Dear Church Family and Friends,
Movie plots often begin with someone “upsetting the apple cart.” It might be a kidnapping. It might be an assassination attempt. It might be an alien invasion. Whatever the case may be, this initial action sets up a conflict and the rest of the movie keeps us on the edge of our seats as we wait to see how the conflict will unfold and eventually come to a resolution with the bad guy losing or the aliens being sent back into space.
With Holy Week and the Easter season, we all know how the story of Jesus will come to an exultant resolution in the event of the resurrection. It would seem that we are watching a movie for which we have already seen the ending. However, there is something about the story of Jesus that gives it a reoccurring appeal every year. I would suggest to you that part of the appeal is this: The story of Jesus is compelling year in and year out not because the story changes but because the meaning of the story in relation to our day-to-day lives changes. All of us face conflicts and challenges in our lives, if not outright calamities. Sometimes we get knocked back into our apple carts with our legs sprawling. The question that confronts us then is how shall we get back on our feet and contend with the adverse circumstances before us. How will we find the hope of the resurrection in our own lives?
If one wants to get to the hope of the resurrection in one’s own life, I do not think one can do it by just showing up on Easter Sunday. That would be like fast forwarding a movie to the end and then failing to appreciate it because one has not experienced the drama and the tension that led to final climactic ending. I think one has to instead let the story of Jesus soak into one’s life before one can appreciate the power of Easter and the days that followed it.
Next Sunday we will focus on a key event that initially upset the apple cart in the story of Jesus: the confrontation of Jesus with the money changers in the Temple. We will then enter Holy Week when we will have the opportunity to fully immerse ourselves in the story of Jesus by reenacting some of the events of his final days. On Maundy Thursday, we will begin by having an optional foot washing service at 5:30 pm. This will be followed by our annual lamb dinner at 6: 00 pm and then a communion service that will recall the last supper. After communion, we will move toward Good Friday with our Tenebrae Service at 7:00 pm. In this candlelight service, we will encounter the cross and hear the last words of Jesus.
You are invited to join us for each of these special events and services as we prepare ourselves to fully experience Easter and its continuing relevance in our lives.
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor Brooks