Many gifts have come from this week — we have celebrated the life of Bob Kirlin and tomorrow we will celebrate the life of Judy Zimmerman — both very special people in the life of our congregation.
We have walked the journey of Holy Week with Maundy Thursday and Holy Communion last night and the Community Good Friday service this evening. The United Methodist Women/UWF met on Thursday morning; we hosted Sunshine Friends on Tuesday, and the Chancel Choir, the Crystal Ringers and especially our Director of Music Tammera Lane have all been in and out of the building this week preparing for all of the services including Easter Sunday.
Thank you for coming together once again in a difficult week to comfort those who grieve, to care and support each other in organizing and providing hospitality, and to prepare for wonderful worship as we find strength and joy in the living Christ. You offer the redeeming love of God in all that you do. Michael and I are especially grateful for your prayers and your encouraging and gracious words to us as we prepare for my surgery on Monday and the road ahead through breast cancer treatment.
A traditional Good Friday service ends with this prayer that helps us prepare our hearts for the coming of Easter joy:
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light:
Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery;
by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation;
let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up,
and things which had grown old are being made new,
and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who live and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
May you trust and know the amazing love of God working in you in this joyous season.
In Christ,
Pastor Mary
