He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
May God's peace and blessings be with all of you on this most joyous occasion.
Blessed Lord - Thank you for you sacrificial servitude. Remind us throughout the year what you first did for us and help us to show our love for one another through service. Amen.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
And Now We Wait...
Christ has died. He has been buried. And now we wait. Each year, between Lent and Easter Sunday, we commemorate this state of waiting during the Tridiuum, or the three days of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. The Tridiuum is the most sacred time in the church year, marked by intense somberness and mystery surrounding the Lord's Passion and death.
In my church, Maundy (from the Latin mandatum meaning "mandate" or "command") Thursday is marked by a stripping of the altar. This is a symbolic remembrance of Christ's stripping and humiliation at the hands of the Roman soldiers. At the end of the service, we remove all ornamentation - paraments, banners, candles, the Bible, the processional cross, etc. - from the altar area of the sanctuary. As each item is removed, lights are turned off. Once all the items have been removed, our cross is draped with a black cloth, the only lights remaining are to light the cross. We're left to sit in silence, pondering Jesus suffering and humiliation.
Good Friday brings a Tenebrae (Latin for "darkness" or "of shadows") service. This service is a continuation of the Maundy Thursday service. It consists of a series of readings and further extinguishing of light - the light of a few candles. This gradual darkening symbolizes the flight of the disciples, the dark hatred of Jesus' enemies, the resentment of the world, and finally, Jesus utter isolation on the cross. At the end, we're left with a single lit candle - the Christ candle - pointing us ahead to a new dawn on Easter morning. Again, the service ends in silence with time for personal reflection and prayer - this time on Jesus' death.
And now we wait... As with the disciples in Jesus' day, we are left to ponder a life without Jesus. But we know His resurrection is just a day away. We place our faith in His overcoming death and escaping the tomb. As we wait, we pray. At my church we have a continuous prayer vigil - beginning after the Friday Tenebrae service and continuing until the Easter sunrise service. Members take shifts (30 minutes, an hour, perhaps more) praying in the sanctuary.
I've just returned from my turn at the prayer vigil - each year it is one of my most powerful experiences. Sitting or kneeling in a semi-dark sanctuary, the altar barren except for the draped cross, you are left alone at the foot of the cross to ponder what it means to you. Being quite tired, I found myself thinking of the disciples in the garden who could not stay awake a single hour while Jesus prayed. Physically, I remained awake, but mentally I could not. My mind drifted; I didn't seem to be able to focus. I thought of Jesus' death and then I thought of my family. I considered Jesus coming resurrection and then drifted off to work. I tried meditating on Psalm 46, verse 10 - "Be still and know that I am God." I read scripture in an attempt to regain my focus on God. But even as I read, my mind would drift. In the end, I was little different than the disciples; I just didn't seem able to fully focus for even one hour.
But perhaps something important happened in this mental drifting. Perhaps God was bringing to mind those with whom I need to share, those for whom I should pray. In its wandering, my mind thought of Christ and of others. I can't be sure whether God was directing my thoughts, but I can certainly follow through as I wait for Him.
Christ has died. And now we wait. For we know in a few short hours we will find an empty tomb. Christ will rise. And He will come again.
Gracious God - In this time of waiting we ponder all that you have done for us. You sacrificed your one and only Son on our behalf. He has died, but He overcomes death. Through His coming resurrection, we have the hope of eternal life. Send us your Holy Spirit so that as our minds wander, you might direct it toward those who need us most. Let us boldly share your good news with each person who comes to mind. We ask these things in the name of the one who is to rise, Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior. Amen.
In my church, Maundy (from the Latin mandatum meaning "mandate" or "command") Thursday is marked by a stripping of the altar. This is a symbolic remembrance of Christ's stripping and humiliation at the hands of the Roman soldiers. At the end of the service, we remove all ornamentation - paraments, banners, candles, the Bible, the processional cross, etc. - from the altar area of the sanctuary. As each item is removed, lights are turned off. Once all the items have been removed, our cross is draped with a black cloth, the only lights remaining are to light the cross. We're left to sit in silence, pondering Jesus suffering and humiliation.
Good Friday brings a Tenebrae (Latin for "darkness" or "of shadows") service. This service is a continuation of the Maundy Thursday service. It consists of a series of readings and further extinguishing of light - the light of a few candles. This gradual darkening symbolizes the flight of the disciples, the dark hatred of Jesus' enemies, the resentment of the world, and finally, Jesus utter isolation on the cross. At the end, we're left with a single lit candle - the Christ candle - pointing us ahead to a new dawn on Easter morning. Again, the service ends in silence with time for personal reflection and prayer - this time on Jesus' death.
And now we wait... As with the disciples in Jesus' day, we are left to ponder a life without Jesus. But we know His resurrection is just a day away. We place our faith in His overcoming death and escaping the tomb. As we wait, we pray. At my church we have a continuous prayer vigil - beginning after the Friday Tenebrae service and continuing until the Easter sunrise service. Members take shifts (30 minutes, an hour, perhaps more) praying in the sanctuary.
I've just returned from my turn at the prayer vigil - each year it is one of my most powerful experiences. Sitting or kneeling in a semi-dark sanctuary, the altar barren except for the draped cross, you are left alone at the foot of the cross to ponder what it means to you. Being quite tired, I found myself thinking of the disciples in the garden who could not stay awake a single hour while Jesus prayed. Physically, I remained awake, but mentally I could not. My mind drifted; I didn't seem to be able to focus. I thought of Jesus' death and then I thought of my family. I considered Jesus coming resurrection and then drifted off to work. I tried meditating on Psalm 46, verse 10 - "Be still and know that I am God." I read scripture in an attempt to regain my focus on God. But even as I read, my mind would drift. In the end, I was little different than the disciples; I just didn't seem able to fully focus for even one hour.
But perhaps something important happened in this mental drifting. Perhaps God was bringing to mind those with whom I need to share, those for whom I should pray. In its wandering, my mind thought of Christ and of others. I can't be sure whether God was directing my thoughts, but I can certainly follow through as I wait for Him.
Christ has died. And now we wait. For we know in a few short hours we will find an empty tomb. Christ will rise. And He will come again.
Gracious God - In this time of waiting we ponder all that you have done for us. You sacrificed your one and only Son on our behalf. He has died, but He overcomes death. Through His coming resurrection, we have the hope of eternal life. Send us your Holy Spirit so that as our minds wander, you might direct it toward those who need us most. Let us boldly share your good news with each person who comes to mind. We ask these things in the name of the one who is to rise, Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior. Amen.
-----
Note: Portions of this piece have been adapted from information in my church worship bulletins from this Holy Week.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Shout Outs and Holy Week Devotions
Tonight I'm taking a moment to give "shout outs" (perhaps that should be "shouts out") to several fellow bloggers. These are not only blogs that I follow and read; they are blogs that share something in common with Pew Ponderings (in my humble opinion). If you enjoy what you read here on Pew Ponderings, you may also enjoy these blogs. They are unique unto themselves, but something about each struck a chord with me.
The first is "Devotionals for Bloggers" owned by Christine M. Miller-Ramey. Christine enjoys sharing her faith through the written word. With a desire to have a devotion for each day, Christine has gathered other writers to help fill one or more days per month. I feel privileged to be included among this group. If all goes well and I fulfill my obligations, you'll be able to read a devotion from me on the 5th of each month. But don't stop there! Read the encouraging words of the other writers as well. It's a diverse group with a variety of life experiences and perspectives - a joy to have that variety with each new day. So, this "shout out" goes to Christine and each of my fellow writers at Devotionals for Bloggers.
For Holy Week, because the 5th fell on Maundy Thursday, Christine accepted my offer to write a series of devotions. So this week, you will find three devotions - "The Last Supper" on Thursday, 5 April; "Sacrifice of the Forsaken" on Friday, 6 April; and "Christ is Risen" on Easter Sunday, 8 April. My heartfelt thanks go out to Christine for giving me the opportunity to write this series and sharing in the monthly writing for her site.
In addition to the blog itself, you can follow Christine and "Devotionals for Bloggers" on Facebook and Pinterest.
My second "shout out" goes to Marti Pieper and her "Read. Write. Pray." As I read about her love for reading, passion for writing, and thanks to God for the gift of each, I felt a certain kindred connection. As the home page of her website suggests, she hopes to "share [her] passion for reading and books of many kinds; for the craft and business of writing; and for prayer, the living expression of relationship with an all-loving, all-powerful God." Not only is there good reading available on Ms. Pieper's site and blog, they are very well done sites. (As a software developer specializing in professional web sites, I appreciate a clean, well-designed site.)
After taking a moment to read here, please take the time to support these other fine bloggers.
The first is "Devotionals for Bloggers" owned by Christine M. Miller-Ramey. Christine enjoys sharing her faith through the written word. With a desire to have a devotion for each day, Christine has gathered other writers to help fill one or more days per month. I feel privileged to be included among this group. If all goes well and I fulfill my obligations, you'll be able to read a devotion from me on the 5th of each month. But don't stop there! Read the encouraging words of the other writers as well. It's a diverse group with a variety of life experiences and perspectives - a joy to have that variety with each new day. So, this "shout out" goes to Christine and each of my fellow writers at Devotionals for Bloggers.
For Holy Week, because the 5th fell on Maundy Thursday, Christine accepted my offer to write a series of devotions. So this week, you will find three devotions - "The Last Supper" on Thursday, 5 April; "Sacrifice of the Forsaken" on Friday, 6 April; and "Christ is Risen" on Easter Sunday, 8 April. My heartfelt thanks go out to Christine for giving me the opportunity to write this series and sharing in the monthly writing for her site.
In addition to the blog itself, you can follow Christine and "Devotionals for Bloggers" on Facebook and Pinterest.
My second "shout out" goes to Marti Pieper and her "Read. Write. Pray." As I read about her love for reading, passion for writing, and thanks to God for the gift of each, I felt a certain kindred connection. As the home page of her website suggests, she hopes to "share [her] passion for reading and books of many kinds; for the craft and business of writing; and for prayer, the living expression of relationship with an all-loving, all-powerful God." Not only is there good reading available on Ms. Pieper's site and blog, they are very well done sites. (As a software developer specializing in professional web sites, I appreciate a clean, well-designed site.)
After taking a moment to read here, please take the time to support these other fine bloggers.
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