Palm Sunday begins with celebration and ends with the story of the crucifixion. We leave the service fully steeped in the knowledge that within the span of a week we go from shouting “Hosanna!” to turning our backs on God, denying His Son, and demanding Pilate to “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
I’ve often wondered why the designers of the church year cram all this emotion and storytelling into one Sunday. I guess it is so that those who only worship on Sunday will hear the whole story …so that we do not rejoice on Easter without hearing of how we are all culpable in the death of Jesus.
But only attending Holy Week services on Palm Sunday and Easter is like eating the Oreo cookie and tossing out the cream filling. (Although there are some people who do eat their Oreo’s exactly like that.)
Please, please, don’t skip out on the other opportunities to worship during Holy Week. Just because we sang “Hosanna!” two days ago, don’t think we’re finished getting ready for Easter.
While yes, we will hear the stories that detail this last week of Jesus’ life in human form again during worship on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, each worship experience creates unique opportunities for us to become closer to God.
Maundy Thursday/Holy Thursday
Join us as we share an Agape Meal (agape means “love”…as in brotherly love) on Thursday (April 21) beginning at 6:30 pm. Bring an item to share. We also take a free-will offering to help offset the costs. Our meal is followed by our Maundy Thursday worship service beginning at 7:45 pm. We share in Holy Communion as modeled by Jesus during the Passover Seder with His disciples at the Last Supper. Pastor Fred also invites anyone who wishes to come forward for foot washing, a modeling by Jesus of the how we are to be a servant to each other. At the end of our worship service, our sanctuary (church worship space) is stripped of all decoration and we leave in silence.
Good Friday
On Good Friday (April 22), we worship at 7:30 pm in a bare sanctuary with only a black swag draped over the cross as we hear the story of the betrayal, crucifixion and death of Jesus one last time. The tomb slams shut and our hearts are broken. While this sounds depressing and ominous, and is not necessarily a worship service that small children will enjoy, we are called to spend a few minutes contemplating our Lord’s last moments on the cross and the price He paid for our salvation. By participating in this story we feel the utter aloneness and finality that seems to rule the day. This sadness is but the tiniest, tiniest glimpse of the ransom paid for us. But we know that this is not the end.
To truly be able to live with joy in Christ’s Resurrection, you need to be a part of Good Friday. Easter is oh so much more of a sweet and happy celebration when you have gone to the cross on Good Friday.
So don’t skip the filling. Join us for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday worship services. You’ll find yourself feeling even closer to God and your Easter joy will have even more meaning.
Why do you, or don't you, go to Maundy Thursday or Good Friday worship services? Please leave a comment and let us know.
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