A Holy Week Reflection

The irony that undergirds Christianity’s paradoxical tenets – namely, that we die so that we may live; that we renounce so that we may receive abundantly – is especially, perhaps uncomfortably, clear in the season of Passiontide. 

In his life, the world found no room for Christ. Even though he himself is the Bread of Life, his first bed was a repurposed feeding trough (Lk 2:7). Even though he is that in which we live, move, and have our being (Acts 17:28), Jesus proclaimed that “...the birds have their nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head" (Lk 9:58). Even his tomb was borrowed. Christ still has no place to rest in our shared world except any home we ourselves are willing to give by making room for him in our hearts and lives. Little has changed.

Why would anyone make such a home? For Jesus insists that anyone willing to follow him will find a cross prepared for them. For, if we would experience the reality of the Resurrection (which we greatly desire), we must also undergo the Passion (which we would rather avoid), its wisdom a dark gift about our violent impulses.

Christ, who died to himself fully, is therefore the fullness of Resurrection. And the Crucified One, who knew deeply that what we do to another, we also do to ourselves, called for our forgiveness even as his suffering overwhelmed him. Can we follow there? Most of us cannot, and it is for this demonstration of great love that we lift him up and follow as best we can.

Following Jesus, or “Walking the Way” is dangerous. For early Jesus followers, it meant the possibility of ultimate imitation: persecution under Imperial authoritarianism and possible physical death. For us, the danger is different, yet no less urgent, for the call of Jesus is ultimately a willingness to encounter the illusion of death to access the reality of the Resurrection: an event that is always-already happening in the dimension we call “eternity.” Therefore, the extent to which we have access to the Resurrection is the extent to which we have died to ourselves and from which we have “woken up” from the “sleep of death.”

May our encounter with Jesus this Holy Week wake us up.

Faithfully,

Gregory Peebles, Director of Ministry

Blessing of the Chrism

April 15 at St. James Cathedral

Clergy and lay leaders are invited to St. James Commons on Tuesday, April 15 for a Lenten program, followed by a Eucharist at with the blessing of chrism and renewal of vows. Learn more about the schedule and program.

Monthly Vestry Meeting

The COS Vestry meets this coming Wednesday for its monthly meeting at 7pm in the Rectory. COS parishioners are invited to join via Zoom using this link.

Holy Week Schedule 2025

Please join us for Holy Week. Below is the schedule of services being offered this year. More details will be shared soon. Please contact the office with any questions.

April 13 Palm Sunday - Services at 7:45am (Chapel), 9:00am & 10:45am (Salvatore's)

April 17 Maundy Thursday - Service at 7:00pm (Salvatore's)

April 18 Good Friday - Service at 7:00pm (Salvatore's)

April 20 Easter Sunday - Services at 7:45am & 10:00am (Cortelyou Commons, DePaul)

Parking is available in the DePaul Sheffield Garage as is nearby street parking.

**While COS is not offering the Great Vigil liturgy this Holy Week, you can visit one of the nearby churches on Holy Saturday, April 19, as you are able.**

St. James Cathedral, 8:00pm

St Peter's on Belmont, 6:30pm

Church of the Ascension, 8:00pm

Good Friday Offering, Concert to Support Middle East Ministries

Concert online April 18

For 103 years, Episcopalians have generously shared their love, compassion, and financial gifts to support the ministry of the Anglican Communion Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East through the Good Friday Offering. These gifts have made an astounding difference in the lives of many people in the homeland of Jesus and beyond. Learn about the history of the Good Friday Offering and make a gift.

“This Lent, the need is almost unfathomable,” wrote Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe in a letter to Episcopal churches. “We do not know what the political future of the Holy Land will be; but whatever the future, our siblings in Christ in The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East will continue to serve God’s people.” Read the full letter.

Episcopalians are invited to enhance their Good Friday devotion by attending a sacred performance of music devoted to this solemn day. The concert—recorded in 2024 at Christ and St. Luke’s Church in Norfolk, Virginia—will air online on April 18 at 11 am and 6pm Central on The Episcopal Church’s Facebook page (please note: you do not need a Facebook account to view the concert). 

Community Engagement Team Survey Deadline

The COS Community Engagement Team is gathering information for the work they are doing to move COS into the next chapter of its mission and ministry. Read their recent email here.

Please take a moment to complete this survey on mission, passion, profession, and vocation by April 13. Paper surveys will be available on the welcome table on Sunday or you can contact Peter Civetta to schedule a one-on-one conversation on this effort.

Update the COS Online Directory

Ahead of our new rector's arrival on April 22 we are cleaning up the Online Parish Directory and we need your help! Using these step-by-step instructions, please take a few minutes to log into your profile and make sure your Family and Individual profile information is correct. We also need everyone to ensure there is a photo for both your Family Profile and your Individual Profile (also in the instructions).

You can contact Br. Will in the office with any questions or for assistance and thank you for your help!

What's Happening in the Atria this Week?

Heading into the home stretch of lent, we spent last Sunday in the atrium studying the challenging parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids. Some wise bridesmaids brought extra oil for their lamps and thus could wait through the night and still be ready to light the way for the late-arriving bridegroom. Other foolish bridesmaids s did not bring enough oil, and while they were out getting more, the bridegroom arrived and the ceremony started without them. We looked at this parable from Jesus for its messages about waiting: how to wait, how to prepare for the thing you are waiting for; what kinds of preparation can only be done by you and not by someone else on your behalf. We also listened to, and studied the lyrics of, a haunting spiritual. As we move toward Easter, the lyric hit close to home: “Keep your lamps trimmed and burning, the time is drawing nigh.”

Celebrate Earth Day with Action and Inspiration | April 25

As we prepare to honor God’s creation this Earth Day, April 22, Eco DioChicago encourages individuals and congregations to participate in the following actions:

1. Advocate for climate action rooted in faith and justice
2. Learn and lead by attending a webinar on April 17
3. Connect: join Eco DioChicago’s meeting on Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22, at 6pm to learn how our diocesan working group is engaging churches and communities. Join on Zoom.

Summer Camp Programming | June 15 - 21

Early Registration by April 14

Deacon Jess Elfring-Roberts and the Rev. Meghan Murphy-Gill will be summer camp chaplains at Waycross during their Creative Arts session. All camp-aged kiddos are invited to come! 

WHERE: Waycross Camp and Conference Center

(Diocese of Indianapolis) About a 4-hour drive from Chicago

WHAT: Creative Arts Session: June 15th-21st.

WHO: Campers who have completed 2nd-11th grade. 

HOW MUCH: The cost is $485 per camper and the 

         -Early Bird rate: $460 (register by April 14, 2025)

         -Scholarships are available! 

Contact Deacon Jess with any questions.

Action Alert: Stop Escalating Violence in the Holy Land

Episcopal Office of Government Relations

The Episcopal Church continues its commitment to advocate for a just, sustained peace in the Holy Land and for humanitarian aid to be provided for those suffering in Gaza and elsewhere. Join the Office of Government Relations in urging the 119th Congress to condemn Israeli attacks on Gaza, work toward a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and to commit U.S. resources to rebuilding Gaza for Palestinians. Learn more.

Episcopal Service Corps 2025-2026

The Episcopal Service Corps (ESC) invites young leaders ages 21 to 32 interested in serving communities and deepening their spiritual lives to apply online for the 2025-26 program year. Those interested are encouraged to explore which of the corps’ six unique programs might be right for them.