Pastor’s Corner: Holy Week

There’s a lot in this issue of the Messenger, so I’m giving my space over to Holy Week. Here’s what’s happening:

Palm Sunday: April 9

Get your arms ready to wave the palms, and your feet ready for a festive procession, and your lungs ready to sing out with joy: Jesus has come to us! We’ll march, and we’ll sing, and we’ll wave those palm branches (which, for the first time in my career, won’t need to be mailed to us ahead of time).

Then we will listen to the story of Jesus’ Passion from the Gospel of Matthew. Joyce Nakamoto, John Narruhn, Jane Kawazoe, and I will offer our different voices, featuring Joyce reading the words of Jesus, John and Jane as other people in the account, and myself providing the narration. I expect it will be a deeply moving experience.

Maundy Thursday: April 13

“Maundy” comes from the Latin “Mandatum,” meaning commandment, and refers to Jesus twin commandments at the Last Supper: both to remember him in the communion meal, and to love one another. Joined by the worshipers and pastors of the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa in Hilo, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and then move into the service of Tenebrae, or “shadows.” Readings of the events on that Thursday, from the Last Supper to Jesus’ arrest and trial, will be followed by dimming lights, concluding in darkness and the hush of the Lord’s Prayer. The service begins at 7:00 pm.

Good Friday: April 14

In simplicity, our sanctuary will be open for prayer from noon until 3:00 pm, the hour at which Jesus died on the cross. Each half hour, one of the Seven Last Words of Jesus will be read (plus one at 2:45 pm), concluding with the last at 3:00.

Easter Sunday: April 16

Come to Wainaku Executive Center at 6:00 am for the community Easter Sunrise Service. Look to the sunrise for the joy of the day.

Because this is the Day of Days! Come worship with us at 10:00 am and celebrate with special music and singing those favorite Easter hymns. Jesus is risen – and in his life, so we live.

I have longed to celebrate this Holy Week with you. Let’s make it a wonder for our spirits.

Blessings,

Pastor Eric