of edible herbs. It is the color of what food should be: fresh, vibrant and sustaining life. Genesis 1:30 In Isaiah, chapter 40, the prophet refers to hills, mountains, and

valleys that must be symbolic. He refer-ences to a highway being prepared in the desert, to prepare the way for the Lord, as proclaimed by John the Bap-tist, whose preaching prepared the way for Christ. Luke 3:1-6 If we look at the image of the stained glass window in the prayer chapel, we see atop of the green hill Christ’s cross, an inspirational reminder of the salvation that God our creator has promised us. Green—a color that is life affirming, just as our Creator gave us life and affirms its daily with His love.

“They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by

the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It

has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:8

Glenna McClure

February 29 _______________________________________________________

The Light Streams Stained glass windows go as far back as the ancient Egyptians and Romans. Their main purpose is to beautify buildings and control the light that comes in. The popularity of stained glass increased through Gothic and medie-val times. Churches had lavish stained glass windows. However, the Protestants were wary of their expense and decided to step back. By the time of the renaissance period, interest in stained glass had dissi-pated. Presently, there has been a resurgence in stained glass. From the me-dieval times and continuing now, Bible stories are being told, not in words but by the artwork that, arranged in the proper order, tells the Bible stories. In far earlier days, many people could not read so the stained glass windows served yet another purpose. We can use that purpose today by sharing God's Word without using words. Dear Lord, help us to recognize all the ways we can communicate with others. AMEN.

Patti Lightner

Sunday, March 1 ____________________________________________________

Crown of Thorns

A woven Crown of Thorns was placed on the head of Jesus dur-ing the events leading to his crucifixion. Gospel references are found in Matthew 27: 27-31, Mark 15: 16-20, and John 19: 1-7 The crown was one of the instruments of the Passion employed by Roman soldiers to both cause Jesus pain and mock his claim to authority, “King of the Jews.” The crown symbolizes a badge of sin, stamped on the forehead of every person. This is the price we pay for disobeying the eternal living God. Jesus was sinless and came to take away our badge of sin. The Crown of Thorns (Christ plant or Christ thorn) is a species of flowering plant native to Madagascar known as Euphorbia milii. A relic believed to have been worn by Jesus was preserved and on display at the cathedral Notre Dame de Paris. Thankfully, it was rescued from the infamous fire in 2019.

Submitted by Romney Noone as referenced in Wikipedia

April 7 _______________________________________________________

Creative Hand of God Exodus 35:35 – “He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, design-ers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers – all of them skilled workers and designers.” On Tuesday mornings & Wednesday eve-nings you can find a group of Calvary’s women doing their handwork in knitting, cro-cheting, and embroidery. They are making caps, scarves, prayer shawls, afghans, & oth-er things to give as gifts to keep many people warm in the winter. Then as Spring and Easter approach, if you look closely, you can see the bulbs and plants begin to show growing up from the frozen winter ground, and the buds coming out on the trees. As you see all the new life appear-ing, you cannot possibly doubt The Creativity of The Hand of God. And, we can find the joy in all of this creativity as we see the Spring turn into Summer. Prayer: We thank you, Lord for giving us so much beauty if we will just take the time to look at it. Amen

Sue Elicker

April 6 ____________________________________________________

Humans

So God created mankind in his own im-age, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in num-ber; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

~Genesis 1:27-28

Photo Submitted by Neena Selfridge

March 2 _______________________________________________________

Stephen, first to give his life for the gospel Acts 6:8 ~~ Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Stephen was a man of firsts in Bible history. He was known for his spiritual qualities of faith, wisdom, grace and the miraculous power that he had been given by God, at least equal to that of the apostles. He was one of seven leaders chosen to supervise food distribution to the needy in the early church. Jews who accepted Jesus as Messiah were usually cut off from their families, so sharing of homes, food and resources was necessary. Long before violent persecution broke out against Christians, there was an uprising from members of the Synagogue. When he was confronted, Stephen’s logic was convinc-ing as he presented a summary of the Jews’ own history from the Old Testament. He accused these religious leaders of failing to obey God’s laws. But they could not have their evil motives exposed and they stoned him to death. Acts 7: 59-60 ~ And while they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” before he fell asleep. Prayer : Help us to have the conviction of Stephen this Lenten sea-son and share our faith with others. Let us strive for excellence in the small assignments, while God prepares us for greater responsibilities in his service. Amen

Dyan Yingst

March 3 ____________________________________________________

Sea Shell with 3 Drops

The shell is an ancient symbol of baptism and is often used during baptism to scoop the water from the baptismal font. The three drops of water represent the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit into whom we are baptized. I love sea shells. Just ask my husband and he’ll tell you. We have bags of sea shells stuffed in drawers, boxes and set out on tables and in jars. If we’re near a beach, we’ll return home with sea shells. Let me tell you a story about two friends taking a walk on the beach looking for shells – Peggy and Ann. When they walk on the beach looking for shells, Peggy goes one way and Ann goes the other way. When they meet back together they compare shells. Peggy picks up LOTS of shells, but Ann has just 2 or 3 shells. Ann can’t believe Peg-gy picked up so many shells! When she looks at Peggy’s shells, she exclaims, “They’re all broken,” and she laughs at Peggy. Peggy tells her, “No, they’re pretty; see this one has a beautiful peach color in it that turns to pink, this one changes colors in the sunshine. and this sand dollar still has the little dove inside it, you couldn’t see the dove if the shell wasn’t broken.” Ann laughs at her again; Ann only picks up perfect shells. Let’s think about Jesus walking on the beach looking for shells. Would He just pick up the PERFECT SHELLS; or would He pick up the broken shells? Jesus stopped what he was doing to help broken people. He sees something beautiful in each of us, and He knows just where He can use us. And He especially likes the broken ones, because we’ve been stepped on and thrown back so many times. Let’s Pray: Lord, we know God made us all, and even though we aren’t perfect, there’s something beautiful in each of us that You can

see. Teach us to have eyes like Jesus, eyes that look beyond the broken parts to find something beautiful in everybody. Amen

Susie Grubb

Palm Sunday, April 5 _______________________________________________________

Animals-Balaam’s Talking Donkey (Numbers 22) The Israelites were being led into the Promised Land by God and were commanded by God to destroy the current resident of that land and the Moabites were next. Balak was the king of Moab at the time. He was going to pay Balaam, a local prophet who meddled in sorcery, to put a curse on the Israelites. He asked for Balaam to come meet him. Though he didn’t say yes right away, Balaam sad-dled-up his donkey and set out with the Moabite officials. Along the way an angel of the Lord blocked the road, complete with drawn sword in hand. It was a frightening scene only the don-key saw, making her bolt into a field, which prompted a beating from Balaam. Then after the angel’s third appearance and the don-key’s third beating from Balaam—the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beat-ing me three times?” That’s not all. Balaam and his donkey proceeded to have an actual conversation—an argument of sorts—which ended when God opened Balaam’s eyes to see the angel of the Lord standing in the road. And of course, he did what any smart person would do in his shoes: he fell face down. Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.” The an-gel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” Balaam is an example of a man who com-promised godly behavior for dishonest gain. He unsuccessfully tried to obey God and still fulfill his own will. As we serve God today, we must serve Him wholeheartedly. (Psalm 119:2; Matthew 22:37). Fully serving God must be our first priority (Matthew 6:33). For those who are tempted to try to serve both God and the world, James admonishes, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts.” (James 4:8) And by the way, don’t beat a donkey that decides to talk to you. It may well be God getting your attention.

Susie Grubb

April 4 ____________________________________________________

Stephen—The First Christian Martyr

In Acts 6:1-6 Stephen was ordained a deacon to help in the dis-tribution of food to widows. Because he was full of grace and power he was able to do wonders and signs among the peo-ple. But members of the synagogue argued with him (see Acts 6:8-53) when he claimed that Jesus was the much-awaited Mes-siah. Stephen was hauled before the Sanhedrin and then a mob dragged him outside the city and stoned him to death (see Acts 7:54-60).

Stephen was a bold evangelist whose courage came from the Holy Spirit. His influence on Christianity was much stronger after his death because it forced Christians to flee persecution in Jerusalem which resulted in spreading the gospel far and wide.

Do we have the wisdom and courage to speak the message of the gospel to those who might not be willing to listen? If that is our God-given spiritual gift, should we be praying to God for wis-dom and the courage to be a Stephen in our world today? Prayer: Dear God, challenge us to listen to your calling so that we can be servants to do your will. Amen.

Linda Hoffman

March 4 _______________________________________________________

Creative Hand of God

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And God saw that everything he had made, and behold, it was very

good. Genesis 1:1;31a What an amazing world God has created for us to enjoy and take care of. Each season brings its own beauty to our landscape –

the snow that clings to the tree branches in the winter,

the colorful buds that appear on the trees and the shoots from bulbs that turn into beautiful flowers in spring,

the perennial flowers that bloom each summer

and the autumn colors of the leaves in the fall of the year. What a blessing to see God’s handiwork throughout the year. I am always in awe of the seasons and feel so blessed to live in an area where the seasons change. Prayer: God of creation, thank you for patterning our world that we can stand in wonderment at your creative hand. Help us to be good stewards of the earth so that we can continue to enjoy the seasons and their beauty. Amen.

Linda Hoffman

March 5 ____________________________________________________

Chi Rho Prior to Christianity the symbol may have been used by scribes to abbreviate the word chrestos (good or useful), but it wasn’t until Constantine that it received a much deeper meaning. Ac-cording to the historian Eusebius, Constantine received a heav-enly vision while praying. What’s interesting is how the miracle was private; but witnessed by his entire army. Constantine even swore an oath regarding the account of the event. Even more so, at this time Constantine had not yet been instructed in the Chris-tian faith and this event spurred him into deeper studies of Christianity. The vision was confirmed the same night when Jesus appeared to Constantine and “commanded him to make a likeness of that sign which he had seen in the heavens, and to use it as a safeguard in all engagements with his enemies.” “A long spear, overlaid with gold, formed the figure of the cross by means of a transverse bar laid over it. On top of the whole was fixed a wreath of gold and precious stones; and with-in this, the symbol of the Savior’s name, two letters indicating the name of Christ by means of its initial characters, the letter ‘P’ being intersected by ‘X’ in its centre: and these letters the emperor was in the habit of wearing on his helmet at a later pe-riod. The emperor constantly made use of this sign of salvation as a safeguard against every adverse and hostile power.”

While some historians debate the au-thenticity of this tale, what is certain is after this event the Chi-Rho symbol spread like wildfire and was used in Christian art throughout the Roman Em-pire. Even to this day it is used in churches around the world and contin-ues to represent the victorious God who has defeated sin and death.

A Friend of Calvary

April 3 _______________________________________________________

The Dove with 3 Leafed Branch In Genesis Chapter 8, we learn that Noah opens the door to the ark and sends out a dove that soon returns. He waits seven days and sends out the dove a second time. It returns again but this time it has an olive tree leaf in its beak. Noah sends out the dove a third time and this time the dove does not return. Noah immediately decides to leave the ark and begin a new life on earth. As Christians, we know that the dove is a clean bird and in Scripture is mostly used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. This dove returned with an olive tree three-leafed branch. Throughout history, Chris-tians have pointed out that the dove being sent out three times and the three-leafed branch are reflections of the triune nature of God. In addition, Christians have pointed out the importance of the number three in the scriptures – Noah had three sons; Jesus was raised on the third day; the ark of the covenant contained 3 sacred objects; there were three crosses; and if we dig deeper there are many more in-stances of the number three. In closing, we cannot dismiss the significance of the olive tree branch. As Christians, we use the olive branch to symbolize peace. Olives are known to be nutritional and healing, similar to what Jesus brings to our lives. No matter our view, the dove and the olive branch will always remind us of Jesus. They symbolize the teach-ings he brought to us and remind us that he was human – a necessity in order for Him to die for our sins and then be resurrected, giving us nothing but hope for the future.

A Friend of Calvary

April 2 ____________________________________________________

Lamb of God A Lamb, with it's sweet face, clean white coat, and meek nature, are followers; and are dependent on the shepherd for guidance and protection. In this way, a Lamb of God is to accept, follow and do God's will, no complaints! This Jesus did. In Jewish history, according to their laws, if sin was present, God demanded a blood sacrifice to forgive, purify, and redeem the sinner. Many times a Lamb, because of its clean, white coat, was used as this sacrifice. Man is sinful by nature and the Jewish laws were unable to save man from sin. God declared an end to sins control over us by sending his pure, stainless, perfect, free of sin Son as a sacrifice for our sins. John 1:29 Romans 8:3

Dianne Cintron

March 6 _______________________________________________________

Baptism Scripture Readings: Matthew 3:13-17; Matthew 28:16-20 Devotional: Jesus was baptized to obey his Heavenly Father and be an example to others. Believers ever since have made baptism a public declara-tion of faith. Baptism’s importance is reflected in that all but one of Jesus’ followers mentioned in the New Testament were baptized—the exception being the thief crucified next to Jesus. After his resur-rection Jesus commanded His apostles to make disciples of all na-tions, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to discern Your divine plan so that I may obey Your will. Grant me the strength and opportunity to spread Your word and make disciples. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Mike Stephens

March 7 ____________________________________________________

Yoke of His Burden Lamentations 2:27 - “It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.” Matthew 11:29 -30 : ”Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” In my lifetime, I have carried two heavy yokes of burden. The first came when I was much younger. An illness came to me that required surgery & thus recovery time so that I lost my job. This period of time made me feel that my life was worthless & had no purpose. I prayed & prayed for the Lord to show me some purpose for my life. One day there was an ad in the news-paper for a FREE nurse’s aide course with guaranteed employ-ment upon completion. Me in nursing? Yes, I found my pur-pose!! This is where I was meant to be: taking care of people. Later in my life, Alice came in to my life when I was taking care of her mother at the nursing home & she saw that I could do bet-ter & she supported me & sent me to nursing school. Now I had found my real purpose. Then much later came my second yoke when the radiologist told me I had breast cancer. Oh, I’m fine now. The best news is “there is no more cancer” and I retired from nursing. But now Alice and I take care of each other, and believe me my nurse’s training does not go to waste!

Sue Elicker

April 1 ______________________________________________________

Trees I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree. A tree that looks at God all day and lifts her leafy arms to pray! …. Poems are made by fools like me But only God can make a tree. I have always loved that poem by Joyce Kilmer and I have always loved trees—big ones, like the giant sequoias in California, or the giant hemlocks in “Hemlock State Park” near Carlisle. I marvel at their grandeur and feel like I am on holy ground—under the arms of God! There are many Bible references to trees. Consider Genesis 2, the mythological “Tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Think how much knowledge we would accumulate if we lived as long as a huge tree. Psalm 1 tells us that when we walk with the Lord we are “like a tree planted by the streams of water. We bear fruit and do not wither.” Matthew 7 tells us that every sound tree bears good fruit and “you will know them by their fruits.” I sometimes use that analogy to de-termine which person or politician to trust: have they produced good “fruit?” It was on a “tree” that Jesus died—killed by evil forces that could not tolerate his “good fruit.” Christians who follow his example also take a similar risk. There are many ancient and modern examples.

When we stand firm in our love and ser-vice to others-- no matter where it leads --with our roots anchored firmly in God, then WE are the trees of knowledge of good and evil.

Bob Little

March 31 ____________________________________________________

Cross and Flame The insignia of The United Methodist Church is a cross linked with a dual flame, a powerful reminder of who we are in Christ. It relates the United Methodist church to God through Christ—the cross—and the Holy Spirit—the flame, a reminder of Pente-cost when witnesses were unified by the power of the Holy Spir-it and saw "tongues, as of fire" in Acts 2:3. The elements of the emblem also remind us of a transforming moment in the life of Methodism's founder, John Wesley, when he sensed God's presence and felt his heart "strangely warmed." The two tongues of a single flame may also be understood to represent the union of two denominations. The Cross and Flame was birthed following the formation of the

United Methodist Church by the union of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church in 1968. After considering more than two dozen other de-signs, the cross and flame was chosen as the official emblem. The Cross and Flame is a registered trade-mark and the use is supervised by the Gen-eral Council on Finance and Administra-tion of The United Methodist Church. Per-mission to use the Cross and Flame must be obtained from the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United

Methodist Church. Dear Heavenly Father, when we see the symbol of our United Methodist Churches may it ignite a flame in us to “Go into all the world and pro-claim the gospel to the whole creation,” Mark 16:15-16. Amen.

Susie Grubb

Sunday, March 8 _______________________________________________________

INRI (Latin acronym inscription which translates to “Jesus the Nazarene,

King of the Jews”) Crucifixes include a plaque above Christ’s head bearing the Latin acronym, INRI. The original inscription was placed on the cross by order of Roman governor Pontius Pilate so as to mock the idea that Jesus was a king. In the New Testament, all concerned with earthly power are driven by fear and to violence. Herod is so troubled by the Magi looking for the “King of the Jews” that he sends his soldiers out to kill babies born to his own subjects. The religious leaders, worried over challenges to their authority by Jesus, fake loyalty to Rome by turning him over as a traitor. To them, the enemy of their enemy is their friend. The Roman soldiers, acting on Pilate’s orders, crown Jesus with thorns as a warning to anyone who seeks kingship for the Emperor alone is supreme and divine. By reading the bible, we know the Kingship of Jesus is not about what we covet and fear to lose. It is for the poor in spirit, the little children, the meek and for those that mourn; so blessed be the King-dom of God!

Andy Demarest

March 9 ____________________________________________________

Rooster The rooster symbolizes a sinner’s acceptance of divine pardon through Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells the disci-ples that they will all fall away from Him because of the events that would lead up to His death. Immediately, “Peter answered Him, ‘Though they all fall away from you, I will never fall away.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I tell you, this very night before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!’ And all the disciples said the same.” (Matthew 26: 33-35) But we know the rest of the story: Peter did deny any relation-ship to Jesus three times. And then the rooster crowed. After hearing the crowing, Peter went out and wept bitterly. Peter was a broken man who repented and experienced grace. To many the rooster represents Peter’s denial of Christ, but we cannot stop there. The rooster stands for far more. It stands for Peter’s remorse and repentance upon hearing it crow. The rooster, as a symbol becomes a call to repentance. But is it possible that the rooster symbolizes so much more? Could the rooster serve as a symbol of Christ Himself – the One whose coming brought the true light of the world and in whose resurrection, we have hope? For it is the rooster that announces the first light of morning; and it is Christ who announced an end to spiritual darkness and despair.

A Friend of Calvary

March 30 _______________________________________________________

Light Streams

Blessed are you who enter in God’s name—from God’s house we

bless you! God is God, he has bathed us in light. Festoon the shrine with gar-lands, hang colored banners above the altar! You’re my God, and I thank you. O my God, I lift high your praise. Thank God—he’s so good. His love never quits!

Psalm 118:27-29 (MSG)

Photo Submitted by Neena Selfridge

Sunday, March 29 ____________________________________________________

Ten Commandments

(Represented by image of stone tablets on Prayer chapel win-dow)

The ten commandments are the foundation laws that we first meet in Exodus 20:1-17. These laws were given by God to Mo-ses to be taught to the Israelites as a part of the covenant setting Israel apart as God’s people.

The first four commandments address man’s honoring God while the last six deal with relationships between people. Along with over 600 other laws these commandments governed reli-gious and daily Jewish life. Jesus, being a Jew, observed Jewish laws. When asked which law was greatest, He replied that the most important was “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind.” This would en-compass the first four commandments. He continued that the second greatest is “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This would apply to the remaining six commandments.

Ref.: Matthew 22:38

Janet Hoke

March 10 _______________________________________________________

Cross of Christ on the Hill Hebrews 12:2: Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of (our) faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the symbol of suffering and shame. The mob that followed Jesus as He carried the cross made fun of Him with their shouting names and bullying Him. He was nailed to the cross. Nails were put in His hands and feet. They put a crown of thorns on His head and stabbed Him in His side. His cross was placed on the hill between two thieves. I cannot imagine the suffering Jesus felt when He was dying on the cross. When I was employed as a school principal, I was called names I won’t repeat; but I just tried to ignore them as I think Jesus did. Every day I wear a small gold chain with a gold cross as a reminder for me of my religious faith. Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for your suffering on the cross so that I can have the freedom of religious faith. Amen

Alice Elicker

March 11 ____________________________________________________

Dove

In Luke 3: 21-22 we read: “….when Jesus too had been bap-tized and was praying, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit de-scended on Him in bodily form like a dove;…” This event is also recoded in Matthew 3:16-17 and in Mark 1:10-11. It is testified to in John 1:32-34. As a child I was taught that when entering a place of worship, I should do so reverently and should quietly read, listen to music, pray, or meditate in preparation for worship. As we enter Calvary’s sanctuary our attention is drawn to the large stained glass window where vivid colors and depictions of Christian symbols invite us to prepare our hearts and minds for worship. This window’s pictured dove represents the Holy Spirit descend-ing on Jesus and also on each of us. When we focus on this im-age we feel the presence of our Lord. As we worship him with praise and thanksgiving we know that he dwells with us always.

Janet Hoke

March 28 _______________________________________________________

Stars Scripture: There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differs from anoth-er in glory. 1 Corinthians 15:41 In an era riddled and overlit by human technology, constellations make a much dimmer impact than they did in the biblical age. It is easy to forget what important reference point a star was for a sea go-ing community. The relative lightness or darkness of a situation might literally correspond to life or death. Consequently, those peo-ple kept a very serious guard over their relationship with both these lights and the power presumed to be behind them. As I focused on the early significance of light versus darkness I re-membered an old folk/protest song: Bright Morning Star Arising: day is a-breaking in my soul. Metaphoric references can be traced through various hymns and books of the Bible, particularly Psalms and Isaiah on through Reve-lations; where Jesus personifies the star, triumphs over evil; and leads the way into the kingdom of Heaven. In the most literal sense the original morning star was Venus who appeared as both morning and evening star in a society where sun-rise and sunset were key divisions of time.

Colleen Hoke

March 27 ____________________________________________________

Martin Luther In 1517, Martin Luther nailed the 95 Thesis to the church door, simply to demonstrate the discrepancies between the Pope’s ac-tions and the truth within the Bible. Inadvertently, his actions initiated a conflict with the Catholic Church, the most powerful institution of the day. The Church brought Luther to trial in the city of Worms. He was charged with heresy and threatened with execution, unless he recanted. Luther was convinced he would not survive the trial, but was unwilling to compromise his beliefs. With absolute faith, he declared, “HERE I STAND, I CAN DO NO OTHER, GOD HELP ME, AMEN...” There are times in our lives when we may face a situation in which we are powerless. It may be challenging to turn to faith alone, and trust that God is alongside us during such trials. Prayer: Dear God, give us the faith to stand firm in the face of adversity and to put our faith in your salvation.

Alton Whittle

March 12 _______________________________________________________

Alpha In the Old Testament: “God blesses Israel from 'aleph to taw.” (Leviticus 26:3-13) Aleph and taw are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, therefore this Jewish expression refers to the whole extent of a thing. Alpha is a concept based on the first letter of the Greek alphabet with the same name. The word Alpha appears in scripture just 3 times – all in the Revelation of John. John wrote to a primarily Greek audience, so using Alpha was easily understood by them. In Revelation, John conveys this account of Jesus saying: “ ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8). Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet. John is telling the Greek converts, and us, of the character of the Lord. That he IS the beginning of all things, he is in all things in the present, and he will be in all things in the future. He is also assuring them that Jesus will return, and we continue to anticipate that day. Prayer: Thank you God, for being the Alpha and the Omega. You are the beginning and the end and everything in between. You are worthy of praise as our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer and we are grateful that you are always present. Help us to be open to your pres-ence in our lives so that we may do your will. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Nancy Flint

March 13 ____________________________________________________

John Wesley John Wesley was born in England in 1703. His father was a minister in the Church of England and his mother cared for and educated him and his 8 siblings. At the age of 6 years, John was rescued from a fire in the rec-tory of his fathers church by a parishioner who stood on the shoulders of another man. He was the only child left behind on another floor of the building. Wesley felt this incident paved the way to his destiny. John was educated in Oxford, and ordained in 1728. His younger brother Charles, a cleric and also a hymn writer, found-ed the “Holy Club” a society formed for study and the pursuit of devout Christian life. John spent 2 unsuccessful years of ministry in Savannah, Georgia with his brother Charles then returned to London. On the voyage to America, Wesley met Moravian settlers. During the voyage a storm brewed and damaged the ship. The Moravi-ans sang hymns and prayed while Wesley panicked fearing the raging sea. Wesley concluded Moravian piety gave them their inner strength. This idea influenced Wesley’s theology of Meth-odism. “Wesleyans believe in one God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Savior of all persons who put their faith in Him alone for eternal life. We believe those who receive new life in Christ are called to be holy in character and conduct, and can only live this way by being filled with the Lord’s Spirit. We believe in the Bible and seek to establish our faith and actions on its teachings. We believe God wants people everywhere to know Him and that the purpose of the church is to tell the world about Christ

through its worship, witness and loving deeds.” ** Thanks be to God!

Sandee Beck **Paraphrased from the articles of Reli-gion of The Wesleyan Church

March 26 _______________________________________________________

Rooster Matthew 26:34 – “Truly, I tell you, Jesus declared, “this very night before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”

After Jesus and His disciples had celebrated The Last Supper, they went to the garden so Jesus could pray. He took three of them, Pe-ter, James and John, apart from the rest and asked them to watch with him while He prayed, but they fell asleep.

Later, Judas came with the soldiers to arrest Jesus and Jesus looked at Peter and the rooster crowed.

Scott Hoezee wrote in his book “When the Rooster Crows” : “the rooster’s crowing during the night was a standard way to mark time back then. Roosters generally were known to crow at around 11:30 pm, 1:30 am, and once again at the crack of dawn. So those three different sets of crowing's became a way to tell time in an age when no other clock existed.”

Sue Elicker

March 25 ____________________________________________________

Paul

“To keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpass-ingly great visions and revelations I received from God, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a message from Satan, to tor-ment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me: My grace is sufficient for you,

For my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NIV

Mary Jo Zemitis

March 14 _______________________________________________________

Stained Glass Windows Scripture: Psalm 139: 1-6 and John 3:1 As I look at all of the stained glass windows I see so many things that make my life complete as a follower of Christ. The creative hand of God (the animals, the sky, myself, and all His creation), the cross and flame, the banner of the U.M.C. God’s gift to us. His son and the pouring out of his spirit on the body of believers, the church universal. The church is Christ’s bride on earth and we are to follow His guidance by the faith in our heart. Just as God guided Luther to place his beliefs on that chapel door or Wesley standing up against the church of England, we too are responsible to listen by our faith to the spirit He has placed in our hearts. As I think of all the things I see as I look at my life, I see Him guiding me all the time. It is not always easy to hear and do the right thing. We look at the worldly things and sometimes forget to look at what God is telling us in our hearts by the word and the spirit. In the last few weeks, I had problems on vacation in Tenn.. Maxine, myself and our son, Mark, went on December 17th. Maxine fell. She appeared to be OK. Mark was there to help get her up. We en-joyed our time away and then 2 days before we were to leave, Mark became sick and demanded that I take him home. Maxine said I should take him home and I did, returning back to our hotel in Tenn., 17 hours later. We enjoyed the next 2 days. We then found out that Mark was taken to the ER for tests and the flu. As we traveled to-ward home, we stopped in VA, for a few days and I had to take Maxine to the ER for a bump on the top of her head. The doctor de-termined that she was OK so we rested there until we returned home. Looking back on this, I can see God at work guiding all of my ac-tions. Look to God all the time and you will hear Him tell your heart what to do.

God Bless you

Harold McNaughton

Sunday, March 15 ____________________________________________________

Communion Pastor Jim Taylor was the camp dean the first time I served as a church camp counselor. PJ (as the campers called him) had a personality that was loud and outgoing. He had served as a Chaplain in the US Army and never quite mastered the idea of an inside voice. At camp that year, PJ introduced the campers to the idea of holy ground (Exodus 3:5, Acts 7:33). He explained that any place could be holy as long as the presence of God was upon it. Each day, PJ would rope off a small section of camp and place communion elements in the area for campers to par-take in at their own discretion. One day it was an area near the cross at the outdoor chapel. One day in the grass outside the dining hall. One day it was near the lake. But the part that stuck out to me and the campers was this: communion each day was never the same. One day it was the standard bread cubes and grape juice. One day, grape gummy candy and crackers. An-other day grape jelly beans and gold fish crackers. While some might see this as disrespectful of the sacrament of communion, for the campers, it was an important life lesson. God is every-where. Anyplace you are can be holy by your willingness to invite God into the moment. During this season of Lent, may you find and experience God in the most unlikely of places.

Kelley Price

March 24 _______________________________________________________

Manger Did you know that Luke is the only writer in the Bible to use the word manger? Manger comes from the Latin word for chew or eat. It refers to a trough where animals eat. But what was Luke’s reason for using the word manger? The manger was a common corn crib, something that ordinary people would have. The manger was also a sign: Unto you is born in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger (Luke 2:11-12). Every baby born in Bethlehem was wearing swaddling cloths, the sign was the manger. No other king anywhere was sleeping in a feed trough. Find him and you will find the King of kings. God gave up his divine privilege and took the humble position of a serv-ant, being born in a manger when he came to earth (Philippians 2:6-8). God used the manager to show us that ordinary people can do amazing things for His Kingdom!

Kelley Price

March 23 ____________________________________________________

Triquetra Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. – Matthew 28:19 The word triquetra means “three-cornered.” However, today the word is commonly used for a specific three-cornered shape formed by three overlapping arcs or circles, such as in Calvary’s stained glass window. It is believed that the triquetra knot origi-nated with the Celts to symbolize the concept of spiritual life with no beginning or end. Most believe that the triquetra came into Christian use by monks who were sharing the gospel with the Celts. It was used to repre-sent the Trinity. The Trinity, the belief that God is in three per-sons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is a core belief of Christian-ity. It is a difficult concept for many to grasp, and using this fa-miliar symbol of Celtic culture assisted the monks in making the Gospel understandable. For us today, the Trinity is a wonderful reality. God is our Fa-ther and Creator; He joined the world in human form as the Son, Jesus, to save the world; and He remains ever-present with us in the form of the Holy Spirit. Prayer: Triune God: Thank you for symbols, such as the Tri-quetra, that help us learn about your nature. Help us to use this and other symbols to assist us in teaching others about you - the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit - as we go out to make disciples in this world. Amen.

Nancy Flint

March 16 _______________________________________________________

Moon Access to light in the dark can be critical. Predictable solar and lu-nar intervals were reassuring and allowed the Jews to maintain regu-lar schedules of festivals and daily activities. They actually used a lunar calendar which worked with an addition of an extra month (the equivalent of a “leap year”) about every three years. The moon was integral to a society that was based upon agricultural and marine activities. In fact, the moon could be designated as a beacon of sorts – it lit up the dark sky, and could be used as a refer-ence for those at sea. In addition, people of this time were aware of and appreciative of tidal effects. The moon could also serve as a harbinger, as changes in its appear-ance or behavior would be ascribed to heavenly pleasure or lack thereof. In general, the moon in its regularity helped to tie past, pre-sent and future together with the time-flow function as an aspect of its relationship with the creator.

Colleen Hoke

March 17 ____________________________________________________

World He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands is an African American spiritual that was first published in 1927. May it be both a pray-er and reminder to you in this Lenten Season. He’s got the whole world in His hands. He’s got the whole world in His hands. He’s got the whole world in His hands. He’s got the whole world in His hands. He’s got the itty bitty baby in His Hands. He’s got you and me brother in His Hands. He’s got you and me sister in His hands. He’s got everybody here in His hands. He’s got the whole world in His hands. He’s got the whole world in His hands. He’s got the whole world in His hands. He’s got the whole world in His hands.

The Youth of Calvary

Sunday, March 22 _______________________________________________________

Chalice and Pointed Cross of Gethsemane These two items combined are a symbol of Christ’s Passion. The chalice or cup in this instance does not refer to the cup of Holy Com-munion, but to the great agony Jesus had to endure on the cross, which he referred to as a cup. The chalice, with the bitter content of suffering and dying that Jesus must drink is mentioned in the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Father if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not My will, but Thy will, be done” (Luke 22:42). The cross is depicted as having pointed ends, which, like swords of sorrow and pain, would penetrate the soul of Jesus. Because Jesus drained the cup of suffering and bore the cross, our cup overflows (Psalm 23:5) and our crosses are made light.

A Friend of Calvary

March 21 ____________________________________________________

The Alpha and Omega Read Revelation 1:8 ~~ "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Al-mighty." Read Revelation 21:6 ~~ He said to me, "It is done. I am the Al-pha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life." Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alpha-bet. The Lord God is the beginning and the end. God the Father is the eternal Lord and Ruler of the past, present and future. Without him you have nothing that is eternal, nothing that can change your life, nothing that can save you from sin. The letters Alpha and Omega are often used as a Christian visual symbol. They were used in early Christianity and appear in the Ro-man catacombs. According to Wikipedia, the letters were shown hanging from the arms of the cross in early Christian art, jeweled crosses in precious metals, and some coat of arms. They are often shown to the left and right of Christ's head, sometimes within his halo, where they take the place of the Christogram used in Ortho-dox art. Prayer: We honor the One who is the beginning and the end of all existence, wisdom and power. Just as God finished the work of creation and Jesus finished the work of redemption, so the Trinity will finish the plan of salvation by inviting us into a new crea-tion. We pray for eternal blessings that come when we believe, and ask you to satisfy our spiritual thirst. Amen

Dyan Yingst

March 18 _______________________________________________________

Star of the Nativity While being a center point to the story of Jesus’ birth, the Star of the Nativity or Bethlehem or Christmas Star appears only in the account of the Birth of Jesus found in the Gospel of Matthew: After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when

it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2 The Star of the Nativity is traditionally linked to the prophecy of a star which is found in the book of Numbers: “I see him, not now; I behold him, but not hear. A star will come out

of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the fore-heads of Moab, the skulls of the people of Sheth.” Numbers 24:17

Prayer: Loving God, may we be reminded every day that just as you had a plan for a Savior to be born and a star to show the way, you have a plan for our lives. Let us be open to your voice, calling, and direction. Amen.

A Friend of Calvary

March 19 ____________________________________________________

Peter “Jesus went to a place called Gethsemane and said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray,’ He took Peter and Zebe-dee’s two sons with him. He said to them ‘My soul is over-whelmed with sorrow. Stay here and keep watch for me.’ Going farther, he fell to the ground and prayed. ‘Father, …may this cup be taken from me. Yet, not my will but your will.’ He returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ’Could you not keep watch for me for one hour?’ he asked Peter. ‘Watch and pray for the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.’ …Then he returned a third time and said to them, ‘…The hour is near and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise let us go! Here come my betrayers.” Matthew 26:26-46 NIV

Mary Jo Zemitis

March 20 _______________________________________________________

Fish

Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast” John 21:12 Jesus and Christianity have many connections to fish. Jesus chose fishermen to be his first companions on his journey to the cross. He fed thousands with the loaves and fish. In John, the risen Jesus waits for the disciples on the shore of the Galilee. In context, the disciples have had quite a time of it. They witnessed the crucifixion and then the appearance of the risen Jesus in the upper room. Confused and lost, Peter along with some disci-ples return to their old haunt and the comfort of fishing. While in their boat, they observe that on the shore, Jesus has pre-pared a breakfast of grilled fish and bread for their return. After breakfast, Jesus calls Peter to service and to “feed his sheep ''. Peter and now us, realize that an encounter with the risen Jesus requires us to give up old ways and comforts. Jesus commands Peter and us to act. We also know that despite the rigors of a Christian life, the Savior is waiting for us when we reach the shore for the last time.

Andy Demarest