God this is a prayer of fast forward as the palms are here, or coming (or not, eep!) As the the church is ready, or not. As the sermon is ready, or not. As our hearts are ready, or not. I lift my eyes to the hills –and some days beyond to skies, and the… Read More
This is a moment of crises in the city of Jerusalem. The moment Jesus enters there is tumult. First the impromptu military parade of victory, followed by the last supper with disciples and finally Jesus arrest. Like the last few weeks in the United States and Europe, and like the last few months in China… Read More
Holy Week is about to begin! Are you ready? Which pieces of the story will you share on each day? Does this Sunday bring you to Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem, or the story of his passion? Both? Will folks return to hear more of the story on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday? Will you… Read More
“Sir, we would see Jesus,” the plaque on the pulpit proclaimed, visible only to the preacher. In a former congregation, like many places, the words of people seeking Jesus greeted every preacher who stepped into the pulpit. Mysteriously, thankfully, in that particular church, the plaque was lost in a sanctuary renovation. The people who come… Read More
Everyone loves a parade and Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary readings offer you two. The first parade has Jesus entering into Jerusalem amid joyous celebration and the other a more macabre march to the cross. You can find the Palms here and the Passion here. Our congregation holds several special services during Holy Week so we will… Read More
Palms and Passion, these are your themes for the coming week. Sunday begins a very busy week for the church, with some of you focusing on the events of Palm Sunday, and others are focusing on the Passion narrative in addition to or in place of Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem. Some of you will not have… Read More
This Sunday, my Episcopal congregation, like many Christian congregations, will celebrate a hybrid of Palm Sunday and the Sunday of the Passion. We will begin by welcoming the radical prophet’s triumphal entrance into our midst with cheers, waving of palm branches, and songs of “Hosanna, he comes!” By the end of the service we will… Read More
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