Every year Holy Week arrives, and yet it never feels the same. Perhaps because our lives are never the same either. We come carrying different joys, different worries, different questions in our hearts. And still, year after year, the story of Jesus invites us once again to walk with him through the final days of his earthly journey.
It is hard to believe, but we are already nearing the end of our Lenten time! These past weeks of reflection and conversation during our Coffee with David Bible study have been highly meaningful. There is still time to join us for our final session this Tuesday at 5:00 pm at Dunkin’ in Yardville as we close this season together.
Then we will enter the most sacred days of the Christian year.
On Sunday, March 29, we will gather to celebrate Palm/Passion Sunday, beginning by remembering Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The service will start with us waving our palms as we sing, celebrating the joyful arrival of Jesus into the city.
Then, during that same service, we will transition into a deeper moment of contemplation as we enter more deeply into the Passion of Jesus on the cross.
It will be a beautiful and deeply spiritual moment as, together, we move from celebration into reflection.
On Thursday, April 2, we will gather for a Joint Maundy Thursday Service with our brothers and sisters from Groveville and Crosswicks, hosted this year at Crosswicks UMC. And yes, this means it is time to prepare your best soup!
We will share a Soup and Bread Potluck for us to remember the meal Jesus shared with his disciples on the night before his crucifixion. During the service we will also experience a moment of hand washing and celebrate Holy Communion together. It promises to be a meaningful and reflective time during this Holy Season.
On Good Friday, April 3, we will join our brothers and sisters from several Christian churches in the area for the Ecumenical Good Friday Service at 12:00 noon at Hamilton Square Presbyterian Church – 3550 Nottingham Way Hamilton Square, NJ 08690. There is something powerful about entering into this solemn reflection together with believers from different Christian traditions to contemplate the sacrifice of Christ.
Then comes the great morning of hope.
On Easter Sunday, April 5, our two congregations will gather together for a Joint Sunrise Service at 6:40 am at Groveville Cemetery, where we will wait together for the day to break, holding in our hearts the hope and expectation of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.
Later that morning, during our regular worship services, we will celebrate Easter with joy and gratitude. Together we will sing, pray, and gather around the Lord’s Table for Holy Communion, proclaiming the good news that death did not have the final word.
And we hope you will walk this Holy Week journey with us!
Warmly,
Rev. David Gaitan
