Friday, April 10, 2009

i love my wife

Inspired by the book, The Love Dare, and the movie Fireproof, I bought a shirt that reads: "i love my wife" (yes, lower-case "i").

It is telling that when my sister saw it she said, "What's the back say?" We are in our culture so steeped in sarcasm and innuendo, that of course there had to be a catch, right?

As I got dressed for Good Friday, I chose this t-shirt as my undershirt for it captures for me what is at the heart of Good Friday. Jesus willingly goes to the Cross: suffering, bleeding, dying. And why? For what? Many of us have heard the standard answers: John 3:16... or: for our sins... or: for our salvation. But, it seems to me, one powerful and potent answers is that He loves his dear Wife, His bride, His forever Love: the Church.

May we together contemplate the richness and depth of Christ's love for his Holy Bride, the Church, for you and for me.

i love my wife.

"What's the back say?" you ask?

The. Same. Thing.

Monday, April 6, 2009

+ Holy Week +

Welcome to Holy Week. I plan to keep this message brief this week for one reason: It is not my words that you want to be immersed in, but the words of Holy Scripture, the words of worship and the Word who is Jesus Christ our Lord.

How does one celebrate Holy Week? With worship! See our web page for service times and plan to join us for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Saturday's Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday.

*If you have never attended an Easter Vigil service before, join us Saturday at 7 pm. It is a bit longer service (90 minutes or so): a delightful and full celebration of the Resurrection. We still could use someone to kindle the Easter fire in an outside grill before worship and a few assistants to decorate the chancel during the service. Let me know if you are interested.

How does one celebrate Holy Week? With devotion! See a list of suggested readings for Holy Week. Set aside extra time for prayer and mediation on the Scriptures.

How does one celebrate Holy Week? With all of who we are! For some further reflections on Holy Week, see this pamphlet.

How does one celebrate Holy Week? By standing in awe. After the telling of St. Mark's Passion yesterday I was reminded of how feeble and inadequate our words are.

Make time this week for worship, devotion, work and silence as you take in the sounds, sights, smells, tastes and touches of Holy Week.