Pastor’s Corner: Lent Will End

April 17, 2019

Lent is drawing to a close.

In the next few days we will join one another in the service of the shadows (Tenebrae in Latin), hearing the story of the Thursday of Holy Week in Chuukese, English, Pohnpeian, and Samoan. On Good Friday the sanctuary will be open for private prayer from noon to three, and Jesus’ seven last words will be read at intervals through the afternoon.

It was at 3:00 pm that Jesus died on the cross.

Saturday we will turn to lighter concerns, as the children gather to dye Easter eggs from 9 until noon.

Sunday brings the spreading light and growing joy of Easter. The celebration begins at sunrise at Wainaku Executive Center in a 6:00 am service prepared by Haili Church.

At 9:00 am on our campus, the children will scatter to find those colorful eggs. And at 10:00 am in our sanctuary, the organ’s roar, the choir’s voices, and the bells’ golden tones will proclaim the resurrection of Christ.

Lent will end.

I pray, however, that our journey to Open the Heart (the title of this season’s devotional) never ends. For certain, these last few weeks did not mark our first efforts to widen our love for those around us. And for certain, we (at least I) have more work to do to open our hearts even more.

Lent made for some steps, some stops, and some silence on the journey.

Easter makes for a waypoint of wonder, of wisdom, and of wholeheartedness along the journey.

With hearts a little more open, we embrace the love of God.

With aloha,

Pastor Eric