Reflections

Reflections

This Sunday,  the Christian Church throughout the world embarks on a journey with Jesus from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem where the crowds shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”;to an upper room where he washes feet in the context of an intimate and poignant meal; to a stark cross on Golgotha’s hill where he is killed; to an empty tomb on Sunday morning.

If we allow ourselves to pay attention within our soul, we will notice that this journey is one with which we are personally very familiar. It is about our own excitement and hope that is too often crushed by life. It is about our own efforts to gather family and friends around us in painful moments; our sorrow when all of our best efforts seem to find nothing but disappointment and failure. And,  it is about that hope that comes from beyond our selves that cannot be attributed simply to an improved attitude. 

This journey of Holy Week that we take through Palm Sunday, Maundy (Holy) Thursday, Good Friday and Easter, will take us deep into the darker parts of our soul where misunderstanding, self-righteousness, denial, betrayal and other maladies of the human heart reside. It will take spiritual courage to take this journey as we come face to face with our own silent shouts of “Crucify him! Crucify him!”,  that reflect our own desire to keep a safe distance from Jesus, especially when discipleship might mean facing pain, anger or persecution.

The incredibly good news of Easter morning  is not simply about death giving way to life. Compost piles gives us that lesson. No, the hope that is ours and birthed at Easter,  is that when we and the whole world, time and time again, have done our absolute worst, God refuses to give our death-dealing ways the last word. God forever takes our worst ( as well as our best) and opens tombs and surprises us with life beyond our wildest imaginations.

Easter morning is not easily seen from Good Friday, but that is why the journey of faith requires courage and stamina. The path of Holy Week can seem so very long, at times, but we dare to take one step at a time until we come face to face with a miracle.

Come travel with your Nativity faith community this week. We so need each other on the journey.

Other Matters of Importance:

Daughters of the King Introduction Session- Tuesday, April 15 @5:00pm

There will be an introductory session this Tuesday in the Salt and Light building for those women who may be interested in being part of the formation of a Daughters of the King chapter at Nativity. DOK is an international Anglican/Episcopal sisterhood whose members are committed to a discipline of prayer, service and evangelism. Laura Pitre and Margaret-Love Denman have been members of the Daughters in other congregations and will be facilitating the development of Nativity’s chapter.

Congregation Vitality Assessment Survey for Nativity-

A survey is being sent to some members of Nativity by the Rev. Elizabeth Malphurs, the consultant for the Mission Committee’s planning retreat on May 10. If you receive an invitation to take the survey, please complete it by April 17. The survey results will be a very important tool in the work that the Mission Committee will be doing in its retreat as it prepares for the retirement of the Vicar.

See you Sunday!

Blessings and Peace,

Duncan

Dmgrayiii@gmail.com

(601)260-1937