Beginning with palm/passion Sunday, we enter holy week, a central focus of our Christian faith. Throughout Lent we have followed Jesus’ life and teaching by reflecting on his table ministry—all the ways that he ate with people:
· turning water into wine to celebrate God’s abundant transforming grace in our lives
· changing his mind and opening his ministry to include everyone at God’s feast of love
· teaching people about extravagant hospitality which includes our varied approaches to and expressions of spirituality
· recognizing the gifts of all people even and especially children
· serving others by sharing gifts from God such as food
Let’s continue to travel with Jesus, learning about the last days of his life. Let’s deepen our connection between what we believe and how we live that belief.
Holy Week Services
March 28 Palms and Passion 10:30 am
In this all ages worship, we will move from palm-waving “Hosannas!” to cries of “Crucify him!” We will reflect on what we believe and take our communion or table ministry out into the world. We will begin to travel with Jesus.
April 1 Joining Jesus at his Last Meal 6:30 pm
Join us for a simple meal of bread and soup with the whole family. As Jesus’ present-day disciples, we will eat together learning more about his life. Please contact the office if you have food allergies.
April 2 Crosses and Crucifixion 6:30 pm
We will immerse ourselves in mages of crosses, quiet time of prayer and meditation, and reflective singing, as we join Jesus in his last moments of life and breath. In our most powerful expression of faith we learn that Jesus is “love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be.” (VU 143)
April 3 Passion and Hope 6:30 pm
In quiet meditation we will wait with Jesus. We will remember Jesus’ journey from palms to passion by watching “The Passion of Ajijic,” a video made by Don Gray. This 7 minute version of a one hour passion play takes us from palm-waving to Jesus’ last meal to his crucifixion. Purchase of the one hour version ($10)will go to support our Interfaith Lunch Program.
Easter Services
April 4 Easter Sunrise outdoor service 6:30 am
Greet our happy Easter morning outdoors as the sun rises. Meet near Leuty Lighthouse to sing hallelujahs and remember our baptism.
April 4 Easter Communion Service 10:30 am
Our all ages worship will celebrate Jesus’ transformation from death to life and reflect on places of transformation in our lives. With simple elements of bread and juice, we will commune with Jesus’ life, God’s love, and our faith community.
May your travels with Jesus be filled with God’s blessings!
Abigail
If someone stopped you on the street and asked “What do you believe?”
would you have an answer right there on the tip of your tongue? Questions about our faith and what are important to us, need thoughtful consideration.
When a group of people seeks to faithfully articulate what Christians hold dear and true, their task is fraught with risk. We often hear that faith is too personal a matter for anyone to try and express. But, being the church – the community of faith – we do value the efforts of others to say or sing, of what we believe in our relationship with God.
In the United Church we have been blessed with risk-takers, willing to put pen to paper on our behalf. The Articles of Faith in 1925, the Statement of faith in 1945, reveal our historic understanding: as do the ancient Apostles Creed and Nicene Creed. “A New Creed” was written in 1968 and in 2007 “A Song of Faith” blessed our lives as a church.
This Sunday, you will hear part of the “Song of Faith” and will have the opportunity to engage, in a process of reflection about what each of us believes.
A Song of Faith begins –
God is Holy Mystery
beyond complete knowledge,
above perfect description.
Yet, in love,
the one eternal God seeks relationship.
I hope that this Sunday of palms and passion, will offer the opportunity for us to think about our faith in new ways.
Blessings,
Karen
Click on Heartbeat to view our weekly newsletter and catch up on BUC news and events.