Did Jesus Make an Easter Appeal?
In just days, we’ll live it like it’s the first time: palm branches will wave in the air and lay on the ground, the table of God’s grace will be set, the story of the cross will be read again, and we’ll wait what bated breath for what resurrection Easter Sunday will bring. Somewhere in the mix, a few thousand easter eggs will be scattered and (hopefully) found as well!
That’s right, Holy Week is upon us. As we’ve journeyed through Lent following the wanderings of the disciple Peter, we’ve shared in his ups and downs – and we have had our own to add! As we enter Holy Week, Peter will retreat to the background and we’ll shift our attention to movements of Jesus.
Today, we prepare our hearts for the Hosannas, the “Crucify him! Crucify him!” and ultimately, Easter morning’s refrains. We ponder just how much the words of Holy Week have formed who and how we are as a Christian community: a community who knows the cost of love and loves the more, who pull up extra chairs around the table of grace, who know the pain of suffering and death, and who hold out hope for resurrection anyway.
Holy Week is a time when the church is at its churchiest, our most “us” selves.
Thus, even as we focus intently on immersing ourselves in these holy days all the way from Palm Sunday to Maundy Thursday to Easter, our community continues its ministry.
We continue to connect with our community through a huge luau potluck invitation
We continue our advocacy and justice work, deepening our relationships, understanding, and call to action.
We continue to manage the physical and financial needs of our community (be sure to read the End of Year and First Quarter update letter from the Finance & Stewardship Committee. Nothing says “Holy Week is almost here” like a finance update).
We continue to care through hospital visits, phone calls, and heartfelt cards.
We continue to develop the next bold initiatives that will bring us closer to our vision to be an inclusive Christian community that loves everyone unconditionally and connects with our neighbors to build a more just world.
As we inhale, we remember the holy days of the week ahead. As we exhale, we do the ministry that the witness of Holy Week compels us to do.
Each Easter, we invite you to support the ministry of our community in celebration of the bright spots of resurrection we witness through how the Spirit works through, with, and (occasionally) in spite of us.
To answer the question in the title of this note, no, Jesus did not make an Easter appeal as he walked down the streets of Jerusalem (the premise of this question is suspect on so many levels), but for the reasons listed above, we are!
Your over-and-above Easter Offering makes it possible for us to keep our momentum going.
To give this Easter, you can look for the Easter Offering envelopes in the pews of the Sanctuary or you can go online to www.fumcpdx.org/give and select “Easter Offering” in the drop-down menu. You may also send your Easter Offering through the mail or drop it off in the office (Monday - Friday, 9am – Noon, closed on Easter Monday).
We’d also love to worship with you during Holy Week:
Maundy Thursday | April 17, 7pm | Sanctuary
Good Friday* | April 18, 7pm | Chapel | Taize
Easter Vigil* | April 19, 8pm | Chapel | Begins Outside
Easter Sunday | April 20, 9am & 11am | Sanctuary | Festival Brass & Choir
* Journey Koinonia Catholic Community has invited our community to join them for their Holy Week services. Their community will be joining us for our Maundy Thursday service.
See you Sunday with your potluck side dish and palm waving hands ready!
With the hope of resurrection,
Pastor Karyn