A Calm in the Storm
I’m sure that I am no different than most of you when I say that I find my life increasingly tumultuous. I was going to say “busy” but, really, that doesn’t do it justice. Perhaps it’s the advent of new electronic media tools in the last decade, but even if you want to, it is hard to escape an incessant demand on your time and attention. It makes it increasingly hard to observe the admonition of the Psalmist that reads, “Be still and know that I am God.”
I have discovered, however, two times in the year that provide a respite. One is my trip to Mexico with our kids or men when I am intentionally out of touch electronically. It makes for a crazy re-entry, but the deep breath it provides is well worth it.
Another shorter but valuable break comes tonight, Maundy Thursday. This is a service of silence and darkness. We don’t jabber in the narthex before or after. We don’t applaud music. We come, sit quietly, listen, reflect, and share the Lords’ Supper. It is a beloved, though brief, sabbatical for me, and I hope you will join me tonight, especially if you’ve never attended Maundy Thursday. You don’t know what you are missing.
And of course, that will represent the kickoff to our Easter weekend. We will offer four opportunities to worship the risen Christ, a Saturday vigil at 6:30pm and three services on Easter Sunday at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00am. The Saturday night and 11:00am services will be identical modern worship, both in the sanctuary. On Sunday, the 8:00 and 9:30 will feature the choir, brass, handbells, orchestra, and all the trimmings.
Whichever service you attend, please bring a friend who does not yet know the story of Easter. We will do everything we can to introduce them to the living Jesus!
He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Pastor Mark