Who Needs Church?
I do, for starters. And last night's Maundy Thursday service pressed that truth soul deep. Humility and Holiness merged as Father Patrick knelt to wash our feet. And I couldn't stop crying, thinking about Jesus, washing the feet of his disciples. Then walking to the Garden of Gethsemane on his unwashed feet to pray, trusting his friends to watch and pray with him. But they fell asleep. I know that would've been me. Stress and fear make me want to sleep it all away, sometimes.
But tired as I was when I came to church last night, I didn't sleep or doze. I didn't want to miss however God showed up. And God spoke through Patrick as he told an unusual story of love, gratitude and generosity of spirit. Then, in case we missed the point, we sang Amazing Grace. As I looked around, I recognized God's Grace all over the place.
And then today, Good Friday, I drove to church for the children's Good Friday service at 4:00, instead of tonight's service. I missed my Grands so wanted to hang out with children. And there were a lot of children with some dads and moms, as Naomi led us in singing and Kali told the Easter story, simply and powerfully for any age. Like Mrs. Miller used to do for me through her flannel graph.
We watched Kali build the city of Jerusalem, walls and all. Then the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed, As a symbol that Jesus is the Light of the World, Kali lit a candle. When she came to the Good Friday part of the story and Jesus died, she blew out the candle. The Light left and darkness descended.
But on Easter Sunday, when the tomb was empty, she lit the candle again. And the Light returned. Kali asked the children if they had been there, what would they want to say to Jesus, as they saw him on the cross?
"I'm sorry."
"Thank you."
Me, too.
And you?
4 Comments
I do! I need church, too. Mike and I actually worshipped with Bahamian believers this past weekend. Last year our good friends and neighbors won a week's stay for four on Abaco Island and invited us to come with them this week. We were all initially sorry to miss Easter celebrations at home, but on Maundy Thursday we attended a wonderful gospel calypso concert here, followed by Good Friday communion and two services on Sunday in the little community church across from our cottage. It's good to be with the family of God wherever we are in the world!
How true that is, dear Maggie. One Easter, Jud and I were in New Zealand, where Heather and Matt were doing a medical rotation. We went to see them and take care of our first Grand, Lily. We attended Easter service at a Maori church in Rotorua. I wept when their choir samg, "Becasue He Lives, I can Face Tomorrow." Here be God! Here and there is the Risen Christ! Hallelujah!
I am with you Jan! I need church. And oh how I need Jesus! And I shed many a tear during Easter season as I thought of all my Lord did for me before and on that cross. And that He ROSE and lives with me every minute of every day! Yes! Hallelujah!!!
Amen, dear Wendy!