This is Holy Week, and we are gearing up to be at church every night. Last night I went to bell practice to practice the piece that we will play at the end of the Easter Service. It takes some concentration and energy to go to church for five days straight, and at bell practice last night, you could tell that people were thinking about it. Not everyone goes to all the services, of course, but there are probably a loyal group of 50 or 60 people, mostly us regulars, who will not miss any of it. I want to tell you about it: this is the Easter season at our ELCA Lutheran Church.
Tonight is Maundy Thursday and we will celebrate the Last Supper by having a service that will include foot washing, to commemmorate Christ's washing of the disciples feet. Afterwards, one of our members always hosts a little hospitality hour, with coffee and cake and cheese and crackers, and we will all enjoy being together, even though it isn't over until 10 p.m. on a work night. Holy Week isn't for the weak.
Friday evening is Good Friday and the service includes the process of taking everything off the altar, piece by piece, the music stops, and we all leave the church in the dark, and silent. It is very moving, and symbolic of the passion of Christ.
Saturday evening is the Vigil, and we start with a bonfire behind the church, light our candles and process into the dark church with our candles lit, to sing the service by the light of our candles only, until the middle of the service, when the lights come on, the music becomes festive again, and the celebration of the Risen Christ begins. The music and bells and choir make this a very exciting service after the solemn beginnings of the two nights before.
Sunday is Easter. The church will be full of people, about 200 people, many of whom we only see on Easter. For some reason, that is the holiday that people come out for and the families are dressed up and ready for their one service each year. All us regulars are very happy they come to our Easter service, but we can't help but wish that they would come other Sundays as well. Easter the church is ablaze with flowers, candles, fabulous music, including trumpets and bells and the choirs, and it is very exciting.
Each Easter, George and I like to host the coffee hour, where we can expect more than 100 people to come ready for cake and coffee. I will bake 3 or 4 bundt cakes, and buy other coffee cakes, and George will make his now-famous chocolate chip cookies, and we will set a pretty table with daffodils and a basket of primroses, which is my decoration idea this year. Easter we are also ushers, which takes some thought with that many people there, and I am playing in the bell choir at the end of the service.
Like I said, Holy Week isn't for the weak.
It was supposed to snow 7-12 inches today, and so far, there is little snow on the ground but it is coming down now. I have a tour to do at work this morning, and didn't want to have to use sled dogs to get there. You could tell last night that everyone was worried and a little depressed about the possibility of that much snow today. I think we are going to be spared. I am so happy George doesn't have to shovel this morning!
Have a great day.
