Read and Learn -- Holy Week is Over

Holy Week is over. Sleep has happened. Staff meetings have happened. So, how'd it go?

This year my church added a sunrise service. I don't recall ever having had one before. A friend of mine looked at the location, the time, the circumstances and dressed appropriately -- blue jeans and a sweat shirt. She felt a tad bit conspicuous. The rest of the attendees were dressed like proper Presbyterians on EASTER for crying out loud. When she has told this to friends and family, the response has invariably been, "What WERE you thinking? It was (insert name of traditional Presbyterian church) on EASTER!"

Matters of dress aside, she loved the service, and it was very well attended. Over all, attendance was up over last year pretty substantially. Of course, the weather was better than last year too. We also made significant changes to the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services -- all of which seemed to work, and none of which seemed radically different -- even though some of it was.

So, how was your Holy Week? Did you try anything new?

JusticeSeeker
JusticeSeekerOK@aol.com

Read and Learn -- Passover and Holy Week

Earlier this week Quotidian Grace posted about the experiences of some Churches, including her own, celebrating a Passover Seder in connection with Holy Week. (I know, what every church needs, one more thing to do during Holy Week.) Then, I read an article in USAToday.com about President Obama celebrating a Seder at the White House. I thought it all sounded kind of cool. I've never been to a Seder.

I was not surprised when I typed Christian Seder into Google to discover that there are some Christians who think this is a bad idea. I was somewhat surprised to discover that many Jews aren't too happy about Christians co-opting their traditions (shouldn't that be our traditions?).

So, I thought I would start by asking who has been to a Seder and was it as a guest of a Jewish friend, was it part of a Christian observance, have your churches done Seders? Just curious.

Then, I thought I would put up a few links for those who really want something else to do during Holy Week.

A Guide to a Christian Seder, by Michael Ropeke (online article, good overview);

Introduction to a Christian Seder, Reclaiming Passover for Christians, Dennis Bratcher (online article with tons of good details); and

Not surprisingly, Wikipedia has an entry.

There is tons more stuff available, and none of it is hard to find. If you do decide to try a Seder (probably not this year, of course), do let us know how things go.

JusticeSeeker
JusticeSeekerOK@aol.com

Seven Last Words of Christ (7)

Luke 23:44-46 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

A lot of the divisions that we have in our churches today usually involve issues about how we live our lives as Christians. For some people, complete loyalty to the word of God is essential. For others, treating everyone as a child of God is of paramount importance. We battle each other constantly about how we interpret the scriptures by what we preach and practice. In other words, both groups use the Gospels as a means of showing us all how to live.

But in today’s scripture, we are not taught how to live. Instead, Jesus teaches us how to die. After enduring agony, suffering, and shame for hours, Jesus is ready to die. Mustering all of His remaining strength, He cries out loudly for everyone to hear: “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.” He completely surrenders Himself to God and unequivocally declares His faith in His Father. He does not mumble or mutter those words. He declares them openly, publicly, and loudly.

It is a complete validation of His life. He has lived it according to His Father’s will. Jesus now yields to death, but does not give Himself over to darkness or oblivion. He places His spirit into God’s hands. He confidently gives Himself over to God with His last dying breath.

One day, there will be an unavoidable moment in our own lives when we will take our last breath. It may be at home, in a hospital, or at a hospice. It could be unexpected, unintended, or accidental. Whatever the case or circumstances, Jesus has shown us how to die.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we don’t like thinking about death or dying. We live our lives fully, doing our best to survive each day by trying to be healthy and happy. But one day, death will come. Help us to be spiritually prepared for that expected or unexpected moment. Come to us at that mysterious time and enable us to surrender our spirit into Your hands. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Seven Last Words of Christ (6)

John 19.30      When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

I strive to be a perfectionist, and yet I fail miserably at it.  It never fails, after every paper that I have turned in, after every project I have completed, after every sermon I deliver, instead of feeling satisfied with what I accomplished, I always feel that twinge within me that second guesses.  What if I had done that instead?  Should I have added more to this or done less of that?  I wish I remembered to do this or had not said that.  And it never fails that ultimately, I drive myself into a temporary depressed state over unfinished work.  I cannot let it go.

At times throughout my life I have often transferred my “What if’s” to Jesus.  The gospels tell us Jesus began his public ministry around the age of 30 and continued until his death on the cross about three years later.  I hardly can imagine doing everything I possibly would like to accomplish in just three years.  I have at times wondered what if Jesus had more time.  What if Jesus had taken his ministry beyond Galilee.  What if Jesus went took his message straight to the Greeks or even to Rome itself.  Was there something more he meant to say or do before he gave up his life at such an early life?  I’m sure the disciples also held many of these questions in those two days before the empty tomb.

But as Jesus hung on that cross, grasping for his very last breath of life, looking upon his mother, his aunt, Mary Magdalene, and the disciple whom he loved, John’s Gospel tells us that Jesus knew all was now finished.  And as he released his final breath, he proclaimed, “It is finished.”  In other words, he fully accomplished what his Father sent him to do in the sake of the world.  There was nothing else, nothing more, nothing less that he was to do.  

I am comforted to know that through all of my own flaws, faults, and inadequacies, there is one who completes me.  And the assurance is that there is nothing more I can say or do as my Savior Lord said it all on that cross on my behalf, "It is finished."  And for that I am eternally grateful.

Prayer:  Gracious Lord, help me to better know your will for me today so that I can accomplish the work you have set out for my life.  Give me the courage, strength, and discipline through your Holy Spirit to tend to work you set before me.  I pray my work to be finished when it is my time for you to call me to my heavenly home, saying, “Well done.”  It is in Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen

Wes Brandon is the pastor of Bensalem Presbyterian Church in Eagle Springs, North Carolina.

Seven Last Words of Christ (5)

Depiction of "I Thirst."

Holy Week 2008

I know I shouldn't, but...



Somehow, I think we've seen this all before...

Stushie is a Presbyterian pastor and draws political cartoons at his Pushing the Envelope blogsite

Something Right

God's plan of Salvation - the sacrifice of Jesus, His Holy Son.



A Good Friday poster