Friends in Faith,
Less than a week later, I am writing to you all again with great sadness over yet another mass shooting in our nation—this time in Boulder, Colorado. Ten innocent lives have been snuffed out by a disturbed individual with a semi-automatic weapon. As we have been making our way through the pandemic, the absence of regular mass shootings has been so refreshing. I wondered if we may have turned the corner; indeed, it has just felt as though we all already have too much on our plates. Now, though, it seems that life in America really is returning to "normal." God help us.
Holy Week is arriving, as if on cue, to tend to our aching souls. This Sunday is Palm Sunday—Hosanna! Save us, Lord! Our cries remain as urgent as ever in 2021. I've decided to return, yet again, to the question of what it means to follow Jesus Christ. We'll be reflecting on the concept of "letting go" of our own wills and trusting in God's will; our text is Matthew 21:1-11. We hope you'll join us for our Facebook Live service at 10:30 a.m.—with beautiful piano music that begins at 10:20 a.m. Afterwards, at a bit after 11 a.m., we'll discuss Sunday's text: what does "letting go" mean to you? What do you struggle to let go of? We'll also take some time to be in prayer together. You can access all of our online/zoom opportunities here.
As we continue through Holy Week, we'll be participating in our final Zoom conversation concerning Ibrahim X. Kendi's How to Be an Antiracist on Wednesday, March 31st, at 7 p.m. Click here for more details.
Thursday, April 1st is Maundy Thursday. We will be worshiping together via Zoom at 7 p.m. Our service will include communion, so please be sure to have some bread and juice ready. Also, part of our service will feature candles, so if you have a few candles (ideally 4), you can use them as we experience a service of Tenebrae ("shadows") together. Here is the Zoom link for this special service. The password, should you need one, is 935576.
Excitement is gathering as we look foward to celebrating Easter together with an outdoor service in our south parking lot. Please know that we are dedicating to keep our space safe and clean. There will be a check-in station, socially distanced seating, and parking available for folks who'd prefer to remain in their cars. And, of course, if you do not feel comfortable attending this service, please do not feel any pressure; do what you need to do to feel safe. The service will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 4th. Jim Guida, the chair of our Worship and Arts Commission, has asked if any one has traffic cones we could borrow for the service, could they please contact him through the church office.
Finally, if you have news for our church family that you would like to share, please reach out to Office Manager. Maria Mar or me and let us know. Also, whenever you share a joy or a concern, please be sure to tell us if the information is confidential or not; we never want to inadvertently share anything that wasn't supposed to be shared.
Our prayers continue to be with few members, friends, and loved ones who are struggling with health concerns, loss, and grief:
Loving God, hear our prayers for healing, care, and hope for all in the midst of anguish and troubles. We give you thanks for our many blessings and joys in our lives, trusting that you hold all of us and all of creation in your hands.
God's peace to you all,
Jesse
