Celebrating Easter
by Rev. Nancy Muth
The Lenten journey for 2009 is coming to an end. April 12th is Easter Sunday, the most glorious day in the Christian Church.
It is the day that we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a day that we are reminded that the promises of God are true.
It is a day that we sing “Alleluia!” together as we know that because he lives, we will live also!
I, along with others from First Church, just returned from my first visit to the Holy Land. What a magnificent trip! One of the things we had the privilege to do while in Jerusalem was to walk along the Via Doloroso, which in Latin means the Way of Grief or the Way of Suffering.
This is a road that winds around Jerusalem and which is thought to be the path that Jesus took on that Good Friday. This is not a tree lined street, but one with old stone buildings on either side and with venders calling for your attention selling their wares. It was along this route that our Lord carried the cross on which he would soon be nailed to die a painful death . . . all on our behalf.
This year’s Holy Week will be all the more meaningful to me because of my trip, but we don’t have to visit these places to fully comprehend the significance of this week’s events on our faith.
Click here to read more about the worship events scheduled for Holy Week
Jesus began the week on a high as he rode into the city amidst the cheers from crowds who had come to see him. He then had to endure questioning from his disciples, being betrayed by ones he had called friends, a trial, mockery, a brutal death and then the week ended with a glorious resurrection!
Only when we walk through this week together with our Lord can we fully appreciate the true meaning of our faith. It is this week that sets us apart from all other faiths of the world. I encourage you to make your way to the cross with Jesus by coming to church this Holy Week. Join others from First Church as we move from Palm Sunday to Maundy Thursday to Good Friday to Easter Sunday. If you do, I promise that this Easter will mean more to you than any other you have experienced.
Easter is a time when we talk of hope!
There are many hopeful things happening in and through The First Presbyterian Church in Germantown.
- The Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry’s work is growing as employment assistance and tax preparation help is being offered.
- The youth programs of drill team, basketball and youth fellowship groups are attracting more and more students.
- New bell choirs are being formed for adults and youth.
- Worship attendance is on the rise and Bible study classes seem to be in style once again!
I look forward to seeing you at our services this Holy Week beginning onPalm Sunday, April 5.
On Maundy Thursday (April 9th), at 7:30 p.m., we will commemorate the night when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper.
The next evening, at 7:30, we will have our traditional Tenebrae Service (service of shadows) for Good Friday (April 10th).
Then with music beginning at 9:45 (which instrumentalists and choir) we will celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord on Sunday, April 12th.