All About HOLY WEEK    
(Plus, a SURPRISE!)

Palm/Passion Sunday (March 25*) marks the beginning of Holy Week. Christians around the world commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem amidst adoring crowds waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna!” Our worship will begin with a blessing of the palms, the reading of the Processional Gospel, and a festive procession with palms—outdoors, if the weather cooperates. We will imitate the excited and cheering crowd Jesus encountered as he rode into the city on a donkey. Once inside, though, the mood will soon change as the parade gives way to the events which happened later in the week. We will hear a readers’ choir bring the passion (suffering) story to us from St. Mark’s gospel. Worship with us at 8:30 or 10:00 a.m. (There will be a special guest at the 10:00 a.m. service…)
 

Maundy Thursday (March 29) gets its name from the Latin maundatum or command. At the Passover meal he shared with his disciples in the upper room, Jesus gave them a new commandment—that they love one another as he has loved them. It was at this same Passover that Jesus spoke of bread and wine as his body and blood, given and shed for all. We know this event as Jesus’ Last Supper. The theme of our worship service is “The Living Last Supper.” The biblical story, as imagined by Leonardo da Vinci, will be reenacted by thirteen of our COR disciples. In response to Jesus’ prediction that “one of you will betray me,” each disciple gives a brief reflection which concludes with the question, “Is it I, Lord?” After we share the Lord’s Supper together, the altar and chancel area will be stripped, as we begin the Triduum.*  Worship with us at 7:00 p.m.

Good Friday (March 30) calls us to reflect upon the cross on which Christ, in great love for us, gave himself for the salvation of the world. We will hear the passion story from St. John’s gospel, and we’ll listen to a conversation between Mary, the mother of our Lord, and John, the beloved disciple. We will let candles represent our prayers and place them at the cross. On this most solemn day of the church year, we will leave in silence. Worship with us at 1:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.

Easter Vigil (March 31) traditionally begins at the moment of sunset. In the Jewish world, the new day began at sunset, not sunrise. In other words, Easter begins at sunset on Holy Saturday. We will celebrate Christ’s resurrection with a new fire, hymns of joy, and with Bible passages which span the arc of God’s saving work from creation through the resurrection. We will celebrate Holy Communion and we’ll sing and shout the word that has been “buried” throughout Lent! Worship with us at 5:00 p.m.

Easter Sunday (April 1) is known as the “Queen of Feasts.” We will commemorate our Lord’s resurrection with hymns of celebration and praise. We will hear the wonderful Easter gospel and reflect upon it with joy. We’ll worship amidst a garden of spring flowers. The world and our lives have been changed forever! Come celebrate and worship our risen Lord at 8:30 or 10:00 a.m.

* The Church also commemorates the Annunciation on March 25. It’s a celebration of the angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary, when he told her the amazing news that she would bear God’s son. Why this particular date? Because December 25 minus nine months equals March 25. Palm/Passion Sunday ‘outranks’ the Annunciation on the liturgical calendar, so this year, it will largely be an asterisk in most communities of faith.

* The Triduum is Latin for “The Three Days.” It is the period of three days that begins with the liturgy on the evening of Maundy Thursday and ends with Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday. It recalls the passion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, as portrayed in the gospels.


SURPRISE!!!

The joy doesn’t end on Easter Sunday. In fact, for Christians, it’s just the beginning! This year, we’re bringing an ancient (but new to COR) tradition to our congregation. Holy Humor Sunday will be held on Sunday, April 8—the first Sunday after Easter.

Holy Humor (or Bright) Sunday is an old Easter custom begun by the Greeks in the early centuries of the church. For centuries, faithful Christians in the Mediterranean Basin, Europe and Russia observed Easter week as days of joy and laughter, with parties and picnics to celebrate the good news of the empty tomb. The celebrations culminated with special worship services on “Bright Sunday,” the Sunday after Easter.

Churchgoers and priests played practical jokes on each other, drenched each other with buckets of water, told jokes, sang and danced, celebrating the fact that Jesus is the LIFE of the party.

The custom is rooted in the writings of early church theologians such as Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa and John Chrysostom, which said that God played a joke on the devil by raising Jesus from the dead. These early theologians called it risus paschalis—the Easter Laugh.

Recovering the “Bright Sunday” tradition began in the U.S. several decades ago, with most churches calling the day “Holy Humor Sunday.” More than just a day of light-hearted fun, the day has a solid theological and historical background. After all, what can we do but celebrate when the One who once was dead has risen from the grave to live eternally?!!

What’s YOUR part on this day?

•    Be here—the more, the merrier! (Really—the more people, the more fun!!!)
•    Be ready to participate fully!
•    Dress up in something silly! Do you have an old Halloween costume lying around? A Hawaiian shirt and/or grass skirt? Wear your pajamas! Be mismatched, backward, inside out! Crazy wig in your closet? Swim fins and a snorkel? Wear ‘em to church!
•    If you wish, bring a (church-rated) joke or two to share with everyone—we’ll have a few minutes of “open mic” time for this.
•    Arrive happily. Leave joyfully.

I’ve celebrated Holy Humor Sunday in each of the churches I’ve served. It was always well received and well loved. Even the grumpy people smiled—a little—when they thought I wasn’t looking…

In Christ’s service,

It’s time to place orders for Easter flowers.  Please see the order forms on the round table in the narthex or in your church bulletin. Orders must be turned into the office by Sunday, March 25.

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February 2018:
Budgeted Income     $ 31,866
Actual Income           $ 34,355
Actual Expenses        $ 34,905
Deficit                          $     550 –

Update for 2018
January 1, through February 28, 2018:
Budgeted Income     $ 63,733
Actual Income           $ 69,245
Actual Expenses       $ 73,506
Deficit                         $  4,261 -

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APRIL LAY MINISTRY SIGNUP

The sign up genius self sign up for Lay Ministry is working great.  A lot of the assignments are being filled this way and it results in far fewer schedule conflicts.  Any openings that are not selected are still assigned as in the past.  If you know you have a conflict for particular dates, let the office know so you are not scheduled.  

To take advantage of this new method, click on the link below to sign up for Lay Ministry slots in April.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0948afaf2caaf58-corlay7

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• Breakfast casseroles
• Pastries/muffins/bagels
• Fresh Fruit
• Milk
• Juice

 

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Concerns

3/12
Hoeppner, Lee
Schroeder, Reed
Wahmhoff, Christine

3/13
Berger, Terri
Plichta, Christine
Vifquain, Anna

3/14
Brunner, Alexandra
Schaber, Debra

3/15
Bomberg, Gregory
Matter, Abigail
Schmidt, Debra

3/16
Douglas, Mackenzie

3/17
Schaber, Madeline

3/18
Mollet, Leo