A Blessed Easter to all you people of faith.
It was a meaningful Holy Week once again. The sanctuary was
decorated appropriately for the day, scripture was read and the words of grace
were proclaimed.
At the end of Maundy Thursday worship (Maundy means “new
command” and refers to the words of Jesus when He told his followers “A new command I give you – love one another”)
the sanctuary was stripped bare of altar cloths, Bibles, banners, everything. I
know Lutheran churches do this as part of our practice. Not all churches recognize
and worship on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday of Holy Week. While Psalm 88 was being chanted people from
the congregation came forward and aided the stripping of the sanctuary. It is a nice practice. In this case worship
becomes more participatory rather than a spectator sport.
Good Friday found the sanctuary covered in black cloth. A
large wooden cross was leaning against the altar. A crown of thorns lay upon
the altar. Since we worshipped by using a Tenebrae worship liturgy (tenebrae
means “darkness” ) after a short reading from the gospel of John about the crucifixion
a candle was extinquished leaving the sanctuary just a bit darker. Finally at
the end of worship the sanctuary was dark with one candle burning. That candle
was taken from the sanctuary leaving the worshippers in darkness. A loud noise representing the rolling of the
stone in front of the tomb of Jesus was heard then the candle is brought back
into the sanctuary. People sit and pray and meditate in quiet and then leave
when they are ready to.
Easter Sunday starts a bit differently than I have
experienced before. Remember how people from the congregation aided in
stripping our worship space at the end of Maundy Thursday. Well the sanctuary on
Easter Sunday morning is just how it was left on Good Friday – bare and covered
in black. As part of the worship Easter Sunday people from the congregation are
asked to prepare the worship space for the resurrection. So in semi darkness
young and old alike bring in banners, Easter lilies, communion vessels, Bibles,
everything used to aid our worship. Then
when all is in readiness the lights are turned on, people stand and the words “He is risen” are shouted out
and the congregation shouts back “He is risen indeed”. Then we sing “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”. It
is a meaningful and joyous way to begin worship.
The rest of the morning included a breakfast put on by the
men of the congregation, an Easter egg hunt and another worship service. It
gets to be a full morning.
St. John LC averages 65 in worship normally. There are 187
baptized members according to our records. Easter worship though finds maybe
twice that many people here. It is a great family gathering.
I’m going to end with the words of this benediction or
blessing which we heard Easter Sunday.
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you
to live in harmony with one another,
in accordance with Christ Jesus.
Amen.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in
believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
And may the God of all grace + bless you now and forever.
Amen.
