Monday Prayer

I lost a week, last week. Last Monday I convinced myself that I only had one more week of Lent- that it was already week five and not week four. And that little bird, the one that sits on the middle of your chest and makes you feel panicky, was fluttering like nobody’s business. How was I possibly going to get everything done?

“Mom, you have a whole other week.” This was good news to get from my daughter, but now it really is the week before, the week before Easter! And while I got things done last week, will I be ready for Holy Week? There are so many moving pieces to keep track of in the coming days and something is bound to go awry.

Yesterday was the first time in over two years that my congregation came to the altar for communion. I’m new here so I wasn’t altogether certain how things were “supposed” to work. It felt like people remembered some of the details but not all of them. I ended up with bread, wafers, a celebrant’s host, gluten-free rice crackers, a chalice of wine, two cruets of a different kind of wine, a tray of little glasses some of which contained grape juice, two pouring chalices, and a bowl full of those prepackaged elements on the altar. Some of these things were clearly superfluous, but in the end, it didn’t matter. Because the gospel was heard and everyone got fed. As I plow through the week before, the week before Easter, I am going to do my best to remember that as long as everyone who comes to the table gets fed, that’s all that matters. I hope you can do the same.

God of gracious hospitality, you call us to the table and you feed us with your very self. Help me to remember that even if I make a mistake or forget a step, you are present. Keep me mindful of the fact that my imperfections cannot limit your ability to be gracious. And when I think it’s time to panic, help me step back and catch my breath. Help me to focus on what’s truly important and give me energy for the week that is the week before Holy Week. Amen

Heidi Rodrick-Schnaath, sometimes known as RevHRod, currently serves as the Interim Pastor at Christ’s Lutheran Church in Oreland, Pennsylvania.