April 6, 2020
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.
It’s Holy Week, the week when we remember and celebrate Jesus’ final days in Jerusalem. The events of that week aren’t simply of historical significance, although their historical significance is immense. The events of that week are the means by which Jesus reconciled us, and the whole broken world, to his Father. He laid down his life for the life of the world. He did this with resolve, and joy, and love. Jesus said, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord (John 10.18).”
So we fix our eyes on him, and tune our hearts in adoration of the one who loved us to the end.
We’d like to offer several ways for us to do that together this week. You can find a harmony of gospel readings for personal or group reading and reflection here. Reading and meditating on these is a great way to follow along with Jesus during this week.
On Wednesday, we’ll have midday prayer together and we hope you’ll join us. For Maundy Thursday, we’ve prepared a table liturgy for you to use at home. We hope this will be helpful to use with families, or virtually with friends or in small groups.
There are several things happening on Good Friday. Our denomination is joining with several other Anglican and Presbyterian denominations for a united day of prayer and fasting. You can read more about it, and find resources for fasting and prayer here. Please consider joining with our sisters and brothers in prayer and fasting for all or part of the day on Friday.
At noon on Good Friday, we’ll have our usual Way of the Cross service. We’ll gather virtually this year, and use the liturgy and artwork that we usually use. And then at 5pm, we’ll release our recorded Good Friday worship. And then, of course, we’ll worship the Risen King together on Sunday. You can look for those two services on the website, and we’ll also send out reminders on social media (Facebook, Instagram).
Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus this week, and praise him for his grace, mercy and love.
In love,
Aaron