Don’t flay the sheep.

Holy Week, Batman! (RevGalBlogPals Friday Five)

My hairdresser asked me this week if Easter or Christmas is harder for ministers. I’d say Easter–more services, and when it’s over, everyone goes back to normal and expects you to be back in the office ASAP. (Than, she said, “Hey, what is Palm Sunday actually about?” I was in minister-heaven: laying back with my head wrapped in a warm towel, cucumbers on my eyes, explaining Palm Sunday to a willing listener. Aaahhh….

But, on to the Friday Five:

1. Will this Sunday be Palms only, Passion only, or hyphenated?

Hyphenated. After the children’s moment, the kids will be doing some complex marching moves around the back of the communion table, down one set of aisles, back around another set to the front, and then out the back to Sunday School. I’m in charge cause I’m the children’s pastor. I have visions of kids crashing into each other, but Pastor Carl assures me it works.

Then, we go into the sermon which is on John 19.

2. Maundy Thursday Footwashing: Discuss.

It’s one thing in a culture where it’s hot and dry-ish, sandals are the footwear of choice, so the major issue is dust. But in a given year we might still be dealing with heavy socks and shoes that don’t BREATH. And then, there’s the whole hosiery issue. Also, for the ticklish among us, it’s hard not to laugh.

How about saving it for a summer outdoor service? Or, as an addendum to the youth group carwash?

3. Share a particularly meaningful Good Friday worship experience.
I hate to cite myself as musician, but I will. Growing up, it was my job to play something like “Were You There” or “What Wondrous Love Is This” on the flute from the back of the dark church at the end of tenebrae services. In my Dad’s last church, there was a balcony, and I’d get up there a bit breathless and play it solo. And slow.

By the way, I’d HIGHLY recommend this. You can use a decent high-school or junior-high player, and it is lovely, and it is a great way to include some young people in worship leading!

4. Easter Sunrise Services–choose one:
a) “Resurrection tradition par excellence!”
b) “Eh. As long as it’s sunrise with coffee, I can live with it.”
c) “[Yawn] Can’t Jesus stay in the tomb just five more minutes, Mom?!?”

I’ll take (a). And I just realized: we don’t have one here. What will I do?

5. Complete this sentence: It just isn’t Easter without…

Ham. I don’t know where that comes from, but I need ham in some form later in the day. Maybe it’s some sort of twisted fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy: (Jesus is risen, we don’t have to keep Kosher, he is risen indeed!)
Bonus: Easter Vigil

I love it, and we are doing it for the first time here, although not too late. 6:00 dinner; 7:00ish bonfire in the parking lot; candle-floating in the baptismal font (nice imagery: being the light of Christ, reaffirming our baptism); communion standing belly-up to the table. Come join us if you’re in the Chicago suburbs!

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