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Dear Ones,
It’s Maundy Thursday of Holy Week, as we continue to “Be Church Together” even as the church building is closed for gatherings. Tonight we begin the three worship experiences of Holy Week, also known as the Triduum.
| We have a plan to continue worshiping outdoors until we are able to have indoor worship, now that the weather has begun to warm up. Although this Sunday is supposed to reach almost 80 degrees, this is very unusual, so we will continue to meet at 1:00 p.m. until the warm weather stabilizes. | |
In 2010, I was able to travel to Israel with my two sons and a small tour group. Here is a picture of the Via Dolorosa, where you could see those on pilgrimages carrying crosses through Jerusalem to Golgotha. There was something very special about knowing that we walked in the same paths that Jesus and his followers walked. | |
In Fr. Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation today, he talked about what the passion really means. He said: | |
From a wisdom point of view, what can we say about the passion? . . . The key lies in . . . reading Jesus’s life as a sacrament: a sacred mystery whose real purpose is not to arouse empathy but to create empowerment. In other words, Jesus is not particularly interested in increasing either your guilt or your devotion, but rather, in deepening your personal capacity to make the passage into unitive life. If you’re willing to work with that wager, the passion begins to make sense in a whole new way. | | | |
Unitive life: living a life that is in harmony with God, our neighbors and ourselves. This is something worth striving for. I look forward to Easter Sunday Outdoor Worship; see you at 1:00 p.m., and bring your sunscreen! | |
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Maundy Thursday: Today, April 1, will be celebrated with a single Zoom Worship at 7:00 p.m. Join us for communion, having your own bread or cracker and wine or grape juice and a small bowl of water and a towel on hand.
Good Friday: April 2 will have a brief recorded online service and the sanctuary at Emmanuel will be open from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. for a walk-through meditative experience. There will be six stations telling the story of the Christ’s death. Pr. Tricia will be on hand to be help us maintain the ten-person maximum in the sanctuary.
Easter Sunday: On April 4 there will be a single recorded worship service including our Fabulous Family Easter Pageant available online, and a 1:00 p.m. Outdoor Worship followed by an Easter Egg Hunt!
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Vitalant blood drives scheduled for our area:
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Friday, April 9, 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Prescott High School (1050 N. Ruth St.)
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Saturday, April 10, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Prescott Nazarene Church (2110 Willow Creek Rd.)
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Thursday, April 15, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Prescott College Crossroads Community Room (220 Grove Ave.)
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Tuesday, April 27, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Yavapai College Community Room Bldg 19, (1100 E Sheldon, Prescott)
You can donate blood every six weeks.
Make an appointment at vitalant.org or call 1-877-258-4825. Vitalant includes COVID-19 antibody testing on all blood donations.
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While there is no inherent risk of getting coronavirus when you donate blood, donors and staff are required to wear masks or reasonable cloth-based face coverings. Read our COVID-19 FAQs. | | | |
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COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
Visit the websites below to find out more
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“Nearer My God to Thee” from the Silo Sessions performed by Sounds Like Reign. | |
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I often think of Mary, Jesus’ mother, during Holy Week. Here is a 450 voice Catholic Virtual Choir singing Salve Regina. | | | |
The church office is staffed Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; don’t hesitate to call me (310-890-9785) or the church office (928-772-4135) if you need something, and email [email protected] if you have something to share. | |
Please make good choices regarding your safety and others’. Wear your mask, keep your distance, stay at home if you are at risk or not feeling well, wash your hands, and sign up to get vaccinated as soon as you can. Call the church office if you need help arranging a vaccination appointment. Precious ones; choose love, to care for your neighbor and yourself by staying safe. | | |
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Olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane, from my trip in 2010. | |
A Bible verse for today:
They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”
Mark 14:32
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Yours in Christ,
Pr Tricia
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Prescott Valley, AZ
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