Maundy Thursday

Beloved of God,

I hope you have made plans to join us for our Good Friday service tomorrow at 6:45 PM.We will be taking some time to sit with the witness of Scripture and listen to the story of Jesus’ suffering and death with fresh ears. Haley has something wonderful planned for the kiddos, but as RSVPs are already due, it will be helpful if you offer to volunteer or to shamelessly bribe her with fancy coffee.

Those of you who would like to join us for an Easter Sunrise service at Overlook Point are welcome to attend. The service will be at 6:30 AM on Easter morning. Please plan on wearing a mask and observing social distancing.

On Easter Sunday, we will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper together. If you will not be worshipping with us in person, please know that we will have elements available for you at the church from 10 AM to 12 PM on Saturday, April 3rd. You will also have a chance to flower the cross if you would like to do so.

As it is April 1st, April Fools Day, I thought I’d pass along this fascinating video on the origin of the tradition.

It is also Maundy Thursday, a moment we read about in Mark 14:12-26. I often wonder about the deeply meaningful relationship that Jesus would have developed with the twelve disciples during his ministry. You don’t spend that much time doing that sort of work without some meaningful connections forming between folks. I’m fascinated that immediately before what was going to be the most excruciating moment of his life, Jesus chose to spend that time with his disciples. 
When we are tired, or stressed, or anxious it can be tempting to abandon our discipline of prayer and study. We might even give ourselves an out since we’re “not in the right headspace” for that sort of thing. We may think (even rightly) that whatever study curriculum we use for prayer and study will feel like a chore that we cannot manage well. But if we take Maundy Thursday as an example, maybe this is exactly the time to come into Christ’s presence. Maybe we learn to sit quietly with the Lord and just listen. Maybe we move slowly through a passage we already know well, and remember what it means to be a child of God. Jesus loves his disciples, and wants to spend time with us. Let’s do that, even if we’re on the ropes.

Please join me this week in praying for:
An end to this pandemic.

• Those who are in need of healing in mind, body or spirit.
  
• Those among us facing moments of change, difficulty or uncertainty.
  
• Doctors, nurses, PA’s, paramedics and other health professionals working to keep us all well.
  
• Those who are travelling home from a much needed time away.
  
• Students, teachers, administrators and others as many young students head back into the classroom on Monday.
  
• Christians around the world as they prepare to celebrate Easter.
  
• Those in positions of public trust at the federal, state and local level.
  
• One another (Please contact [email protected] if you’d like to be added to our prayer list.
  

You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world,

Marshall