Thursday, March 18, 2021
The season of Lent is drawing to a close, the season when we are invited to examine the relationship we have with God. In this season we remember that when Jesus lived on earth, he taught us challenging lessons. Jesus is the one who gave us an example of how to withstand temptation, how to have life from above, how to be loving, and how to be obedient to God. We also remember with thanks that God has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit to equip us, to guide us, and to sustain us in our walk of faith. Lent is a time to examine ourselves, and to humble ourselves before God, and it is also a time to affirm our faith and go forward in confidence as we live our lives with Jesus.
One of our celebrations in the Church is the day we call Palm Sunday, the day that we remember that Jesus rode into Jerusalem in triumph. People who had gathered for the observance of the Passover greeted Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem. They shouted Hosanna, which is an expression of praise, as well as a supplication for help, and they cried out, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord – the King of Israel!” (John 12:13) Often on Palm Sunday we observe the sacrament of Holy Communion and this will be the case this year. Palm Sunday falls on March 28th, so the services will be in Pennfield and St Andrews. Please bring your own bread and juice for the celebration of the sacrament.
This year on Good Friday we will have a service at the Kirk in St George where we will reflect up on the days of Jesus leading up to his crucifixion. The Iona Community in Scotland has shared a service on line that guides people through the stations of the cross. This is not a typical observance in our tradition, but this service is a thoughtful way to observe the week leading to Easter that is designed to be used in one’s home, and I thought that it would work for our small congregation setting. The service will be shared on Facebook for those who are unable to attend in person.
For some of us it may seem as if Lent started on February 26, 2020 and has not stopped. We have lived in pandemic conditions for about a year as we have observed worship in different ways, have had small gatherings for funerals, have learned new safety measures for being in public, and have waited for effective vaccines. If these facts were all that there were to consider then worry and despair would be the expected outcome. Thankfully these events have not been all that we have known. In the midst of worry there is hope. Last year we celebrated Easter, and we experienced the life-giving hope that God’s Spirit brings to our lives. This year again we are walking toward Easter, and holding onto the hope of Eternal Life which is guaranteed in the resurrection of Jesus.
May the peace and joy of Jesus be yours
Rev Cheryl MacFadyen
March 28th, 9:30 Pennfield Communion service (bring your own bread and juice)
11:15 Greenock, St Andrews Communion service (bring your own bread and juice)
April 2 11:00 a.m. Good Friday service in St George
April 4 10:30 a.m. Easter service in St George