April 10
Beloved of Good Shepherd Church,
Grace to you and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!
Jesus’ story really picks up this week. Holy Week, the most sacred time of the year for Christians, begins on Sunday. Jesus rides into Jerusalem on the back of a borrowed donkey to great fanfare on Palm Sunday. His story picks up speed quickly from there and by the end of the week his life crashes into death like a tall wave breaking thunderously against a rocky shore. Then all is silent. Sorrow drenches the landscape after a great stone is rolled over the mouth of his grave. It is finished. That is how next week ends. Then out of the darkness there comes a light. A tiny flame burns against the night. The fire catches and lights up the front of the tomb. The stone has been rolled away. The firelight bounces off the back wall of the cave, and it becomes evident that our Lord’s grave is….empty.
Holy Week services at Good Shepherd will trace each step of Jesus’ journey. You are invited to join us as we move through the week together. Here is an overview of what lies ahead. Come join us!
Palm Sunday: We begin worship outside with a reading of the story of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The people laid palms and cloaks on the ground before him creating a path fit for a savior. They knew he was the one, and they were excited. We will process joyfully into the worship space, then the mood will shift. As soon as Jesus entered the city those who wanted to kill him put their plan to capture him into action. You will feel this shift in the liturgy as we read the story of his arrest and death.
Maundy Thursday: This evening service (7:00 p.m.) contains the marvelous story of Jesus' last supper with his friends. It marks the institution of our communion service. Jesus tells his disciples that their charge is love one another as he has loved them. This service ends with stripping of the altar. We remove all the ornaments and finery from the sanctuary and leave in silence. This is one of the most poignant moments of the year.
Good Friday: This is the day Jesus died. We enter this service (7:00 p.m.) in the same way that we departed the night before, in silence. This somber service finds us as witnesses to the death of our Lord. The liturgy contains the powerful Solemn Collects in which we pray for all the people of the world while we kneel at the foot of the cross. This is one of two days in the year that we do not celebrate the eucharist. We will share communion from the reserve sacrament which was blessed on Maundy Thursday.
Holy Saturday: This is a day of great solemnity. We have early morning prayers at 8:30 a.m., then we begin quietly getting ready for Easter.
Easter Vigil: On Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. we have our first Easter service. We begin in the columbarium with the Easter fire and process inside to celebrate the first Eucharist of Easter season. It is a joyful affair to say the least!
I encourage you to take part in this meaningful week of worship. It really is impactful to mark the steps of Jesus with these special liturgies before the grand celebration that erupts on Easter morning. To participate in Holy Week makes Easter all the more meaningful.
All that being said, someone once asked me what service I would recommend if they could only come to one. I will tell you what I told them if you promise you won’t tell anyone I said it. Deal? If for reasons related to your busy schedule you can only come to one service in addition to Palm Sunday and Easter come to Good Friday. It is a very important day. Observing the death of Jesus on Good Friday brings a mysterious fullness to Easter. As a final challenge of Lent, make yourself come to at least one Holy Week service. Or come to all of them! I am really looking forward to making this journey together.
Remember this always - God loves you, and I love you too!
Love is all,
Hendree+