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Dear MRC Family,

Lenten blessings to you

I look forward to worshiping with you this Third Sunday in Lent at 10:30 AM. Tom will lead us in our hymns and sing the Prelude “The Earth May Move” and the Joyful Noise Adult Choir will sing the Anthem “Chosen.” And we have a special musical treat — Amelia Caddle and Dominick Caddle will sing the Offertory “Worthy of All the Praise.” I am preaching from John 13.1-17 — Jesus washes the disciples’ feet — and my sermon title is When Jesus Washes Feet. As this is the Second Sunday we will be receiving our Deacons’ offering to help those in need in our church and community. And then we have the joy of ordaining and installing to the Office of Deacon, Abbey Thorpe; to the Office of Elder, Jamie Zeller; and installing to the Office of Elder, Beverly Bova Scarano. Unfortunately, Deacon-elect Pam Ehrlich won’t be with us on Sunday as she is going to her favorite mountain in beautiful Vermont. If you are unable to be in person for worship, we will be streaming live on our YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@mrcafabulouschurchoflove1611.

Allow me to say a word about worship and our Scripture readings for the next few weeks. I follow the Narrative Lectionary for preaching and what the lectionary has done in this season of Lent is slow down Holy Week, giving us smaller pieces of the story now. Usually, Good Friday comes and we either hear a reading of the entire Passion of Jesus or a reflection on the Seven Last Words of Jesus in just one day, but not this year. For example, this Sunday Jesus washes the disciples’ feet (that’s usually reserved for
Maundy Thursday); next week is Jesus’ trial before Annas and Peter’s denial; the following week is Jesus before Pilate. My prayer is that we will allow the time and space to open ourselves and listen to the story of Jesus — and not in a hasty blur in one day — as he makes his way to the cross and finally to the glory of the resurrection. Any questions? I’m happy to talk with you! 

Lastly, here is the reflection question for this upcoming week from our Lenten devotional TMSG from A Sanctified Art based on the Scripture readings Mark 6.32-44 and Ephesians 3.20-21: When has God interrupted your life with abundance? And before worship, don’t forget to write where you saw, heard, received, shared, or enjoyed the good news of God this week in the “Goodness Book” on the Lenten table.

Keep following and bothering Jesus, beloved. And don’t forget to set your clocks an hour ahead on Saturday night. It’s time to spring forward and enjoy more daylight.

 

With gratitude for the privilege of being your pastor and the holy call of loving you,

Pastor Trish

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