I'd like to draw your attention to two important events here at Christ Church in the next few days. First, I hope you'll be with us on Sunday for our ministry fair. Tables will be set up for representatives of the many projects and ministries you can get involved with in our parish. On Monday, March 30, we're having a meeting here at Christ Church at 7 pm (with pizza) to discuss the possibility of hosting a site for free lunches for local children. We are just a mile from the Whittemore School, where fully half of the students receive some kind of discounted or free meal during the school day. When school's out, they may not receive a balanced lunch. We were asked to help because of our location, and because the city is losing one of its former lunch sites (after already having lost 3 lunch sites from 2007 to 2008). This would be a shared effort between Waltham churches, and members from the Baptist, Unitarian, Lutheran, and Methodist churches will also be meeting with us. Please let me know if you can be there so I can provide enough food for us all. On a related note of ministry with kids in need, save the date for B Safe, on July 16 and 17, the inner city summer day camp program we volunteered with last year. Bill Fowler will have pictures to show at the ministry fair and can tell you more about it on Sunday!
This week I'll continue our exploration of the Holy Week services, and talk a bit more about Maundy Thursday. The word "Maundy" comes from the Latin, mandatum, which means commandment-we commemorate the Last Supper, when Jesus washed his disciples' feet and gave "a new commandment."
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35)
In the liturgy, we wash each others' feet-we are each others' servants. Men and women, older and younger-we are all called to serve each other. Is it awkward? Of course. It's a level of nearness we don't frequently experience with our friends, much less the person you sit behind in church. But is it holy? Absolutely. The disciples didn't understand what Jesus was doing at first, either. When Jesus kneels at Peter's feet, he says, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me." Peter is confused-an act of submission by his Lord? No way. Jesus says, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand." Does Peter get it, later? Much later, he does-after the crucifixion, after the resurrection, he understands just how different a Lord Jesus was. Not one who wants domination and power, a Lord who wants to be on the floor, kneeling in front of us, comforting and consoling. A Lord whose only commandment is love. One who invites us to kneel there, too, to continue his work for each other. We are his Body, now in the world. It's time to get down on the floor.
The foot washing takes place between the sermon and the prayers of the people. The liturgy continues with Communion. After Communion, we strip the altar. All the hangings, all the chairs, all the cushions and candles come out of the sanctuary. We do this to prepare for Good Friday, to remind ourselves of the abandonment of Christ, and the utter absence and desolation of that day. Everyone who is present in the church is invited to help strip the altar-it's not just a performance by the clergy or leaders of the service; it's shared by us all.
The great "Triduum," or "Three Days" of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Great Vigil are, technically, one service-there's no final blessing or dismissal until the end of the Great Vigil. Wednesday is a bit of a prelude to the "big event" of those three days.
Next week: The mysteries of Good Friday.
Blessings,
Sara+
No comments:
Post a Comment