|
New Bishop, new traditions, including the request that each clergy member vest and process from the Paulist Center on Park Street, through the Common to arrive at our Cathedral where our Bishop and the Bishop of the Lutheran Church awaited us. We (literally) stopped traffic! It is a wonderful new tradition that allowed us to connect with colleagues during this holiest of weeks. The Rev’d Liz Steinhauser somehow managed to gather the giant group for this photo, and was patient as we squished in together – ever mindful of needing and wanting to be in excellent health for the duration of Holy Week...
I am grateful to have a new bishop and her new traditions to enhance our Holy Week. Please place the service on your calendars for next year. It is a gorgeous service and a reminder of the promises and calls that each of your Massachusetts clergy members affirmed and answered as we navigated the lengthy discernment process. Next year, I hope we can have a St. Andrew’s photo on those same Cathedral steps!
Bishop Whitworth preached about how divisive and uncomfortable this time is and how important it is to invite our communities to experience our familiar Holy Week stories anew. I am very much looking forward to tomorrow night’s Agape Supper with as many of you as possible. Thank you in advance to all of the generous cooks who will offer us salad, soups, bread and simple dishes for our meal. We will pray in thanksgiving for our gathering, our nourishment and this community before we move to the sanctuary for our worship service.
I am very grateful for all of the helpers who have been at the St. Andrew’s campus this week, preparing us for the services ahead. I’m learning about our history and traditions and appreciate the opportunity to participate in Friday’s Tenebrae service, which is new to me.
Easter promises to be extraordinary this year for a bunch of reasons, including both Western and Eastern churches will celebrate it on the same day (most years the Gregorian calendar, followed by the West and the Julian calendar, followed by the East do not sync!) We also have great fun planned for our children, and everyone can count on this crescendo of Lent and the shift to the season of Easter to include joy, bells, laughter and LOTS of grace!
I’m excited to bring the A-Word back into our sanctuary and worship, and look forward to our kidlets returning it from its Lenten Hiding Place!
We’ll need a few extra ushers on Sunday. If you feel called to this vital ministry, please send me a text or e-mail, or give me a call. I’d love to make sure that every person who joins us on Easter Sunday feels welcomed, appreciated and knows that they are in the right place!
God bless you in your on-going Lenten observances. While I plan to keep feeding the birds and enjoying my brief daily walks, I am very much looking forward to casting aside a few of my other Lenten choices!
May we each find the steps we take to accompany Jesus to the cross and beyond challenging, clarifying and, in God’s time, rewarding! Amen+
--Amy+
| 
