It may not feel like spring on this first day of April, but this coming Sunday is still Palm Sunday, marking the end of Lent, and the beginning of Holy Week. We will begin worship with our traditional “Palm Parade,” singing a medley of classic Palm Sunday hymns. We’ll “shift gears” in the middle, and the sermon will focus on the Passion of Jesus, his journey to the cross. And then, we will finish by celebrating Communion.
A reminder.-. tomorrow, on Thursday, April 2nd, at 3 pm, we will be gathering for a Memorial Service for Reta Chase.
And do remember all that is going on in Holy Week:
Monday - Talk by Rev. Ric Matthews of First United – (7:00 pm; Chapel)
Thursday - Foot-washing and communion – (7:00 pm; Chancel)
Friday - Music for Meditation at 10:30 am
Service at 11 with Rev. Ric Matthews preaching
Light lunch, followed by 1 pm presentation of the Passion story in song.
Saturday - Potluck supper at 6 pm (Salons)
Vigil service at 7:30 (Chancel) with special guest musicians on flute and sitar
(not to be missed).
Sunday - Early morning service (8:30 am) at Oppenheimer Park
Traditional Worship at 10:30 (communion in chapel after)
See website for details.
GLEANINGS: A Prayer by Thomas Merton that seemed a fitting entry into Holy Week. A good friend of mine, Sue Laverty, who was on staff at Naramata, but who has since passed away, had this prayer stapled in her Bible:
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me;
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself.
And the fact that I think I am following Your will,
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please You
does, in fact, please You.
And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing;
and I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And, if I do this, You will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore, will I trust You always,
though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for You are ever with me,
and You will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Amen.
Blessings…..
Gary Paterson