Natasha Vedder

The following prayer originally appeared in "A Journey in the Wilderness: A Prayer Path for Lent."PrayerWe adore you, O Christ,and we bless you because by your life,your death, and your resurrectionyou have shown us how God always spreadsa table in the wildernessin the face of all our fears.Amen.

The following prayer originally appeared in "A Journey in the Wilderness: A Prayer Path for Lent."PrayerO Lord, can you really spread a table in the wilderness of life? Walk with me as I walk this path of the cross with honest questions of life in my heart and my face turned to find the table you have spread in the wilderness for so many before me, and now also for me. Amen.

This prayer path station is connected to the worship series, "A Table in the Wilderness”Prayer Path Introduction: A Journey in the WildernessStation 1 | Station 2 | Station 3  | Station 4  Station 5 | Station 6 | Station 7 | Station 8  Eighth prayer stationA Table on the Beach for Us Opening PrayerO Lord, can you really spread a table in the wilderness of life? Walk with me as I walk this path of the cross with honest questions of life in my heart and my face turned to find the table you have spread in the wilderness for so many before me, and now also for me. Amen.Reading Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. . . . When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. . . . Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. —John 21:4–6, 9, 12–14 NIVReflectInsert wondering questions about the Scripture text and/or picture you are using or use the following.What do I notice or feel as I look at this picture? What amazement and awe do I experience this Easter?How has this journey through Lent opened me to trust God’s provision in the wilderness of life?Christ Speaks: Words of EncouragementTake heart, my child. I will not let the cross you bear grow beyond your endurance. My Father attends you. He is your Father too. All that is needed God’s hands will provide. Closing PrayerWe adore you, O Christ,and we bless you because by your life,your death, and your resurrectionyou have shown us how God always spreadsa table in the wildernessin the face of all our fears.Amen.This station is linked to the Easter Sunday Service in the series "A Table in the Wilderness"Revised Common LectionaryYear C: Easter—Third Sunday of Easter

This prayer path station is connected to the worship series, "A Table in the Wilderness”Prayer Path Introduction: A Journey in the WildernessStation 1 | Station 2 | Station 3  | Station 4  Station 5 | Station 6 | Station 7 | Station 8  Seventh prayer stationA Table in the Wilderness for Our SaviorOpening PrayerO Lord, can you really spread a table in the wilderness of life? Walk with me as I walk this path of the cross with honest questions of life in my heart and my face turned to find the table you have spread in the wilderness for so many before me, and now also for me. Amen.Reading On reaching the Mount of Olives, Jesus withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond his disciples, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. —adapted from Luke 22 NIV ReflectInsert wondering questions about the Scripture text and/or picture you are using or use the following.What do I notice or feel as I look at this picture? Where am I in anguish? Can God really provide a table in the wilderness of anguish and abandonment?Christ Speaks: Words of EncouragementTake heart, my child. I will not let the cross you bear grow beyond your endurance. My Father attends you. He is your Father too. All that is needed God’s hands will provide. Closing PrayerWe adore you, O Christ,and we bless you because by your life,your death, and your resurrectionyou have shown us how God always spreadsa table in the wildernessin the face of all our fears.Amen.This station is linked to the Good Friday Service in the series "A Table in the Wilderness"Revised Common LectionaryYear C: Lent—Liturgy of the Passion

This prayer path station is connected to the worship series, "A Table in the Wilderness”Prayer Path Introduction: A Journey in the WildernessStation 1 | Station 2 | Station 3  | Station 4  Station 5 | Station 6 | Station 7 | Station 8  Sixth prayer stationA Table in the Wilderness for a Hungry CrowdOpening PrayerO Lord, can you really spread a table in the wilderness of life? Walk with me as I walk this path of the cross with honest questions of life in my heart and my face turned to find the table you have spread in the wilderness for so many before me, and now also for me. Amen.Reading Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee. He looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him. He asked his disciples, “Where shall we find bread for these people to eat?” Peter said, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus took the loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. “Let nothing be wasted, “ Jesus said. And his disciples gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. —adapted from John 6 NIVReflect Insert wondering questions about the Scripture text and/or picture you are using or use the following.What do I notice or feel as I look at this picture? What is making me skeptical of God’s care in my life?Can God really provide a table in the wilderness of skepticism and anxiety?Christ Speaks: Words of EncouragementTake heart, my child. I will not let the cross you bear grow beyond your endurance. My Father attends you. He is your Father too. All that is needed God’s hands will provide. Closing PrayerWe adore you, O Christ,and we bless you because by your life,your death, and your resurrectionyou have shown us how God always spreadsa table in the wildernessin the face of all our fears.Amen.This station is linked to the Palm Sunday Service in the series "A Table in the Wilderness"

This prayer path station is connected to the worship series, "A Table in the Wilderness”Prayer Path Introduction: A Journey in the WildernessStation 1 | Station 2 | Station 3  | Station 4  Station 5 | Station 6 | Station 7 | Station 8  Fifth prayer stationA Table in the Wilderness for David Opening PrayerO Lord, can you really spread a table in the wilderness of life? Walk with me as I walk this path of the cross with honest questions of life in my heart and my face turned to find the table you have spread in the wilderness for so many before me, and now also for me. Amen.Reading While David was in the wilderness, he asked a wealthy man named Nabal, whose shepherds David had protected, to give food to him and his men. Instead Nabal hurled insults at David. But Nabal’s wife, Abigail, acted quickly. She took bread, wine, meat, roasted grain, cakes of raisins, and pressed figs, loaded them on donkeys, and went out to meet David and his men. David said, “Praise be to the Lord”, who has sent you to meet me and kept me from avenging myself.” He accepted from her hand what she had brought him and sent her home in peace —adapted from 1 Samuel 25 NIVReflectInsert wondering questions about the Scripture text and/or picture you are using or use the following.What do I notice or feel as I look at this picture? What makes me angry and perhaps even wanting to even the score? Can God really provide a table in the wilderness of anger and vengeance?Christ Speaks: Words of EncouragementTake heart, my child. I will not let the cross you bear grow beyond your endurance. My Father attends you. He is your Father too. All that is needed God’s hands will provide. Closing PrayerWe adore you, O Christ,and we bless you because by your life,your death, and your resurrectionyou have shown us how God always spreadsa table in the wildernessin the face of all our fears.Amen.This station is linked to the fifth Sunday of Lent in the series "A Table in the Wilderness"

This prayer path station is connected to the worship series, "A Table in the Wilderness”Prayer Path Introduction: A Journey in the WildernessStation 1 | Station 2 | Station 3  | Station 4  Station 5 | Station 6 | Station 7 | Station 8  Fourth prayer stationA Table in the Wilderness for ElijahOpening PrayerO Lord, can you really spread a table in the wilderness of life? Walk with me as I walk this path of the cross with honest questions of life in my heart and my face turned to find the table you have spread in the wilderness for so many before me, and now also for me. Amen.Reading Elijah was afraid and ran for his life . . . a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. —from 1 Kings 19:2–8 NIV ReflectInsert wondering questions about the Scripture text and/or picture you are using or use the following.What do I notice or feel as I look at this picture?What is making me afraid or tired? Can God really provide a table in the wilderness of fears and tiredness? Christ Speaks: Words of EncouragementTake heart, my child. I will not let the cross you bear grow beyond your endurance. My Father attends you. He is your Father too. All that is needed God’s hands will provide. Closing PrayerWe adore you, O Christ,and we bless you because by your life,your death, and your resurrectionyou have shown us how God always spreadsa table in the wildernessin the face of all our fears.Amen.This station is linked to the fourth Sunday of Lent in the series "A Table in the Wilderness"

This prayer path station is connected to the worship series, "A Table in the Wilderness”Prayer Path Introduction: A Journey in the WildernessStation 1 | Station 2 | Station 3  | Station 4  Station 5 | Station 6 | Station 7 | Station 8  Third prayer stationA Table in the Wilderness for Hagar Opening PrayerO Lord, can you really spread a table in the wilderness of life? Walk with me as I walk this path of the cross with honest questions of life in my heart and my face turned to find the table you have spread in the wilderness for so many before me, and now also for me. Amen.Reading Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy [Ishmael]. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba. When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob. God heard the boy crying. . . . Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water.—from Genesis 21ReflectInsert wondering questions about the Scripture text and/or picture you are using or use the following.What do I notice as I look at this picture?What is making me sad and thirsty?Can God really provide a table in the wilderness of sadness and thirst?Christ Speaks: Words of EncouragementTake heart, my child. I will not let the cross you bear grow beyond your endurance. My Father attends you. He is your Father too. All that is needed God’s hands will provide. Closing PrayerWe adore you, O Christ,and we bless you because by your life,your death, and your resurrectionyou have shown us how God always spreadsa table in the wildernessin the face of all our fears.Amen.This station is linked to the third Sunday of Lent in the series "A Table in the Wilderness"

This prayer path station is connected to the worship series, "A Table in the Wilderness”Prayer Path Introduction: A Journey in the WildernessStation 1 | Station 2 | Station 3  | Station 4  Station 5 | Station 6 | Station 7 | Station 8  Second prayer stationA Table in the Wilderness for Israel Opening PrayerO Lord, can you really spread a table in the wilderness of life? Walk with me as I walk this path of the cross with honest questions of life in my heart and my face turned to find the table you have spread in the wilderness for so many before me, and now also for me. Amen.Reading In the desert, the whole community of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron: “You have brought us out into this desert to starve!” Then the Lord said, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you.” In the morning, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. —adapted from Exodus 16ReflectInsert wondering questions about the Scripture text and/or picture you are using or use the following.What do I notice as I look at this picture?What is making me grumble and worry?Can God really provide a table in the wilderness of grumbling and worry? Christ Speaks: Words of EncouragementTake heart, my child. I will not let the cross you bear grow beyond your endurance. My Father attends you. He is your Father too. All that is needed God’s hands will provide. Closing PrayerWe adore you, O Christ,and we bless you because by your life,your death, and your resurrectionyou have shown us how God always spreadsa table in the wildernessin the face of all our fears.Amen.This station is linked to the second Sunday of Lent in the series "A Table in the Wilderness"

This prayer path station is connected to the worship series, "A Table in the Wilderness”Prayer Path Introduction: A Journey in the WildernessStation 1 | Station 2 | Station 3  | Station 4  Station 5 | Station 6 | Station 7 | Station 8  First Prayer StationA Table in the Wilderness for Jesus Opening PrayerO Lord, can you really spread a table in the wilderness of life? Walk with me as I walk this path of the cross with honest questions of life in my heart and my face turned to find the table you have spread in the wilderness for so many before me, and now also for me. Amen.ReadingAt that time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.—Mark 1:9–13 NIVReflect [Insert wondering questions about the Scripture text and/or picture you are using, or use the following:]Jesus’ baptism must have been a spiritual highlight for him.Why did the Spirit then immediately send him into the wilderness?What do I notice and feel as I look at this picture?How lonely and tempted am I?Can God really provide a table in the wilderness of loneliness and temptation?Christ Speaks: Words of EncouragementTake heart, my child. I will not let the cross you bear grow beyond your endurance.My Father attends you. He is your Father too.All that is needed God’s hands will provide.Closing Prayer We adore you, O Christ,and we bless you because by your life,your death, and your resurrectionyou have shown us how God always spreadsa table in the wildernessin the face of all our fears.Amen.This prayer station is linked to the first Sunday of Lent in the series "A Table in the Wilderness"Revised Common LectionaryYear A: Lent—First Sunday in LentYear B: Lent—First Sunday in Lent