Lenten Devotion for Saturday, March 27

Today's lessons:

Psalm 31:9-16

Leviticus 23:1-8

Luke 22:1-13

Author:

Rev. John M. Leaf

Retired, Moline

Interim Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran in East Moline

Theme verses:

Luke 22:7-8 - Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover Lamb was to be sacrificed.  So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover meal for that we may it.  

Meditation:

I don't know if they had Altar Guilds when Jesus and his disciples ate the Passover meal with his disciples before he was crucified, but he appointed Peter and John to serve on his Altar Guild to prepare for the Passover meal he ate with his disciples in the upper room.  

This is the time of year when the Altar Guilds of many of our congregations are getting the chancel areas of our sanctuary ready for Holy Week and Easter.  Members of Altar Guilds are making sure the right paraments are ready and that there will be enough communion bread and wine for our observance of this special time in the life of our congregations. 

On the Saturday before Easter, Altar Guilds make sure the chancel area is properly decorated with beautiful Easter lilies and flowers.  

As Altar Guilds remind us of the importance of properly preparing the chancel areas of our churches for Holy Week and Easter, may we also be about preparing our lives for that week we call Holy. 

One way is through spending time alone in prayer and asking God to help us faithfully follow Jesus who gave his life on the cross so we may receive forgiveness of sin and mercy.   

Prayer:

Dear Lord, help us as we prepare our lives for that week we call Holy.  We pray especially for our Altar Guilds who spend extra time preparing the chancel areas of our churches for Holy Week and Easter.  Amen.