Naomi's Notes - 3/28/10
Holy Week begins this coming Sunday. We've had interesting, meaningful Lenten services for five weeks as we've taken our own spiritual temperature and done some spring cleaning in our own spiritual houses.
Now the contemplative mood of our Sunday worship changes dramatically as we celebrate Palm Sunday, then Resurrection Sunday. There will be celebrative music, children waving palm branches, spoken and sung words of praise, ringing of bells. All will be joyous--at last!
After five weeks of introspection and renewal we are ready for celebration. We're also very tired of cold weather and more than ready for spring.
Just like typical spring weather--a few dark, cold days interspersed among the warm, sunny days--Holy Week is not all about joy and celebration. In fact, those who only attend the Sunday services miss out on the primary event of Holy Week that will make their Resurrection Sunday even more glorious: Good Friday. Christ's suffering. The cross.
On Good Friday our Sanctuary Choir will once again lead our Tenebrae service. Tenebrae means darkness or shadows, and we will try not only to commemorate the events leading to the cross, but also will try as best we humanly can to experience Christ's emotions through our dramatic presentation. The service elements keep evolving from year to year, but the basic dark, solemn format of the service remains the same.
Please join with our church family—and invited friends and neighbors—for our Tenebrae service on Good Friday, April 2nd, at 6:00 pm in our sanctuary.
Christ comes! Christ died for us! Christ is risen indeed!