Jesus had a lot to say during his life - about who God is, about what justice looks like, about how we are to love ourselves, and our neighbors, and all the world. And, tradition has it, he kept teaching even in the very last moments of his life.
The Seven Last Words are the sayings of Jesus from the cross as recorded in the Gospel narratives. Some of them pull from his ancestors’ prayers and songs, reminding us of his deep rootedness in Jewish tradition. Some of them echo themes he taught throughout his ministry — like connection and compassion — their recurrence here seemingly giving them extra emphasis. Some of them remind us just how very human he was. And many of them are words we might hear from the mouths of people in our world today, innocents who still suffer unjustly.
Throughout the season of Lent, join us as we journey through this eight-week series, focusing on one word each week as we reflect and connect Jesus’ final words to our daily life. Each lesson will include Scripture reading, a devotional, a time of discussion, as well as coloring.
Week 1 (March 2): KNOW – God, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34)
Week 2 (March 9): TRUTH – Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise. (Luke 23:43)
Week 3 (*March 16): HERE – Here is your son. Here is your mother. (John 19:26–27)
Week 4 (March 23): FORSAKEN – My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46)
Week 5 (March 30): THIRSTY – I am thirsty. (John 19:28)
Week 6 (April 6): FINISHED – It is finished. (John 19:30)
Week 7 (April 13): COMMEND – God, into your hands I commend my spirit. (Luke 23:46)
Week 8 (*April 20): BELIEVE – (with a focus on selected verses from Luke 24:1-12)
*We will not meet on March 16th, due to Spring Break, or March 20th, due to Easter. We encourage you to read and reflect on those devotionals in your own prayer time or with your family at home.
If you’re still in town on Easter Sunday, join us at UUMC for a pre-worship brunch at 10am.