Seven Peoria-area pastors from various faith traditions worked together to create a Holy Week podcast series of reflections on the seven last words of Christ. One will be released each day from Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday. We hope you use these to live more fully into the passion of Jesus and be reminded that Christ walks with us through all trials and dark days of our lives. A short bio of each speaker is included. A special thanks to Dr. Jon Giblin for the organ setting of “Were You There” that accompanies the podcast.
The Second Word – Luke 23:43
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Speaker – Debra Avery
Rev. Debra Avery serves as pastor and head of staff at the United Presbyterian Church in Peoria. She has served as a second career pastor in four Presbyterian congregations in New York, Arizona, California, and Illinois. She has a skill set for vision and strategy work, and a passion for missional and justice endeavors. She previously served as the moderator of her presbytery in the San Francisco area.