The people here think I'm nice -- a lot THEY know. With great skill, I concealed my foul mood this morning, and am fairly certain nobody could tell I wanted to bite off somebody's head. I did not want to lead the Bible study this morning or do the healing service that precedes it. I didn't want to talk to anybody. I just wanted to be left alone. But such things cannot be.
My snarly mood persisted a fair distance into the Eucharist, which was celebrated to the glory of God and in observance of Martin Luther King's feast day. I was filled with remembered sorrow when I finished reading the lesson about him: for a moment it was that sunny morning in April of 1968, when I heard about his death on the radio while I was getting dressed for school. Can it have been so long ago? Can he really have been so young -- so much younger than I am now -- and accomplished so much?
My peevishness began to dissolve in my sorrow, a good thing, and pretty soon it was gone altogether. The Bible study was as lovely as it always is: one of the ways in which we know that scripture is inspired by God is that our spirits embrace when we read it together, and I remembered that I love my people here, that I love serving them, that I learn from them as they learn from me. I remembered that I m in charge of whether or I get enough rest, and resolved to step up to the plate on that, my perennial weak spot.
And so the eMos return, right in the middle of Holy Week: not because I've got it together, but because I understand -- for now, at least -- that it's all right if I don't.
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This Holy Week I am here at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Metuchen. Here is what's happening:
MAUNDY THURSDAY, 7PM: Liturgy for Maundy Thursday, Watch at the Altar of Repose
Labyrinth meditation from 9pm through the night.
GOOD FRIDAY. 9-noon: Neighborhood Stations of the Cross. Step off from the church, 9am.
12-3: The Seven Last Words. Sermons by ecumenical clergy.
7pm: Liturgy for Good Friday
HOLY SATURDAY, 8pm: The Great Vigil of Easter
Champagne and strawberries in Fryer Room after!
EASTER DAY. 8 and 19: Holy Eucharist
Easter Egg Hunt for children in the garden after the 10am.
Barbara Crafton will preach at all services.
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