Well, the Clergy Superbowl is almost upon us, and so, I have offered up this Friday Five (with apologies for the irreverent title):
1. Will this Sunday be Palms only, Passion only, or hyphenated?
Hyphenated. Palms at the beginning, Passion at the sermon (I’m preaching), Communion at the end. I’m sure by the end of the service our clutch will be completely shot.
2. Maundy Thursday Footwashing: Discuss.
My pedicure’s already on the calendar. 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Is it wrong to do this? Oh well. I needed one anyway.
My experience is that people would much rather wash someone else’s feet than have their own feet washed.
I had a professor in seminary who suggested that footwashing should be one of the sacraments since it was ordained by Christ or somesuch. I’m glad it’s not, though I don’t mind it.
Footwashing always reminds me of the foot-care ministry that takes place at the homeless shelter in Downtown Pres in Southern Capital. This is a real, practical, agape-love version of this usually symbolic act. The image of my seminary professors going about this ministry quietly and humbly, kneeling at the feet of the homeless, has always stayed with me.
3. Share a particularly meaningful Good Friday worship experience.
A few things:
-Tenebrae at the Rothko Chapel. Awesome.
-When I was pretty new back to church as an adult, I attended a Good Friday service in which the pastor slammed the Bible at the end of the service and we all left in pitch-black silence. It made an impression.
-That same church once had a noon-time Good Friday service in which the congregation and liturgists read the Passion story together, but rather than have the congregation read the words of the crowd (Crucify him!), we read the words of Jesus. Remember that, Texas Clergypal? A nice twist.
4. Easter Sunrise Services–choose one:
a) “Resurrection tradition par excellence!”
b) “Eh. As long as it’s sunrise with coffee, I can live with it.”
c) “[Yawn] Can’t Jesus stay in the tomb just five more minutes, Mom?!?”
That would be secret option d: a dealbreaker for my next call.
You think I’m exaggerating.
While we’re on the topic of “I really don’t get it”—hot cross buns do not have nearly enough frosting. What is all the fuss about? Just sayin’.
5. Complete this sentence: It just isn’t Easter without…
“Jesus Christ Is Risen Today.” Honestly. If I had to choose between that and the Hallelujah Chorus, I’d choose the hymn.
Bonus: Any Easter Vigil aficionados out there? Please share.
I do love the Vigil, and have participated in several. I have done a modified Vigil the last few years in lieu of our Saturday night service. We’re taking a break from it this year, but it was a fun opportunity to do something creative.
16 Responses to “friday five: holy week, batman!”
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Asides
» I have been remiss in posting SBJ’s latest stats: 23 pounds and 27 inches at six months. Yes, I’ve got the big mama biceps.
» Aaaaaand little she-who-is lost another tooth this week!
» SBJ is four months old, 19 pounds 5 ounces, and 26 inches tall. GIGANTOR!
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Hey, I’m hot on your tail to get my response in before I go to bed (while waiting for son on spring break to come home…)
Yes, yes, for all the above. I love Holy Week, the Triduum, and Easter. I really love planning the liturgy…especially when I can really get folks to go along with the drama.
I really like Easter sunrise services. Especially the community-wide ones where a few folks from most of the local churches joined together in the town parking lot to worship. But the last time I had that opportunity was when I was an undergrad. And my only responsibilities were preparing bulletins ahead of time and just getting myself dressed & to the town square. That was about 25 years ago…before I moved to a city, before the kid, before I discovered that sunrise at Easter in the Midwest is usually COLD, and before I needed every extra minute of sleep I can get.
thanks for the early post- it helped me through my insomnia!!!
Great Friday Five and great play- love the foot washing reflections.
i too loved your footwashing talk. what an amazing ministry for the homeless. to anyone really.
you’ve inspired me to go write a quick post! thanks!
Love that you’re having a MT pedicure. It feels so right.
So, a dealbreaker because you want sunrise services so very much, or because you hate leading them so very much?
1. This coming Sunday will also be one that is hyphenated. Here is the difference: You probably have your sermon written. I, on the other hand, am procrastinating… there is just something about the High Holy pressure that gets me every year at Christmas and Easter!
2. We did footwashing here. Two times. The first time– people seemed to be open to it. The second time? Everyone stayed in their seat. They voted with their clear lack of enthusiasm. I got the hint!
3. I do remember that noon-day G.F. service. I appreciate the reminder. I don’t, however, remember, the one with the dramatic shutting of the Bible. When I was a kid, I remember when my dad decided to get creative and hammered nails into wood for sound effects. Left me terrified as a child– so much so that immediately after the service my parents took me for ice cream. Hmm… crucifixion followed by ice cream. I am sure I could spend hours in therapy on that one.
4. DO NOT like sunrise services when I am in charge. Did it at my first call. Was thrilled to see it does not happen here, nor does a midnight Christmas Eve service. And I shall not institute them.
5. Brass. but unfortunately, we don’t have them this year.!
I am so going to schedule a Maundy Thursday pedicure! What a great idea!
ditto the downtown church footwashing by seminary profs…I think about that often.
and double ditto the frosting issue RE hot cross buns. I mean, seriously.
Hot cross buns–I just my first at church last friday. And, wow they were disappointing. Kind of dry, and not nearly enough frosting! They sound far more yummy than they taste!
Iris—dealbreaker as in I refuse to believe in more than one 6:00 in a day. What is this “a.m.” of which you speak?
Amen on hot cross buns and Jesus Christ is Risen Today.
And now you have me scared, because I just accepted a new call, to begin after Easter, and I did not ascertain the presence or absence of a sunrise service. Should I call them back?
Hee hee! Well, if there is one, you have a whole year to talk them out of it… or, as Quotidian Grace would say, to put on your big-girl panties and deal with it.
Love the foot washing discussion - I always like to sit & watch who washes whose feet - sometimes there are interesting combos of people who do not really see eye to eye the rest of the year - very professional types who wash the janitor’s feet - etc - it is interesting to ponder the Sacrament question…
Hear! Hear! on the hot cross buns. What IS up with that? As for the sunrise service you can read on mine why I used to like it and why I no longer do.
LOVE the pedicure idea.
I’d enjoy a sunrise service if I could get enough sleep the night before, but that’s a rare thing these days.
Oh, as always I played before reading anyone else’s–we sort of agree on footwashing as sacrament.
You said, “My experience is that people would much rather wash someone else’s feet than have their own feet washed.” Right in line with the fact so often it’s far easier to give than to receive!
I’m there with you about “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” being at least as wonderful as the Hallelujah Chorus–I’ll take the hymn, too. Thanks for playing!