April is here and with it we celebrate the victory over death that we share with Christ. Our Lenten journey comes to an end as we remember Christ’s last Three Days. I want to share with you my reflection on the Three Days and especially the meaning behind the Great Vigil of Easter. May God bless us in our journey to Easter.
Pastor Scott
“Every Sunday in worship the church celebrates the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit gathers us to receive again the gifts of God that come to us through Christ, the saving Word. On several key days at the center of the church year, however, worship takes a particular shape. These central days have come to be known as the Three Days recalling Jesus’ own words to his disciples that he would be handed over to death, and that ‘after three days he would rise again.’ The Three Days encompass the time from Maundy Thursday through the evening of Easter Day. In particular the church has celebrated with the services of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil on Saturday Evening.” (ELW)
The Church celebrates these three days with one continuous service. No benediction is given on Thursday or Friday. This year, we will produce one bulletin for the three days. The Great Vigil of Easter is important because it is an expression of our spiritual boundary crossing. Each of the four scenes of this service points to some facet of our passage from death to life with Christ.
Scene 1: The setting is the new fire, a symbol of Christ’s glorious resurrection from the dead. We quickly process to the sanctuary for the readings, led by the paschal candle. This action symbolizes Christ’s leading us from the darkness of sin to the light of forgiveness.
Scene 2: The readings remind us of our baptismal passage from death to life. The creation story prefigures our journey from the spiritual chaos of sin and death to eternal life in Christ. The flood story from Genesis 7-9 reminds us that we, like Noah, have been preserved from God’s condemnation, having been brought safely through the waters of baptism. Like Noah, we who have been saved are a new humanity. The exodus story suggests that we have been rescued from the slavery of sin and brought to the promised land of righteousness in Christ. Ezekiel’s prophecy of the valley of dry bones points to our reception of the life-giving Holy Spirit.
Scene 3: The focus shifts to the font, as we celebrate the central act of crossing the boundary from sin and death to new life with Christ in baptism. This celebration of baptism reminds us that in baptism we die and rise again with Christ and are cleansed from sin and “sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.”
Scene 4: The focus is now on the Lord’s table. We remember how Christ, our Passover Lamb, was slaughtered to gain our freedom from sin and death. The risen Christ himself comes to be our food, filling us with faith, hope and love. In this act of remembrance we look toward our final transition from this world to the next, when we anticipate the day” when Christ will come again in beauty and power to share with us the great and promised feast.”
In addition to the Three Days celebrated at 7 pm each day, we will have noon services on:
▸ Wednesday – guided meditation on the Stations of the Cross
▸ Thursday – Maundy Thursday Holy Communion
▸ Friday – Stations of the Cross Liturgy
I hope you all will join in the celebration of the Three Days with Christ.
Pastor Scott
Lent continues at St. Paul's...
Wednesday Night Suppers and Mid-week Lent Worship continues on April 2 and 9 -- supper is in Trinity Hall at 6:00 pm and worship in the sanctuary at 7:00 pm.
On April 2, our supper at 6:00 pm involves a pot-luck salad/dessert offering.
If you are able, please bring a salad or dessert to share at the meal. Main dish will be provided. The salad can be anything: garden, potato, pasta, slaw, fruit, Jell-O, etc. Dessert -- anything goes!
The last two Ecumenical Mid-Week Lent worship and Meals will take place:
April 2 at St. Stephen's Episcopal with Rev. Deborah Steed preaching
April 9 at Pilgrim UCC, Rev. Robert Kaynor, preaching
Worship is at 12:00 noon and lunch follows at 12:30 pm.
Stations of the Cross in the Sanctuary
During Lent and Holy Week, the fourteen Stations of the Cross are displayed in the sanctuary. You may use them for contemplation and meditation any time the church is open. On your way into the sanctuary, pick up a copy of Biblical Way of the Cross by Richard Haas. Begin at the station next to the Brombaugh organ and proceed towards the back and up the other side. Please return the booklet when you are finished. The Worship Committee and the Liturgical Arts Committee worked with Pastor Anderson to select and design these stations. Perhaps you recognize the artistic style as that of Nicholas Markell, illustrator of the ELW. Feel free to share your response with Jeff Anderson, Tina Bessias, or other members of the Worship and Arts Committees.
Adult Sunday School class continues with the Book of Faith Bible Study. Copies of the Bible Study schedule are available in the foyer and on our website (downloadable in PDF).
Looking ahead to Holy Week and Easter...
Palm/Passion Sunday is April 13
8:30 and 11:00 am worship - palm procession and Passion Story from Matthew
9:45 am Easter Egg coloring for children downstairs in Genesis Hall
Maundy Thursday is April 17
12:00 noon and 7:00 pm Worship with Holy Communion
Good Friday is April 18
12:00 noon and 7:00 pm Worship -- noon is "The Way of the Cross" and 7 pm is Tenebrae
Easter Sunday is April 20
8:30 am and 11:00 am Worship -- both celebrate Holy Communion
9:30 am Easter Breakfast in Trinity Hall (free-will offering accepted) all are invited!
10:15 am Easter Egg Hunt for children ages 2 through 5th grade -- bring a basket!
