Category: Easter

Hallelujah and the ringing of bells

4/1/2024

Easter Week has come and gone. At 3:30 on Easter morning I left my house and drove to the 4:30 Easter Vigil at the SSJE monastery in Cambridge. This time I was prepared for the three hour service, both its length and depth. Last year I had envisioned something akin to half- hour sunrise services previously held in my back yard.
The service started with the brothers lighting a 'bonfire' in a side chapel and then processing in and lighting the first of two long candles give to each of us upon entering, candles that we held for nearly two hours before the sun rose. With the glow of our candles we heard Hebrew Bible scripture, sang psalms, and renewed our baptism. Finally we blew out our candles, shook our little bells and shouted 'hallelujah. After the long, joyful ringing of hallelujahs we were ready to hear an Easter sermon and celebrate communion. I made it home with an hour to spare before another Easter celebration at my home church.

The Great Vigil of Easter/Sunrise Service

4/10/2023

I experienced an awesome Easter sunrise service yesterday, although I didn't see the sunrise. Come to think of it I have never seen the sun rise on an Easter morning. For several years my church had sunrise service in our back yard, but it was scheduled for 6:30, a long time after the sun had risen over the building that abuts our property. This year I didn't see the sunrise because I was in the chapel of Saint John the Evangelist (SSJE) in Cambridge.( I noticed the light coming through the stained glass windows, but that doesn't count.)  When my alarm went off at 3:15, no sun; as I drove into Cambridge, no sun (and no cars).
      During covid I attended one of the SSJE sunrise services on line, and so
I expected something similar--a few people standing in the cold on Memorial Drive for a hour or watching the 'New Fire" kindled and waiting for the sun. NO WAY. When I stepped into the chapel at 4:15 it was filling up for a 4:30 start. When I stepped out of the chapel at 7:45 (yes, 3 plus hours later) I was filled with contentment and peace. Scripture readings, hymn and psalmody singing, prayers, an adult baptism, a sermon, communion…. Or to quote the program: Kindling the New Fire, Vigil of Lessons, Holy Baptism, The Holy Eucharist. The candles we had been holding for much of the service had gone out as the sun shone through the windows; we had rung our little bells and shouted Alleluia.
     I have referred to this as a sunrise service because all my life, that's what it's been called. SSJE calls it 'The Great Vigil of Easter.' Fine with me. Life is full of resurrections, new hopes, good possibilities. The sun always rises whether we see it or not. We just have to be vigil.

Feet washing

4/6/2023

Today Maundy Thursday. My Google search offers this: On its own, the word maundy means “the ceremony of washing the feet of the poor, especially commemorating Jesus's washing of his disciples' feet on Maundy Thursday.” Recorded around 1250–1300, the word maundy comes from the Old French mande, in turn from the Latin mandātum, which means “mandate or command.”

This was the last full day of Jesus' human life. Scripture doesn't tell us what Jesus did during the day, but we are told that his evening was a busy one--The Last Supper, feet washing, praying in Gethsemane while his disciples fell asleep, that is, until they were awakened by the Judas' betrayal and Jesus arrest.
     I have attended many Maundy Thursday services, and will go to one at my church this evening. We will participate in communion, hear scripture, turn out lights, and leave in silence, but there will be no feet washing, and I am sorry about that.
     I have  only participated in two feet washings. I recalled each one vividly as  powerful faith-enriching worship experiences. This deeply intimate exchange with another Christian washes away doubt, leaves a shine of hope, and "mandates" usto 'to wash another's feet.' (John 13:1-20).
When I get home from church this evening I will got to ssje.org/chapel and
attend the  7:30 pm – Holy Eucharist with Foot-washing with the brothers of Saint John the Evangelist.  SSJE.org/chapel

A Hallelujah sunrise

4/7/2021

Easter was comforting and exhausting for me. I started the day with two sunrise services, the first live-streamed by SSJE (Society of St. John the Evangelist) at 4:30. The brothers began chanting at the entrance to their chapel on Memorial Drive and then processioned in where they sang the psalms and read scripture—Genesis, Exodus, Ezekiel, Mary’s magnificat, all interspersed with psalms. They were in no hurry to get to the most important moment in Christian faith when we all shout Hallelujah.
I left before the Hallelujah to walk up the street to the sunrise service at my church (the sun had fully risen by then). About twenty of us stood in the church parking lot, worshipping for the first time together in over a year, shouting hallelujah.
By the time I got home, the brothers had shouted Hallelujah, and a magnificent postlude was concluding the service. Exhausted, I took a nap before putting on my Easter bonnet to return to my church, this time on-line, to shout Hallelujah one more time.

Meeting Jesus during Easter Week

4/19/2017

I love Easter Week, which begins Easter Sunday and ends the following Saturday, because Jesus feels especially present to me.
According to the Gospels, he was resurrected but hadn’t yet ascended.Jesus was still walking around, meeting two of the apostles on the Road to Emmaus, and showing Thomas his wounds in the Upper Room.
These stories encourage me to be attentive as I take a walk or sit in the Angel Room. Maybe I will meet Jesus, too. That’s what faith is.

No Easter without Good Friday—for Jesus, for us.

4/3/2015

Good Friday! Easter! My faith has grown exponentially in the past year and with that, no surprise, I notice myself deeply immersed in Holy Week. The experience is more prayerful than analytic. I find myself walking around with Jesus, not saying much, nor does he. We’re just together in all the sorrow, both his and mine, personal and worldly. We’re walking along, walking through it all, walking with God, walking toward God. In Scripture Jesus leads us to God. Jesus goes to God through prayer, but ultimately via the Cross.

We know God through our difficulties. When we face the truth on our cross, we meet God. It can happen to us again and again; many truth tellings, many crosses. There can be no Resurrection without a Crucifixion, no Easter without Good Friday—for Jesus, for us.

Easter flowers at Santa Maria dei Fiori

4/26/2014

The most holy time to visit Santa Maria dei Fiori (the Duomo) is early in the morning when, with prayerful intention you slip in the side door for Mass and prayer. Mass is said in one of the apses; the other two are available for prayer and mediation. Today the central one was filled with Easter flowers -- an aroma and visual feast to experience. No need to think: just be.

From Easter to Italy~

4/23/2014

Santa Trinita

I'm writing this on the plane to Florence after a busy Easter morning. It started with the sunrise service in our backyard with about twenty five people, including some kids. Oh, and three dogs. This was followed by a waffle breakfast at church. Easter service with all those ‘Christ the Lord has risen’ songs, and with everyone singing Mendelssohn’s Hallelujah Chorus, a tradition in my church,! Pastor Tom’s message was honest and simply: Easter helps us frame our sorrows and tragedies in hope.

When I arrive in Florence I’ll post this, probably just as is. Then I’ll enjoy a cappuccino, wander about and step into Santa Trinita and be grateful.

P.S. I meant to post this two days ago, but with the lack of sleep and excitement of being here, I forgot. So here it is. More later.

Good Friday vigil~

4/18/2014

I remember Good Friday growing up. We had the day off from school and from 12 to 3 my UCC church held a vigil. Just watch. No music, no program, no words. Just sit and watch. I like to think that I remember staying for the entire time, but I’m not at all certain that I did. I like to think that my experience was very profound, but I’m not at all certain that it was.

After all, except for this Good Friday vigil, my church upbringing centered on Easter.

Today I still can’t get my mind around what this day means. I’ve stopped trying to figure out the theology of it all, but this year I am aware that my heart is responding. The most I am able to say, or want to say, is that I’m feeling some holy embrace for all the suffering in the world. Knowing Jesus suffered gives me hope.

God will put us back together again~

4/15/2014

I been thinking about the people who have experienced heartfelt tragedy and sadness during this past year. Are they glad that Lent is coming to an end? Is this Holy Week and the anticipation of Good Friday too much for them to bear? Are they afraid that they will feel no Easter joy, that they won’t be able to sing Hallelujah?

These are the people that I will put on my prayer list. Their hearts feel broken and they may fear that, like Humpty Dumpty, they are powerless. I can’t fix them, but I can send the salve of God’s peace, which sooths. God will put them back together again. Don’t ask me how this works. I just know that, with faith, it does.