April 4, 2025

Beloved of Grace,
We made it to April! This week we have a baptism: Violet, daughter of Shasha Feng and Peter Jackson. Come join us for this celebration in the midst of our Lenten discipline. 

Then, the following week, Holy Week begins. I know some will be out of town for spring break, but not all of us. Please join us for the mysteries of Holy Week.

Sunday, April 13th: Palm Sunday: 9 am Zoom service, 10 am service of Palm Sunday and Jesus' passion. We both remember Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, waving palms and singing songs (kids love this service! If you are in town, please come). We also hear the story of Jesus' death for those who are not able to make it to mid-week services. 

Thursday, April 17th: Maundy Thursday: 7pm. Join us to remember Jesus' last supper with his disciples. There is something for everyone at this service! This year we will remember his act of service in washing the disciples feet. Footwashing is something we refer to in our family as "challenge by choice": you get to choose the level of participation you will do that evening. If you want to have your feet washed, great. If you want to wash others' feet, great. If you want to keep your shoes on and pray, great. Your challenge, your choice. We have communion together, remembering that Jesus invites us to his table as a friend.  The service ends with the moving practice of removing sacred items from the church to remind us of Jesus' dark night praying in the garden of Gethsemane, leading to the starkness of Good Friday and the death of Jesus. The children are excited to help with the removal of sacred items from the church, so please join us.

Friday, April 18th: Good Friday: Noon. We hear the story of Jesus' death during the hour at which he hung on the cross. We sit with Jesus as witnesses to his death. We pray. We participate in a practice called "adoration of the cross". When we adore the cross, we pray, reflect, and mediate. This year we have an amazing addition to our service: a cross made for us by parishioner Sal Schiciano. The cross is entirely constructed of old, broken pews from here at Grace Church.  Jesus took the hard wood of the cross and transformed it from an image of torture to an image of resurrection, and following his example, we too have taken old, forgotten wood, and restored it to a place of honor and adoration, deeping our own spiritual practices and connection to Jesus.

Sunday, April 20th:  EASTER. Join us!
9 am: Easter worship particularly aimed at children and families, with Easter Egg Hunt immediately following the service.
10 am: Easter Egg Hunt (come to 9 am worship if you intended to attend- the whole Egg Hunt lasts about 3 minutes)
10 am: Easter Brunch in the parish hall. Sign up HERE to bring something to share.
11 am: Easter worship with choir and festive music-- come sing with us.

I hope to see you as we walk the way of the cross together during Holy Week.
Faithfully,
Lauren