Dear siblings in Christ,
We are about to enter our second Holy Week in pandemic times. We likely could not have imagined that this year’s celebration of Palm/Passion Sunday, the Three Days, and the Resurrection of Our Lord would still take place apart from our gathered communities or transformed to look, feel, and sound quite different. Yet this is where we are. God in Christ meets us here just as he did for those at the tomb, who thought all seemed lost. As hymn writer Brian Wren has remarked, “Darkness is the cradle of the dawning” (ACS 1096). We have seen in this year that our processions have moved into marches for justice, that our footwashing has meant tending the sick, that our looking toward the cross points us to identify with all those who suffer violence at the hands of those in power. It is an interesting juxtaposition that the church marks the Annunciation of Our Lord right before Holy Week this year (March 25). Into a time of lament comes the promise we read in Luke 1:26-38. The angel’s voice tells Mary, “Do not be afraid. You have found favor with God.” (1:30). With the incredible news that the Holy Spirit will do this, Mary says yes to the angel’s words.
John Bell in the hymn “No Wind at the Window” describes the scene this way:
“No payment was promised, no promises made; no wedding was dated, no blueprint displayed. Yet Mary, consenting to what none could guess, replied with conviction, ‘Tell God I say yes.’” (ACS 906)
The plans we have had for all our celebrations in church, family, and community have rarely materialized as we expected this year. Much is still unknown. Yet with Mary, we can move into this Holy Week and Easter empowered by the Holy Spirit and in trusting God’s “yes.”
Peace in Christ, Deacon Jennifer Baker-Trinity Program Director for Worship Resources
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Worship in the Home “Worship in the Home” is available weekly on the ELCA Worship blog. You are encouraged to worship as you are able in homes on Sunday and throughout the week. If you don’t have Evangelical Lutheran Worship at home, a copy can be purchased through Augsburg Fortress’ web store, or perhaps your church might set up a lending library for home use. In addition to Sunday worship resources, resources for Daily Prayer are available, including simplified forms of Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer and Night Prayer as well as table prayers.
Recently featured in the Worship blog
The Work of Lamenting Racism in All Creation Sings
Singing at the Vigil of Easter with All Creation Sings
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