“I AM the Resurrection and the Life”

After 40 days wandering in the Lenten wilderness, we arrive at Holy Week. Where will our footsteps lead? 

March 24: Palm / Passion Sunday is a glorious opportunity to worship God, exuberantly processing into the sanctuary waving palms, with donkeys striding among us, and singing joyfully in celebration that the Savior of the world has arrived in the City of God to bring the kingdom of God to earth. It is also a Sunday to acknowledge the cost that God bore to save the world through Jesus Christ – especially for those who may not attend the weekday services. We skip the essential truth of this all-important journey if we jump from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday without going through the “god forsakenness” of the grave. Yes, our God provides new life that is no longer subject to the powers of death. However, as the Apostle Paul says, we must die to the old life so that we may receive the new one. That is, we must come to the cross, die, and be buried with Jesus Christ in order also to be raised with him in newness of life. The middle portion of this service invites us into this sacred place. Then, we will end with the triumphant cries: “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”

March 28: Maundy Thursday takes us, perhaps, on an uncomfortably intimate part of our Lenten journey. We are invited to feast with Jesus at his table, having received his commandment to “Love one another as I have loved you.” We also are invited to remove our shoes and let someone else (an elder, me!) wash our feet, then change places to wash another’s feet as well. This is truly one of the most remarkable experiences, humbling oneself before another, willingly; seeking not only to serve but to be served as well. Most of us are fairly comfortable serving others. Where we draw the line is when each of us, individually, is asked to risk being vulnerable before another. Kneeling before a beloved child of God and then having someone kneel before you, each looking the other in the eyes as we wash one another’s feet, creates such a tender, personal connection that few other rituals commanded by Jesus realize. If you are not ready for this, that is okay; just watch and pray as we follow Jesus’ lead. Maybe next year you will be ready. As the darkness of Jesus’ imminent betrayal and death looms, the chancel is stripped of all adornment. We depart in silence. 

March 29: Good Friday marks our continuing journey with Jesus all the way to the cross. We relive how we all have abandoned Jesus, the Son of God, first crying out, “Hosanna!” but now, “Crucify him!” We acknowledge our part in putting our Savior to death. Candles, successively extinguished, mark the growing darkness, gloom, and despair as “the hour” of Jesus’ death arrives. We depart in silence.

March 31: Resurrection of the Lord / Easter Sunday declares to all of creation that new life has begun! It is life -after death or life never subject to eternal death again. It is a new gift from God because of all that Jesus endured on behalf of the world. We are offered a brand new chance at life in loving relationship with God through the beloved Son and empowered by the Holy Spirit of life and love. Worship will be glorious as we celebrate the gracious omnipotence of God to overcome everything that diminishes or destroys creaturely life and that transforms divine love into self-destructive evil. We experience God’s life-giving power that reigns eternally and Jesus Christ’s obedient love that brings new life to all creation, even us!

May we arrive together at our destination this Lenten season: encountering the God who makes possible our journey, each step of Holy Week, from death to resurrection life and gracious love.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Elizabeth