Darlings, how are you? What’s on the horizon? A huge week of liturgy, Seders, meetings, formal gatherings, lots of public witness on Good Friday… check in here! What’s on your mind as you prepare? IS it inappropriate to wear a poppy orange trench coat for a Stations of the Cross observance in the city?
SHOULD I wear socks for Maundy Thursday service even if I know I’ll be taking them off? CAN I do an Easter egg hunt in a dress and snow boots? Should I try to both cook the brisket AND lead the Passover seder?
So many questions, so much to think about. Love to hear from you. MWAH. – PB
Hmmm….last Holy Week before I get assigned to a church. Wednesday night I’m visiting a church for a research project for my Black Church Studies course, Thursday night and Friday night I’m working at joint services between my United Methodist field education church and a local Anglican congregation. One day off, and then Easter services.
Besides classes, of course. Six weeks til graduation.
(afternoon of Easter Sunday will be spent in an Irish Pub with friends….)
It’s the end of the accounting quarter and my day job is eating as much of my life as church will allow. Next week in church life: a meeting Monday evening, a meeting Wednesday evening, a meeting Thursday evening followed by choir and orchestra practice, Saturday more orchestra practice followed by a funeral in the congregation, then Easter Sunday two full services of music making followed by obligatory gathering with my in-laws.
The more I think about it, the more I really think I am going to email the minister to say “That meeting we have Thursday? I am totally okay with kicking that down the calendar a couple of weeks if it will make life easier. Because there weren’t enough hours in this week before the funeral became necessary.”
A bittersweet time for me in preparation for retirement as of July 1 as I move through Holy Week. Talk about Last Supper, this one celebrated with my congregation on Maundy Thursday will be my last in active ministry. The connection during Holy Week of Jesus’ holy farewells and my own is everpresent in heart.
Palm Sunday liturgy at 9 am, Palm Sunday with Church Without Walls (a ministry with
homeless folks in Springfield Mass) at noon. Meet colleagues at two to drive to DC for a
Stations of the Cross witness against gun violence on Monday. Drive back to Massachusetts Monday afternoon/evening. Tuesday is renewal of vows for clergy and blessing of oils at noon. Wednesday is catch up day. Maundy Thursday nursing home service at 11 am, dinner and footwashing and Holy Eucharist at 6 pm. Good Friday children’s program at 9:30 am, noon Stations of the Cross in downtown Springfield, 7 pm liturgy. Easter Vigil with our Lutheran partners at 7 pm Saturday, Easter liturgies at 8 and 10 on Sunday with a festive breakfast in between and an egg hunt following the 10. And my sister wonders why I am reluctant to drive an hour and a half to have Easter dinner at her house…
Fortunately, I’m on retreat Monday-Thursday of Easter Week. That means bubble baths, sleep, reading novels, going for walks, and maybe some spring shopping. Yesterday I made a variety of healthy and yummy dishes for my family that we’ll serve all week. Most of the sermons are done (I don’t preach on Good Friday–the Passion gospel is enough), and my laundry is caught up. I can do this, especially since the drive to DC is with good friends.
How to preach my first ever Easter sermon to a humanistic UU congregation?!?! And what to do with my (awkwardly growing out) hair!
This is a serious question, sweetie. Please feel free to write to me via the “Contact Me” link and leave me your phone number. I will call you at my earliest convenience, which will probably be Monday evening.
There will be sledding before Seder this evening which is pretty unbelievable. I appreciate this post so much today because I can admit here how difficult this time of year is. I adore making Passover but … with two sermons to preach, a house to clean, Seder to cook, Seder to lead, children to occupy (keep from hitting each other), and pastoring to the sick and dying – festival of freedom seems far away.
One of the stalwart members of the congregation died, unexpectedly last Friday. Her celebration of life was on Tuesday. Our tradition is one service per day during Holy Week, with the Cathedral having a blessing of the oils service on Thursday of Holy Week.
Two services on Palm Sunday
Stations of the Cross on Monday
Celebration of Life Tuesday morning, Tenebrae service Tuesday night.
Service of Healing and Eucharist Wednesday morning.
Tonight is Maundy Thursday service as we prepare the tomb for Good Friday.
Two services on Good Friday
Easter Vigil Saturday night
Easter Day
Dinner with the in-laws
Sleep Monday, Tuesday and possibly Wednesday in Easter Week.