Fellowship "Elbow Bump" for April 9

Holy Week Day 5

I know some of you are not looking forward to this weekend.  Some of you are even dreading it.  Everything is off, everyone is stressed.  Let me assure you, God is at present, God is at work Even with all the changes, this is still the most important weekend of our liturgical calendar.  Let today, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Resurrection Sunday, point you to Jesus, now that all else has been removed.

This weekend, this year, is a unique opportunity to spend with Jesus, undistracted.  I urge you not let it pass you by, but give it the time it deserves. Go alone with Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane, where his closest friends could not watch and stay awake. Feel the pain of betrayal, the heartbreak of a friend disowning him. Experience his isolation as he faced his accusers, tormenters and executioners alone. Hear the anguished cry, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”  Lament with Psalm 22 or meditate on Isaiah 53.

But also remember what Jesus himself said with confidence,

 “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.”

Know this, as Jesus was not alone, either are you. God has not left us alone.

Alice VDK has shared "Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me," a good song to carry with you this entire weekend. 

I will not be sending out “Elbow Bumps” on Good Friday or Easter.  We encourage everyone to join us for our pre-recorded worship services on those days, which you will find on the church website. You may want to prepare for the Good Friday service with a single lit candle.  Then Easter Sunday at 10:30, join us online for online Coffee Hour.

Irene is working hard to make sure the flower-covered cross is out front of our church building again this year!  The sign will encourage passers-by to take a flower.  Thank you Irene for making this gift to the neighbourhood a reality!

As for today, it is Maundy Thursday.  “Maundy” is not a word I know how to use in a sentence, but it means “something commanded.” Traditionally, many churches have foot washing services to mark this day, because Jesus said, “Now that I have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (Jn 13:14). Those services won’t happen this year. Yet the word actually comes from John 13:34, “A new command I give you: Love one another.”  That will be happening this year.  This church is very good at it. We just have to find more creative ways to show our love to one another this year.

In closing, let’s pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.

Click here for a blessing to take with you today.

Pastor Mark

PS - As  you might have guessed, the 51st annual ecumenical SonRise Easter Service on Centennial Hill has been cancelled.