Maundy Thursday/Good Friday

Two services down, two to go.

Ok…maybe that’s not the best way to be thinking about Easter weekend.  But, as the services of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday do so well to remind me, I am a sinner. And sometimes my sinful self takes over and starts counting down the number of services I attend over Easter weekend instead of reflecting on each service and what it brings to the whole Easter experience.

The service last night, the Maundy Thursday service, was wonderful, as always. I felt forgiven and refreshed when leaving the service since the service involves the laying on of hands (Pastor touching each person’s head as they kneel at the communion rail and forgiving them their sins) and partaking of Holy Communion.  It was moving, touching and contemplative.

Tonight’s service, the Good Friday Tenebrae service, was also deeply moving.  We heard the story, told in seven meditations, of Christ dying on the cross. I was privileged to read the fourth meditation.  I had practiced it and practiced it and worked on getting the inflections just right and to speak slowly and with emotion. I think I did a good job, as did everyone else. I’m glad everyone took it seriously and clearly practiced their part. (I was in charge of finding all the readers for both Palm Sunday and Good Friday so I was particularly happy they did a good job).

Tomorrow night I am going to an Easter Vigil service. Not at my church but at another local Lutheran church (in the Portland area). It will be interesting to just attend a service rather than helping with the service.  I am looking forward to it.

Then on Sunday, I am attending Easter Sunday service at my church.  And that will make four services in four days. Not that I am counting.

I really do love Easter. I look forward to it every year.  Actually I look forward to all of Holy Week.  The death and resurrection of Christ deserves a whole week to contemplate, worship, pray and meditate. I think it really deserves more than a week but, in the hustle and bustle of today’s world, a week is a huge segment of time.

So, let’s put it this way: With Holy Week drawing to a close, the anticipation of Easter Sunday is almost upon us and the joy of Jesus’ resurrection will be celebrated with beautiful music and happy acclamations of “He is Risen!!”.

There…much better!