Holy Week and Easter at St. Peter's
Dear Friends in Christ,
I write to you missing you all so much! I have been on lots of phone and Zoom calls with you, and it's always good to hear voices and see faces, but I really long for the day we can be together in person again. Together with our church staff and Vestry leaders, I've wrestled through how we should handle next week, Holy Week.
Many churches have made the decision to carry on, as much as possible, with business as usual. They are filming all the proper liturgies with a few ministers and musicians, and they will post them on the proper day. Others are going to use Zoom so that the liturgy is shown as it happens. I think both are good impulses, and I understand why my friends have gone in that direction.
But my own decisions have been a little different. Holy Week is meant to walk us through a very familiar story all over again. So we are used to doing the same things in the same way year after year. Of course, that can't happen this year. Telling the same story in the same way simply isn't possible, and I fear that trying to pretend that we can will leave us all without that which we most deeply need, which is a real immersion in the last week, the death, and the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
So, we won't be doing the same things in this week to come. But we will be entering the story. Here is what you can look for as we approach Holy Week:
Palm Sunday - My original plan was to bless palms and have them available for you to pick up outside the church. With the latest "shelter in place" order from the mayor, I believe we can no longer do that. So, new plan: palms are very common in the Holy Land. Find a common leaf or shrub in your yard and place it on your door to remind you and those who live nearby that we are walking the way of the cross. We will also have Morning Prayer as usual at 10:00 a.m. on our YouTube channel.
Maundy Thursday - Look for a video reflection from me via email or our Facebook and YouTube about Maundy Thursday. I'd also encourage you to find ways to serve others on Maundy Thursday, as it is the day when Jesus gives us the new commandment -- to love one another. So, call a friend who is lonely, cheer up those who live in your home, or say special prayers for all who serve others in medical professions. Find a way to serve as we remember Christ the servant.
Good Friday - We are offering a digital Way of the Cross at noon via Zoom, which we will record and place on our YouTube and Facebook pages. The link can be found HERE. We are asking that all participants remain muted, but join in saying the responses, singing the refrains, and praying along with the leaders at home.
Easter Vigil - We are drawing together a bulletin that you can use in your home to remember the night on which our Lord passed from death to life. The best experience of this offering will be with others. So, plan a time for your household to join together after sunset on Holy Saturday. If you live alone, find a friend or family member you can call or Zoom with to join in keeping vigil. If you'd like help connecting with someone in the parish, please let us know!
Easter Sunday - We will say Morning Prayer at 10:00 a.m. on our YouTube channel.
Here's what we need from you: We want to try to capture the joy of our community on Easter Sunday. So, we'd like to hear your responses to the Easter proclamation during our Morning Prayer service.
So, if you have a smart phone, record a video of you/your household saying the response, "The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!" and email it to me (quinnparman@stpeters.org). I will then splice it into the Morning Prayer service. Remember, it's a joyful proclamation. So show off the joy! And it will work best if LOTS of folks participate, so let us hear from you! Make your recording and send it to me by this Sunday in order to be included.
I know that these offerings are not what we're used to. They aren't what I'm used to at all. But I pray that they will help you to walk the way of death and resurrection with Jesus this year.
A reminder, as we embark upon this time together: Easter is often a time when people give above and beyond to the church. With no gatherings for Holy Week and Easter, it will prove a great challenge to our church budget. I pray that you will consider giving online at https://www.stpeters.org/give to help us continue to move forward in mission and ministry.
May God bless you as we move into Holy Week and on to Easter joy.
Grace and Peace,
Fr. Quinn+