Devotional Resources for the Whole Family

 

The earliest mentions of a 40-day period of fasting and prayer to commemorate the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness, preceding His temptation and the start of His public ministry, goes all the way back to the 4th century when Athanasius, Augustine and the Council of Nicaea all reference a 40 day fast. Later the season of Lent evolved into a period of spiritual devotion and observance within many Protestant churches that begins with Ash Wednesday and ends on the evening of Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. In various streams of the church, some of the Lenten observances have included the practices of prayer, fasting, giving and abstinence. Whatever ways you choose to recognize the season, at TVC, we invite you to join us by taking advantage of the resources on this page to help you and your family draw near to the Lord during the next 40 days. Worship, read, pray, celebrate and rejoice in the unparalleled gift of God in Christ!

Join us for the Curate’s Corner podcast with Kim Thomas each Friday of Lent as we look at the story of Jesus’ last week as told through classic art, prayers and scriptures. You can subscribe now to this weekly seasonal podcast on all major platforms, including the TVC YouTube channel. Episodes will arrive each Friday beginning February 24 through Good Friday, April 7. Find accompanying podcast episode notes below.

A Humble Arrival

ART:
Triumphal Entry
Jean-Hippolyte Flandrin

Click to see the painting in the church.

 

SCRIPTURE: Luke 19:28-44
The Triumphal Entry

28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

PRAYER:
St. Andrew of Crete (660-740)

Our Father, In his humility Christ entered the dark regions of our fallen world and he is glad that he became so humble for our sake, glad that he came and lived among us and shared in our nature in order to raise us up again to himself. And even though we are told that he has now ascended above the highest heavens – the proof, surely, of his power and godhead – his love for man will never rest until he has raised our earthbound nature from glory to glory, and made it one with his own in heaven.

So let us spread before his feet, not garments or soulless olive branches, which delight the eye for a few hours and then wither, but ourselves, clothed in his grace, or rather, clothed completely in him.

We who have been baptized into Christ must ourselves be the garments that we spread before him. Now that the crimson stains of our sins have been washed away in the waters of baptism and we have become white as pure wool, let us present the conqueror of death, not with mere branches of palms but with the real rewards of his victory.

Let our souls take the place of the welcoming branches as we join today in the children’s holy song: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the king of Israel. AMEN.

A Difficult Conversation

ART:
The Last Supper
Leonardo DaVinci

SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:14-23

Institution of the Lord’s Supper

14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him.15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.

PRAYER: George Matheson (1842-1906)

Dear Lord, I thank Thee that Thy love constraineth me.
I thank Thee that, in the great labyrinth of life, Thou waitest not for my consent to lead me.
I thank Thee that Thou leadest me by a way which I know not, by a way which is above the level of my own poor understanding.
I thank Thee that Thou art not repelled by my bitterness, that Thou art not turned aside by the heat of my spirit.
There is no force in this universe so glorious as the force of Thy love; it compels me to come in. Amen.

Jesus Prays, Judas Betrays

ART:
Agony in the Garden
Andrea Mantegna

SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:39-46

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

PRAYER: Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)

I ask you neither for health nor for sickness, for life nor for death; but that you may dispose of my health and my sickness, my life and my death, for your glory…You alone know what is expedient for me; you are the sovereign master; do with me according to your will. Give to me, or take away from me, only comfort my will to yours. I know but one thing, Lord, that it is good to follow you, and bad to offend you. Apart from that, I know not what is good or bad in anything. I know not which is most profitable for me, health or sickness, wealth or poverty, nor anything else in the world. That discernment is beyond the power of men or angels, and is hidden among the secrets of your Providence, which I adore, but do not seek to fathom.

Christ Before Pilate

ART:
What is Truth (1890)
Nikolai Ge

SCRIPTURE: John 18:28-40, 19:1-16

Jesus Before Pilate

28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

My Kingdom Is Not of This World

33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. 39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified

19 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus,

PRAYER: King Alfred the Great of Wessex (9th c)

I pray to You, O Lord, who are the supreme Truth, and all truth is from You.
I beseech You, O Lord, who are the highest Wisdom, and all the wise depend on You for their wisdom.
You are the supreme Joy, and all who are happy owe it to You.
You are the highest Good, and all goodness comes from You.
You are the Light of minds, and all receive their understanding from You.
I love You—indeed I love You above all things.
I seek You, follow You, and am prepared to serve You.
I desire to dwell under Your power, for You are the King of all.

Articles of a Condemned King

ART:
Christ Falls on the Way to Calvary
Raphael

SCRIPTURE: Luke 23:26-32

The Crucifixion

26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” 32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.

PRAYER: Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941)

Almighty God, who has shown us in the life and teaching of Your Son the true way of blessedness, You have also shown us in His suffering and death that the path of love may lead to the cross, and the reward of faithfulness may be a crown of thorns. Give us grace to learn these hard lessons. May we take up our cross and follow Christ in the strength of patience and the constancy of faith; and may we have such fellowship with Him in His sorrow, that we may know the secret of His strength and peace, and see even in our darkest hour of trial and anguish, the shining of the eternal light.

Jesus’ Words to His Mother, to the Thief, to His Father


ART:
Stations of the Cross, XII (1958-1966)
Barnett Newman

SCRIPTURE: Luke 23:34, 43 & 46

34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

John 19:26-28 & 30

26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”
30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Mark 15:34

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

PRAYER: Cornelius Plantinga (1946- )

O God, your people give you hearty thanks for your matchless grace…
Rescuer of the shamed, you reach into human pits to lift the fallen.
We sink into addiction, and you come to heal.
We sink into folly, and you come to correct.
We sink into corruption, and you come to sanctify.
Refuge of all who suffer, we look for shelter in the shadow of your wings.
Rain and hail and wind beat on your wings, but they do not fold.
They are spread like Jesus’s arms on the cross, spread out to protect all who seek shelter beneath them.
O God, wondrous in love for sinners, we give you thanks for your saving grace.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Jesus Speaks to Mary

ART:
Noli Me Tangere, (Touch me not)
Artist Unknown

SCRIPTURE: John 20:11-18

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

PRAYER: Veit Dietrich (1506-1549)

Almighty and eternal God, by your Son you promised us forgiveness of our sins and deliverance from eternal death.
We pray that by your Holy Spirit you will daily increase our faith in your grace through Christ and establish us in the certain hope that we will not die, but peacefully sleep and be raised again on the last day to eternal life and salvation; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever.

EASTER WEEKEND SERVICE TIMES

We hope you will make plans to join us for worship at special times on Good Friday and Easter Sunday!

Good Friday

6 & 7:30 pm
6 pm Online

Easter Sunday

8:30, 10 & 11:30 am
10 am Online

Scroll to Top