Tessera Materials

Opening Prayer

Meet us, O Christ,
in the stillness of this moment.
Move us, O Spirit,
to quiet our hearts.
Mend us, O Father,
from yesterday’s harms.

From the discords of yesterday,
resurrect our peace.
From the discouragements of yesterday,
resurrect our hope.
From the weariness of yesterday,
resurrect our strength.
From the doubts of yesterday,
resurrect our faith.
From the wounds of yesterday,
resurrect our love.

Let us enter this new day, aware of our need, and awake
to your grace, O Lord. Amen.

Read/Reflect: Psalm 124 and Isaiah 51:1-6

Remembering is essential to Jewish faith. As Christians who have entered into a Jewish story culminating in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah, we learn from those who were first called by God. Judaism is not so much a set of beliefs, but a covenantal way of life with God. Personal questions become extremely important.

Am I remembering God?

Zachor (Hebrew)—"remember"—is enormously important in Jewish spirituality. Israel is repeatedly told to remember God's creation, deliverance from Egypt, covenant, provision, and faithfulness. Remembering is a foundation to faithfully responding to God’s action.

Psalm 124
If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel say—
2 if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
3 they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
4 the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
5 the raging waters
would have swept us away.
6 Praise be to the Lord,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

Isaiah 51
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness
and who seek the Lord:
Look to the rock from which you were cut
and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
2 look to Abraham, your father,
and to Sarah, who gave you birth.
When I called him he was only one man,
and I blessed him and made him many.
3 The Lord will surely comfort Zion
and will look with compassion on all her ruins;
he will make her deserts like Eden,
her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.
Joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the sound of singing.
4 “Listen to me, my people;
hear me, my nation:
Instruction will go out from me;
my justice will become a light to the nations.
5 My righteousness draws near speedily,
my salvation is on the way,
and my arm will bring justice to the nations.
The islands will look to me
and wait in hope for my arm.
6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
look at the earth beneath;
the heavens will vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment
and its inhabitants die like flies.
But my salvation will last forever,
my righteousness will never fail.

• What am I allowing myself to forget about God?
• What practices help me remember who God is and what God has done? What step(s) of faithfulness am I being invited to take this week as a result of remembering?

Closing Prayer

Faithful God,
Though the world around us is shaken, your salvation is steadfast,
and your faithfulness reaches to every generation.
Therefore, we will not be afraid.
We will place our hope in you.
Lead us in your ways,
keep us in your care,
and teach us to live as people who know that our help comes from you as we seek to love and care for those around us. Amen.

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