A Blessed Holy Week

This year Holy Week was a beautiful, varied gift for me. You see I had the privilege of worshiping in five different communities as together we walked with Jesus through the horror of the crucifixion to the glory of His Resurrection.

Beginning on Wednesday, I drove to Glendo to join them in Stations of the Cross and then a soup supper. As we sat around tables enjoying the food a man entered. From his dress he was obviously down on his luck. Without any hesitation he filled a bowl and plate with food and settled down at one of the tables. Obviously, this was someone everyone knew. When I asked about him, I was told that he had settled in Glendo but was having difficulty finding work, and so the churches in town were doing their part to help.

Maundy Thursday was spent in Douglas. It was an ecumenical service with clergy and people from the UCC, Methodist and of course Episcopal Churches. The liturgy was a blend of each of these traditions giving new meaning to that day.

Good Friday I drove to Hartville. It is a church community with more diversity in its midst than any place I have ever been. Looking at it objectively it is a wonder all these differences can possible exist together -- and at times there is conflict. And yet, there is an incredible richness to this place that helps me to better grasp what it means to be the body of Christ.

Saturday was the Easter Vigil at St. Stephen’s. The Presbyterians joined us extending a tradition of sharing worship that has stretched all the way back to the founding of both churches. But the really neat thing about that evening was the way it was intentionally made family friendly using Godly Play to tell the scripture stories and ending with a real celebration of the Resurrection, horns and noisemakers blending with shouts of “alleluia”!

Finally, Don and I drove to Lusk for Easter Sunday. The service was marked by a whole bunch of children – most under the age of five. You could here them “singing” throughout the service, but not a cry was heard. It seemed such a fitting way to end Holy Week.

May we praise God for the wondrous gift he has given us through Jesus Christ, and take time this Easter Season to see the gifts of His Kingdom in all the times and places of our lives.