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Almost Easter...
Two offerings that will make these last days of LENT more meaningful for you. Each of them is a variation on our perennial and popular offering, WITNESSES ON THE WAY, an accounting of the Way to the Cross through the words of scriptural characters who were there:
Please join us and participate online in a Good Friday Retreat via Zoom, hosted by Retreat Reflect Renew
OR
If you live in NW Arkansas, please join us for worship on Palm Sunday, April 13th, where United Lutheran Bella Vista will be using Witnesses on the Way for the Passion Narrative. If you cannot come in person, you may view the service later on the parish website.
United Lutheran Bella Vista is located at 100 Cooper Road, Bella Vista and service begins at 9:30 am, CDT. If you are a Facebook user, you may also watch live via FB at
This sample below is from the larger version of WITNESSES, not one of those Witnesses appearing in this year's offerings. It gives you, however, a taste of the experience. Enjoy!
VERONICA - A Sample
The traditional Stations of the Cross includes characters and actions not recorded in Scripture but drawn from pious Tradition. One of these is Veronica who extends compassion to Jesus and wipes his face with her veil. She does not appear in this year's version of WITNESSES ON THE WAY which focuses on 8 individuals mentioned in the Gospels as having been present that day. She does, however, provide us with this sample of how WITNESSES uses characters to enter into the story in three parts:
1) Background information on the character. This is an important component of the retreat experience but is not part of live worship
2) The character speaks
3) Prayer responseBackground for Veronica
We have no biblical account of the Sixth Station, Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus. Belief in this incident and person goes back to pious traditions of the middle ages when there was popular belief in the existence of an authentic image of Christ, a vera icon, or “true image.” Medieval believers sought a vera icon much as they looked for a holy grail and a true cross. The phrase, vera icon, is the origin of the name and person, Veronica. She, thus, came to personify the desire to know, to touch Jesus in his passion. She is a timeless character and in her name she represents anyone of any time who is Christ-like, anyone who is so aligned to Jesus that they bear his image in their own being, anyone who manifests Christ to others.
Though her story is undocumented, the belief in an act of compassion toward Jesus is an appropriate expression of faith as she exemplifies the pious women of Jerusalem who were present on Good Friday.
Some questions for you to consider:
1. Who has been an “vera icon”, true image, for you of Jesus?
2. How might you be an image for others of Jesus? Would anyone know by your actions that you are a follower of Jesus? (Would your neighbor, your mailman, your garbage man, the person who does your hair, your nails, or your taxes?)
3. Veronica's compassion is stirred by the suffering she sees and the recollection it strikes of her own beloved Benjamin. How does the suffering of others change when you see in them images of your own loved ones?Veronica Speaks:
The city is so crowded at Passover. I try to press my way homeward, but the strengthening sun, the heat, and the smell exhaust me and try my patience. To be honest, it is not the crowds; it is the presence of the Romans who swagger through the streets free to harass at will, a constant reminder that our homeland is no longer home. One more corner and I’ll be there. I can close the shutters and bolt my door, prepare for the Sabbath, and forget for awhile the chaos.
It was not to be. An immense crowd and armed Roman soldiers blocked my way as three condemned men were being led to the place of crucifixion. “Adonai, rachem alenu, Lord, have mercy,” I whisper.
From where will mercy come? Justice has forsaken our land. The innocent suffer and die every day. I want to turn away but I see the one so bowed over, his body already bloodied and bearing the marks of torture. His hair is matted with blood running from thorns pressed into his head. His eyes, though swollen, are deep and brown so like the eyes of my Benjamin. I feel my mother heart leap within me and I forget about the Roman swords glinting in the sun. I shove my way past the shoulders before me I and am at his side. Quickly I grab my scarf to wipe the sweat and blood from his face. For one moment he sees me, truly sees me, and I see him.. And then I am snatched away and thrown into a doorway with a crash that knocks the senses from my head. When I come to, I stumble and cry my way home.
It was a Sabbath like few others. We remembered the Passover supper in Egypt and the blood of the lamb above the door that saved us from the Angel of Death. It made me think of my scarf soaked with the blood of the man. I thought to wash it lest I profane the holy day, but when I opened it, I saw his face imprinted in blood upon the cloth and I understood. It is not I who will wash his blood; it is his blood that will wash me. “Adonai, rachem, alenu.”
Prayer: Lord, sometimes I feel like I cannot unburden the world of its woes. Remind me then, that every little gesture of kindness, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is your mercy given. May I never look the other way and pretend that other people’s sufferings do not exist. Open my eyes, dissolve my fears, and give me the courage and strength to make a difference in other people’s lives. In that way, you will permanently imprint your image upon my heart.
On Good Friday we will gather via Zoom to observe the Three Hours that Christ hung on the cross. During our time together each of us will be given one of these witnesses as a way to enter into the story with the eyes and heart of someone who was there. Together we will learn about and share our witnesses using Scripture, quiet reflection, prayer, group sharing, and creative process. We will close our time together by gathering our stories into the larger narrative of the Passion, praying our way to the cross and tomb. Please join us on Good Friday, April 18th.
- 9 am to 12:30 pm PDT
- 10 am to 1:30 pm MDT
- 11 am to 2:30 pm CDT
- noon to 3:30 pm EDT
- 6pm to 9:30 pm UK
To register or for more information click below:
Palm Sunday at United Lutheran
On Palm Sunday, April 13th, United Lutheran Church, Bella Vista, AR, will use WITNESSES ON THE WAY for the Passion Narrative during worship at 9:30 am, CDT. If you live in the area, come join us for worship. You may also view the service later that day on the parish website:
Responses from Readers... ("What are the Odds," March 12th)
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