2022 Lent Devotional
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The theme this year is “Psalms our Lord Said.” The Psalms are an ancient prayer book (found in the Old Testament of the Bible). These are prayers that Jesus would have prayed, and they are also words that the early church used to understand Jesus. Every entry will be written by a pastor (from one of the churches joining together to make this devotion) and will explore the connection between a psalm and a story from the Gospels. It’s a great chance to learn a bit about the Bible and learn to think about Jesus more like the early Christians did. These devotionals are being shared at churches across Virginia and beyond.
Sunday, April 17: Psalm 111
Written by Matt Benton, Pastor of Bethel UMC in Woodbridge, VA. Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Theologian Kathryn Tanner says that God is the giver of all good gifts. That God’s essence; who God is and what God does, is to give us good...
Saturday, April 16: Psalm 88 and Luke 23:49
Written by Ashleigh Elser, Assistant Professor of Religion, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden Sydney, VA Psalm 88 translation by Robert Alter A song, a psalm for the Korahites, for the lead player, on the mahalath, to sing out, a maskil for Heman the Ezrahite....
Friday April 15: Psalm 22 and Matthew 26:46
Written by Stephanie Kimec Parker, Pastor of the Gathering at Scott Memorial, Virginia Beach, VA In Matthew 26, after Jesus had been on the cross for 3 hours, Jesus cried out with a loud voice “Eli, Eli Lema Sabbach thani” - “My God, My God, why have you forsaken...
Thursday April 14: Psalm 42 & Mt. 26:38/Mark 14:34
Written by Elaine Ellis Thomas, Rector of All Saints Episcopal Parish, Hoboken, NJ My conversion did not come easy. God had to work hard to entice me, and music was God’s weapon of choice. “Here, little girl, sing this solo on Christmas Eve.” “Here, young...
Sunday, April 10: Psalm 118 and Matthew 21:9
PALM SUNDAY Written by Matt Benton, Pastor of Bethel UMC in Woodbridge, VA Psalm 118 is a Psalm of Victory. Literally. I’m not dipping into any special pastor knowledge to say this; it’s the Psalm heading in the NRSV. Psalm 118: A Psalm of...
Friday April 8: Psalm 118:22-23 and Matthew 21:33-46
Written by Brian Johnson, Pastor of Haymarket Church in Haymarket, VA The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. – Psalm 118:22-23 When I...
Wednesday, April 6: Psalm 109
Written by Joe Lenow, Rector of St. James' Parish, Lothian, MD. Psalm 109 (Book of Common Prayer) 1 Hold not your tongue, O God of my praise; * for the mouth of the wicked, the mouth of the deceitful, is opened...
Monday April 4: Psalm 31
Written by Drew Colby, Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Manassas, VA One year on Good Friday a friend decided to recite all 150 Psalms out loud while kneeling in front of the cross at his church (a practice I do not recommend, dear reader, because I care...
Friday April 1: Psalm 41.4-10 & John 13.1, 12-20
Written by Taylor Mertins, Pastor of Raleigh Court UMC in Roanoke, VA The synoptics (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) treat us to the scene of Jesus’ final evening with his friends as they sit around a table sharing bread and wine.John, however, takes the scene a little...
Wednesday, March 30: Psalm 8 and Matthew 21:16
Written by Hung Su Lim, Pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church in Richmond, VA A few years ago, I visited the Grand Canyon. It was an exceptional experience to sense the vastness of the creation. It was natural to feel overwhelmed by the splendor and majesty of...
Monday, March 28: Psalm 98 and Luke 1:54
Written by Grace Han, Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Alexandria, VA. O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! Psalm 98 isn’t a very “Lenten” Psalm. After all, Lent is supposed to be serious and somber. We put away our...
Friday, March 25: Psalm 110
Written by Michael Petrin, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Marywood University, Scranton, PA The Lord said to my Lord,“Sit at my right hand,until I put your enemies under your feet.” – Psalm 110:1 Christians often forget that Jesus was...
Monday, March 21: Psalm 82 and John 10:34
Written by Lauren Lobenhofer, Lead Pastor of Cave Spring UMC, Roanoke, VA I often hear people ask, “Where is God when bad things happen?” Where is God when God’s people suffer from poverty and illness, or when creation is damaged or destroyed? In the face of...
Friday, March 18: Psalm 62
Written by Dan Kim, Pastor of Gum Spring United Methodist Church in Gum Spring, VA. Psalm 62, New Revised Standard Version Song of Trust in God Alone To the leader: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. 1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;...
Monday, March 14: Psalm 48 and Matthew 5:35
Written by Jonathan Page, Pastor of Herndon United Methodist Church in Herndon, VA. We humans love protection. We do a lot to keep ourselves safe, and, amazingly, it often chalks up to what we are wearing. Usually, these are temporary measures like seatbelts in...
Friday, March 11: Psalm 37 & Matthew 5:5
Written by Charlie Baber, Pastor of Youth Ministry at University United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill, NC “Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5 When Jesus delivers the beatitudes in his Sermon on the Mount, he...
Monday, March 7: Psalm 91.9-13 & Luke 4.1-13
Written by Taylor Mertins, Pastor of Raleigh Court United Methodist Church, Roanoke, VA. Written by Taylor Mertins, Pastor of Raleigh Court UMC in Roanoke, VA The temptation scene set out in the wilderness really is as strange as it sounds. And when you take a...
Wednesday, March 2: Psalm 72 & Luke 1:68
Written by Lindsey Baynham Freeman, Pastor at Welborne United Methodist Church in Richmond, VA Psalm 72, a prayer for the king, is all about reversals & God’s wondrous works throughout all creation. It is a litany that walks us through the hopes for a...
Friday, March 4: Psalm 78.17-24 & John 6.25-35
Written by Taylor Mertins, Pastor of Raleigh Court United Methodist Church, Roanoke, VA. Jesus spends the afternoon feeding 5,000 through his divine mercy. And, when all is said and done, bellies full to the brim, a crowd gathers to question the behavior of this...
Tuesday, March 1: Introduction
Welcome to “Psalms My Lord Said," a Lenten journey through the Psalms quoted in the Gospels. From now through Easter, we will be sharing devotionals written by a variety of pastors and scholars. This is an opportunity for us to dig deeply into our faith and pay...
