Next Sunday, Apr. 17th, we will celebrate Palm Sunday. As you might know, on this particular day we remember the story of Jesus, riding a donkey, and making his way from the Mount of Olives into the city of Jerusalem. All along the way, crowds gathered, spreading tree branches and their cloaks on the road and shouting, “Hosanna! Hosanna!” This is the spirit in which we enter Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter.
It would be easy to go from the joyful “Hosannas!” of Palm Sunday to the even more celebratory “Alleluias!” of Easter, from waving our palm branches to lifting our lilies. Were we to do so, however, we would be missing something significant. The very wonder, amazement, and blessing of Easter’s miracle comes from having entered the darkness and loss of Jesus’ suffering and death. I hope that you will make time and space, therefore, to mark Good Friday in some way.
This year, you will have two opportunities to mark Good Friday in the community. At 2:00 p.m. on Apr. 22nd, you are invited to attend a special service at the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour on Harrison. This will be a trilingual service utilizing Mandarin, Cantonese and English. This is a meaningful opportunity to gather with our neighborhood churches. In the evening, at 7:30 p.m., we will hold a service here at CCUMC in English. Our doors will be open to members of the neighborhood churches and any others wishing to mark this moment.
Finally, Easter morning will be bursting with joy as we gather at 7:30 a.m. for a simple Sunrise Service in the courtyard. It is the tradition to follow this time by enjoying pancakes and sausages at the Wa Sung Pancake Breakfast in Lincoln Square. Our young people will be facilitating a special program at 9:30 a.m. during Intergenerational Sunday School in the Annex. This will be followed by our Worship Celebration at 11:00 a.m. We very much look forward to celebrating the Resurrection and welcoming new followers of Jesus as a community on this day.
Please remember that you are invited to contribute towards Easter lilies to fill the sanctuary with Easter glory. You can do so by connecting with Helena or Pastor Emily.
Lenten Peace & Grace,
Emily
It would be easy to go from the joyful “Hosannas!” of Palm Sunday to the even more celebratory “Alleluias!” of Easter, from waving our palm branches to lifting our lilies. Were we to do so, however, we would be missing something significant. The very wonder, amazement, and blessing of Easter’s miracle comes from having entered the darkness and loss of Jesus’ suffering and death. I hope that you will make time and space, therefore, to mark Good Friday in some way.
This year, you will have two opportunities to mark Good Friday in the community. At 2:00 p.m. on Apr. 22nd, you are invited to attend a special service at the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour on Harrison. This will be a trilingual service utilizing Mandarin, Cantonese and English. This is a meaningful opportunity to gather with our neighborhood churches. In the evening, at 7:30 p.m., we will hold a service here at CCUMC in English. Our doors will be open to members of the neighborhood churches and any others wishing to mark this moment.
Finally, Easter morning will be bursting with joy as we gather at 7:30 a.m. for a simple Sunrise Service in the courtyard. It is the tradition to follow this time by enjoying pancakes and sausages at the Wa Sung Pancake Breakfast in Lincoln Square. Our young people will be facilitating a special program at 9:30 a.m. during Intergenerational Sunday School in the Annex. This will be followed by our Worship Celebration at 11:00 a.m. We very much look forward to celebrating the Resurrection and welcoming new followers of Jesus as a community on this day.
Please remember that you are invited to contribute towards Easter lilies to fill the sanctuary with Easter glory. You can do so by connecting with Helena or Pastor Emily.
Lenten Peace & Grace,
Emily