Tuesday in Holy Week -- April 7, 2020
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
As we approach Easter Day this Holy Week, I hope you are finding ways to get ready for the great feast. I encourage you to use such time as you can to prepare yourself for the spiritual gifts to be had in meditation on the Paschal mystery -- the death and resurrection of our Lord. Here are some ways to do that:
1) Join in Morning Prayer
-- With thanks to new vestry member John McCurry, a group of us are now joining in morning prayer online, using the daily office from the Book of Common Prayer. We are committed at least through tomorrow, and it may extend.
2) Help decorate an altar outside our sanctuary
-- If you feel safe to do so, consider putting something on the steps in front of the church as an outside altar. It could represent your sorrow, confession, special intention, or thanksgiving in this Holy Week. Then, look to the box below for what we'll do on Easter Day.
3) Join Mary T. and me for a Maundy Thursday online mealtime
-- On Thursday at 6:30pm, Mary, William and I will be sharing some readings and prayers during our meal. Following that, we are going to do a home version of the Footwashing. We'd love some online company!
4) Make one of the Stations of the Cross and join the Good Friday service
There is now a sign-up online to make one of the Stations of the Cross, to be shared online for everyone's meditations on Good Friday. Our service from the sanctuary begins at 5pm.
5) Read and meditate on the lessons for the Easter Vigil
-- The Easter Vigil is is the one service of the year that most encapsulates the history of the human experience of God's saving grace, as understood by Christians. We can't gather, but we can meditate on the several readings.
6) Connect via Zoom for worship on Easter Day, 10am
-- Following the Bishop's instructions, we will begin by ringing the bell for five minutes. Jim will offer a prelude, and then we will celebrate, joyfully connected in spirit though separated by physical distance. You'll want to have printed the worship bulletin to participate fully.
And look below for some celebratory ideas, including the Children's Flower Cross and Easter hats!
The above are detailed with links on the website, and worship materials for Easter Day will be sent by email later this week. Please know that I continue to pray for you and your loved ones.
Yours in Christ's love,
Ted+
revted@trinity-swarthmore.org
610-544-2297
Remember that you can call any time, day or night, with a pastoral emergency. Messages left on the pastoral emergency line are forwarded to the clergy person on call.
