We will gather at 6:00 pm on Maundy Thursday in the Social Hall. Maundy Thursday is an alternate name for Holy Thursday, the first of the three days of solemn remembrance of the events leading up to and immediately following the crucifixion of Jesus. The English word “Maundy” comes from the Latin mandatum, which means “commandment.” As recorded in John’s gospel, on his last night before his betrayal and arrest, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and then gave them a new commandment to love one another as he had loved them (John 13:34). Our Maundy Thursday gathering will focus on Jesus’s last meal with his disciples. We will break bread together and reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ commandment to love one another as he loved us.
We will gather at 7:00 pm on Holy Friday in the Sanctuary. Holy Friday is a solemn remembrance of the crucifixion of Jesus. We will gather to light candles, pray, reflect, sing, and remember as we hold the depths of the silence that fell on Jesus’ final day.
We will gather at 6:30 am in the Rose Garden of McKinley Park for Easter Sunrise. The beauty of the park along with music and a relevant message will help us to welcome the power & mystery of resurrection. Then, we’ll Celebrate Easter in the Sanctuary at both 9:30 am and 11:00 am on Easter morning.
Outline for Vulnerable Renderings
•February 10: (Ash Wednesday)
•February 14: Luke 4.1-13 Vulnerability in temptation
•February 21: Luke 13.31-35 Vulnerability in sacrifice
•February 28: Luke 13.1-9 Vulnerability in needing others
•March 6: Luke 15.1-3, 11b-32 Vulnerability in Grace
•March 13: John 12.1-11 Vulnerability in accepting generosity
•March 20: Luke 19.28-40 (Palm Sunday)
•March 24: Maundy Thursday (6:00 pm in Social Hall)
•March 25: Holy Friday (7:00 pm in Sanctuary)
•March 27: Easter Sunrise (6:30 am Rose Garden McKinley Park) Celebrate Easter (9:30 am & 11:00 am Sanctuary)
Take time to think about Palm Sunday. What images come to mind? What do you remember about Palm Sunday, if anything?
Now try to forget what you know about Palm Sunday and simply read Luke’s version of the story here: Luke 19.28-40.
What is most surprising about Luke’s version of this story? What is most intriguing?
In the closing lines of this reading we find conflict between some of the religious leaders in the crowd and Jesus. The religious leaders wanted Jesus to quiet and control his followers. Jesus seems to refuse their demand. This moment sets the stage for the intense conflict that is to come during Jesus’ final week.
Tom Mullen, who was both a pastor and Dean of a Quaker seminary, shared this about his fellow Quakers: “They work for peace — and if you really want to cause conflict, work for peace” (Laughing Out Loud and Other Religious Experiences, 50).
When in your life has working for peace caused conflict?