Tara reflects on Matthew 4:1–4, where Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit, fasts for 40 days in the wilderness and faces the accuser’s first temptation to turn stones into bread. She connects Jesus’ response—recalling God’s provision—to Jesus’ grounding in the Torah and his calling to be the bread of life. She also explores stones as Old Testament markers of encounters with God (Jacob’s pillow and Joshua’s stones), suggesting stone and bread symbolize God’s presence and provision even in temptation. She offers reflection questions, a Lenten practice of carrying a stone with a prayer, and shares her poem “A Stone to Re-member."

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Join Tara for Worship on Sunday morning at 10 am. Warren First Presbyterian Church at 300 Market Street in Warren Pennsylvania. A live stream is provided via FaceBook for people out of the region... During Lent Tara is facilitating a book club based on Madeline L'Engle's book A Circle of Quiet. Tuesday mornings at 10;30 am at the church.

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Rev. Tara Lamont Eastman is a pastor, podcaster and host of Holy Shenanigans since September of 2020. Eastman combines her love of ministry with her love of writing, music and visual arts. She is a graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary’s Theological Education for Emerging Ministry Program and the Youth and Theology Certificate Program at Princeton Seminary. She has served in various ministry and pastoral roles over the last thirty years in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of America). She is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Warren Pennsylvania. She has presented workshops on the topics of faith and creativity at the Wild Goose Festival. She is a trainer for Soul Shop Suicide Prevention for Church Communities.