Abandonment

The word “disappointment” refers to the sorrow that we often feel as a result of our unfulfilled hopes or expectations. But is sorrow the only outcome of disappointment? According to the Season of Lent and way of Jesus, difficult human experiences—even death itself—are imbued with unexpected surprises and possibilities. During this Season of Lent we’ll explore the life of Moses and his many disappointments. We’ll make space to lament our own experiences of disappointment while being intentional to consider the potential gifts that disappointment affords. Our desire is that this series grows our capacity to hold both sorrow and hope, in the midst of the sincere disappointment that we all encounter.

Wilderness as Finding Grieving

Lent is a season to intentionally face suffering, which is part of every human experience. Such intention is necessary because suffering is difficult. And yet, part of being Christian is to follow after Jesus who willingly participated in the shadows, in the decaying, and in the death. With this in mind, this sermon series intends to notice and to celebrate the surprising good—not easy but good—that springs up out of the darkness.

Wilderness as Finding Voice

Lent is a season to intentionally face suffering, which is part of every human experience. Such intention is necessary because suffering is difficult. And yet, part of being Christian is to follow after Jesus who willingly participated in the shadows, in the decaying, and in the death. With this in mind, this sermon series intends to notice and to celebrate the surprising good—not easy but good—that springs up out of the darkness.

Wilderness as Finding Retreat

Lent is a season to intentionally face suffering, which is part of every human experience. Such intention is necessary because suffering is difficult. And yet, part of being Christian is to follow after Jesus who willingly participated in the shadows, in the decaying, and in the death. With this in mind, this sermon series intends to notice and to celebrate the surprising good—not easy but good—that springs up out of the darkness.

Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

The Stations of the Cross are a fourteen step Catholic devotion that commemorates Jesus’ final day on earth, which culminates in his death and burial. The fourteen devotions, or stations, focus on specific events of his last day, beginning with his condemnation. The stations are commonly used as a mini pilgrimage as individuals move from station to station. The stations are commonly found in churches as a series of fourteen small icons or images. They can also appear in church yards arranged along paths. At each station, individuals recall and meditate on a specific event from Jesus’ last day, specific prayers are recited, and then individuals move to the next station until all fourteen stations are complete.

This sermon series invites us into pilgrimage with Jesus. From his condemnation to his being laid in the tomb, we will sit before pictures—painted by words—that invite us to ponder Jesus’ last hours. Sitting, observing, and ultimately feeling, we will be encouraged to more deeplyexperience Jesus’ suffering, which we hope will evoke sorrow, compassion, and gratitude. Ultimately, it is our desire that by entering into the depths of Jesus’ despair, that longing for resurrection will be aroused and burst forth from within us as we begin to look past death to the hope of Easter life.