How was church today?

[Luce NDs]

We have a Maundy Thursday service every year, followed by a Seder dinner, to commemorate Jesus' "last supper". We had a discussion about this last week with our visiting Rabbi (framed as a question about whether we were 'guilty' of cultural appropriation). He thought not, as Jesus was a Jew, and encouraged us to research some alternate Seder scripts than the familiar Haggadah we use every year.

Lovely service today. Long-ish skit with the youth doing various "tableaus" of scenes from Holy Week. Narrated by a couple of our most talented thespians under the guise of an anchor and two reporters from the "Jerusalem News".

Tabl-eaus? Layers of cooling ?

 

[Jaebius]

Jesus had one. Well, he presumably had many, but one that is actually recorded.

He did Mendalla? When?

 

[Luce NDs]

He did Mendalla? When?

Are you a bible scholar and interested in the surrounding scripts? There is a whole sphere of them ... layered ...

 

[Jaebius]

Did kids in Canada and/or theUS play sword fights all the way home on this Sunday of the year? I recall that!

Have never seen anything like that, though I suppose some do. When we were kids, dad would make the palms into crosses on our bedroom walls.

 

[paradox3]

Palms don't make great swords when they are fresh. As I recall from Sunday School days it was best to let the palms dry out a bit.

But on a serious note, it was a lovely service today with enthusiastic waving of the palm branches as we sang.

 

[Seeler]

Church today was a combination of palm parade, speical music, short reflections by various people, scripture and prayer. Well done and effective. The stripping of the sanctuary at the end of the service was very moving - all banners, flowers, ornamentation removed from the front of the church and pulpit area. Traditional Palm Sunday readings - from Mark this year. And the question came to mind: was it the same people who formed the crowds cheering Jesus on Sunday that shouted for his crucifixion on Friday. Today it was barely mentioned but I recall taking part in entire services around that idea. Somehow I don't think it was. For one thing, I doubt if the so-called palm parade was a huge crowd. More likely Jesus and his disciples and followers, men and women and children, with a few joining them along the way. And I think that the crowd that gathered around Pilate's place on Friday shouting for him to release Barabbas and crucify Jesus were townspeople, possibly connected with the temple or the Romans, with possibly a few 'plants' to get things started. Everything about the Palm Sunday story points to Jesus as a political figure coming into Jerusalem to confront the leaders on their own turf. I wonder how closely this could be compared to the marches on Washington (or on Ottawa) protesting injustices and how we suspect that crowds may be stirred up to cause riots or otherwise to break-up peaceful protest.

 

[KayTheCurler]

We were given a palm that was already made into a cross. No one was trying to hurt anyone with them - it was just playing.

 

[Mendalla]

He did Mendalla? When?

The meal he had with his disciples the night of the last supper? And, presumably, various previous Passovers given that he was an observant Jew.

 

[Jaebius]

Wonderful church service today celebrating Jesus the King. Delightful singing of "Blessed Assurance" by our choir.

 

[paradox3]

was it the same people who formed the crowds cheering Jesus on Sunday that shouted for his crucifixion on Friday. Today it was barely mentioned but I recall taking part in entire services around that idea. Somehow I don't think it was.

This was discussed in the sermon I heard this morning. The Rev suggested it was a different crowd altogether on Good Friday, probably connected to the Romans.

 

[BetteTheRed]

We strip our sanctuary after the Seder dinner, put black draperies up, then there's a group of people, led by one person, who hold an overnight vigil until the Good Friday service begins.

I, too, favour the "two crowd" hypothesis...

 

[Jaebius]

The meal he had with his disciples the night of the last supper? And, presumably, various previous Passovers given that he was an observant Jew.

Was the last supper a Passover Seder Meal?

 

[Hilary]

The stripping of the sanctuary at the end of the service was very moving - all banners, flowers, ornamentation removed from the front of the church and pulpit area.

I like this idea very much. I might suggest it to our Worship and Music Committee for next year.

 

[Nancy]

Sometimes surprising but wonderful things happen during a service. Today, after I had prayed the 'prayers of the people', a man shouted out, calling me by name, and asking that I pray for a particular friend of his. He named the friend who had died and what he had done in his life. The man who shouted out is not someone you would typically see at church (but maybe we should)...He lives in a group home, has a battererd, beaten body and admits to having lived a tough life. But he is a lovely breath of fresh air in this congregation. Of course, I asked everyone to bow their heads again, and we prayed for those who grieve, and the people they miss, and named the names of both. This was a Presbyterian church, and I wondered how some of the others felt about this outburst. Well, I soon found out...After church, more than one congregation member beamed happily at me and said: Wasn't that wonderful? I think each of us wants to shout out something to be included in communal prayer, but sometimes we are a little too shy. I always admit that praying formally in public is my particular weakness, but somehow that didn't matter. This man, and the collective love and caring of the congregation, made the perfect prayer.

 

[You just never know]

Good to be at worship today after missing the last two Sunday's being in hospital with my very sick sister. Today Rev John's sermon was based on the movie Lady Bird. Theme was persistence. Also, John mentioned in the movie that the title character gave herself the name of Lady Bird. We were then invited to think of a name for ourselves. Ha ha ha made me laugh when I realized the name I came up with was totally inappropriate for a church setting (even a cool church like Hillhurst). So if you ever bump into me, just call me Mr. WTF??

 

[Luce NDs]

Good to be at worship today after missing the last two Sunday's being in hospital with my very sick sister. Today Rev John's sermon was based on the movie Lady Bird. Theme was persistence. Also, John mentioned in the movie that the title character gave herself the name of Lady Bird. We were then invited to think of a name for ourselves. Ha ha ha made me laugh when I realized the name I came up with was totally inappropriate for a church setting (even a cool church like Hillhurst). So if you ever bump into me, just call me Mr. WTF??

Always remember the flighty part, ephemeral ... and at least the mother of chaos given the state they put men in ... chaos ... all is chaos ...

And one blames the other ... although this could be bifurcation ... like divvied pools ... divine? The splash goes on with water still an icon of the sol ... non-existent state?

There are sects that deny psyche activity ... no thought whatsoever! Such is blind love in purest form that comes in flashes and canon in the night ... then it goes off ... wasted?

 

[Nancy]

The church I was at today has been without a minister for 5 years. Next week, someone who is applying for the position of pastor is leading worship. Hallelujah for sure! I pray that it works out for them.

 

[Luce NDs]

Church was tolerably excellent today ... possibly irritates the opposing denominations ...

Thus the mythical conflict going on in churches declaring love the stranger ... but they don't ... thus my soul is in chaos ...

Chaos ... related to quantum domains ... places stirred in unexpected manner?

 

[Jaebius]

Excellent church service today. Many invited friends came. People who only come for services like Christmas and Easter came. Great crowd. Our service this morning include an infant dedication, and four credobaptisms. The pastor gave a short but meaningful resurrection message. Powerful congregational singing. A potluck lunch followed which was yummy delicious.

 

[BetteTheRed]

Two very nice services today. 1/2 hour service down at the lake; a collaborative effort of B_____'s four remaining United Churches. Very cold, but I've learned over the years, so I was dressed for it in boots, lined mitts, hood, etc. We have a "place your burdens on a rock and throw it in the lake" ceremony. As it does many years, my rock skittered across the ice, still several inches thick and not even rotten looking at the edges.

Then I got myself dolled up in peach embroidered silk (I have a fairly extensive collection of authentic Indian shalwar kameez) and matching shoes and my little bits of jewellery and went off to the morning service. Started in darkness, exploded into light and colour. Very nice. My neighbour, a new friend, was wearing a pretty hat, which was fun. Rest of the day has been quiet. Had a nice dinner with the old guy the other night, so I have leftovers. I have started construction of a fairly complex scotch broth with my leftover lamb bones (starts with long slow roasting of bones and leek tops). My daughter's going to her mother-in-law type's for dinner, I'm seeing a sister tomorrow afternoon, so I'm off the hook for real cooking duties today.