“Mourning By Morning” is the fifth (final) video in our Lenten series of short devotional films. “Mourning” may anticipate Good Friday’s grief, which we will experience again, soon enough. But the song by Shellee Coley recognizes the story does not end there, in death. “Mourning by morning, … I am becoming new,” she sings. “Come and make us new,” she prays to God. That day is coming!

We also hear echoes of Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14) in the opening of Kelly Ann Hall’s poem … 

The Fourth video in the Lenten series, “Becoming: a Season of Rebirthing,” is “Only Just Begun.” The words and images of the poem in the video reflects Psalm 23. The song by Shellee Coley, too, with these words: "So I wandered throught the valley. I stood beneath an open sky, just looking for somebody to lead me through the lonely night.”

The creators point out that the video contains themes appropriate for Lent: a “willingess to be in communion, to wander towards blessing, to continue to learn.” …

The third video in the Lenten series, “Becoming: a Season of Rebirthing,” is “Story Like This.” Images in the song reflect the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), and images in the poem/prayer echo the story of God making water spring from a rock for Moses and the Hebrew people (Exodus 17).

The video also reminds us that the work of seeing our way through the hard times, the dark times of our lives, is constant, difficult, and can be elusive. …

Last week, we shared The Knowing, the first video in the series “Becoming: a Season of Rebirthing” that we are offering in Lent. The videos are the work of singer-songwriter Shellee Layne Coley, poet Kelly Ann Hall, and filmmaker Travis Reed.

The poem in The Knowing is a reflection on Adam and Eve hiding in the garden. In Wait For It, the poem is God’s response to them. …

(Update: discussion guide available)

As the season of Lent begins, we offer a visual liturgy resource for your personal reflection and preparation for the spiritual journey ahead.

The Knowing is an evocative song by Shellee Layne Coley, which overlays a poem/prayer by Kelly Ann Hall.

Click here and enter your email to watch the video - available through March 22.