Resources for Your Easter Season

Dear friends,

Blessings to all of you during this Season of Easter. I wanted to share with you three things I'm excited about:

1. Online Retreat with Trevor Hudson

Questions God Asks Us eCourse
with Trevor Hudson and The Upper Room
April 30 - June 1, 2012

God has a few questions for you! Join an online discussion of the book Questions God Asks Us by Trevor Hudson, a pastor from South Africa who’s a great friend of The Upper Room. Over the course of five weeks, we'll learn to see the Bible as a book of questions from God to us, such as: “Where are you?” “What is that in your hand?” and “Why are you crying?”

The eCourse includes

• Weekly videos with insights from Trevor on the week’s questions
• All the content from Trevor’s book Questions God Asks Us
• Group discussions (online) twice each week
• A daily meditation from Trevor Hudson

For information or to register: http://beadisciple.com/upperroom.html#Questions

2. Announcing the Digital Edition of Alive Now

Alive Now magazine (where I work as the editor) has launched a digital edition of the magazine that can be viewed on your iPad, iPhone, Android phone or tablet, or computer. This new Alive Now can be viewed in beautiful HD on iPhone, iPad, Android device, or computer. The digital editions include enhancements not included in the printed edition — videos, links, photos and bios of contributors, extra articles, and each week’s Audio Lectio embedded in the magazine.

The magazine is available for purchase by issue for $2.99. Or you can purchase a year’s subscription. Learn more or download your free preview by clicking here.

I hope you’ll help spread the word — and try it out for yourself.

3. Sight Psalms -- a daily photo devotional. If you like to pray with all your senses, I recommend Sight Psalms. It's free to subscribe to an email which will send you a photo and short reflection each day. Sign up here.

During these 50 days of Easter, I wish for you resurrection joy.

Blessings,
Beth

P.S. I took this photo last week over at Scarritt-Bennett Center, a great retreat center right here in Nashville.

Easter

Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
- John 20:18 (NRSV)

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Audio Lectio for Easter Sunday: Pray John 20:11-18.

Scripture Readings for Easter Sunday (April 8, 2012)

• Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 25:6-9
• Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
• 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 or Acts 10:34-43
• John 20:1-18 or Mark 16:1-8

Photo Credit: © Beth A. Richardson. Dogwood bloom outside The Upper Room.

Holy Saturday

We wait in sorrow and in hope.

They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. ... And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
- John 19:40, 42 (NRSV)

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Scripture Readings for Holy Saturday (April 7)

• Job 14:1-14 or Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24
• Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16
• 1 Peter 4:1-8
• Matthew 27:57-66 or John 19:38-42

Photo Credit: Photo © Beth A. Richardson. The Pietà by Michelangelo housed in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City.

Good Friday

Healed by his bruises.

Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.
- Isaiah 53:4-5 (NRSV)

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Audio Lectio for Good Friday: Pray the scriptures with us. The reading for today is John 19:16-30.

Scripture Readings for Good Friday (April 6)

• Isaiah 52:13-53:12
• Psalm 22
• Hebrews 10:16-25 or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
• John 18:1-19:42

Photo Credit: © Beth A. Richardson. On the wall near the cemetery in Vernazza, Italy.

Maundy Thursday

Eat and drink ... and remember.

When Jesus had given thanks, he broke [the bread] and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
- 1 Corinthians 11:24-26 (NRSV)

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Scripture Readings for Maundy Thursday (April 5)

• Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14
• Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
• 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
• John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Photo Credit: © Beth A. Richardson. SOULfeast communion setting.