Our reading on this day is Exodus 2:1-10 where we hear the story of Moses being saved from the water by Pharaoh’s daughter.
The image of "being saved" from a harsh climate appears in many religious and secular sources (texts, song, film), and the sense of relief experienced from our witnessing this is universally understood. Whether that environment is the desert, outer space, or an uninhabited island, we experience the protagonist's pain and struggle as if it were our own; likewise, when the rescue ship arrives, we experience the relief associated with that.
Today's selections draw inspiration from that idea, paralleled with Moses' escape from certain death as a newborn Hebrew boy, and his rescue through his mother's shrewd actions, bringing him to Pharaoh’s daughter.
Gathering Hymn: ELW 331 As the Deer Runs to the River
As the deer runs to the river, parched and weary from the chase, we have come from hurt and hurry, thirsting for your healing grace...Christ, we come from desert places, deepest thirst unsatisfied. Lead us to the waters flowing from the cross on which you died.
Song of the Day: Desert Song
I loved this selection from our Lenten season, and reflecting on Moses' rescue from the water called me to include it in today's worship. The call to lift up praise to God regardless of external life circumstances can be difficult to answer, but the reward is immeasurable.
Sending Song: Mighty to Save
Returning again since our First Responders' Sunday service, the song's description of the crucifixion and resurrection make Mighty to Save a fitting choir during the Easter season; also, in keeping with our themes this day, it allows us to underline the awesome power of God, and his ability to move the mountains that present themselves to us throughout our lives.