- April 5, 2020 Palm Sunday, worship at the National Cathedral
8:15 am,  www.Cathedral.org.

The Liturgy of the Palms
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Matthew 21:1-11
 
The Liturgy of the Passion
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-1
Matthew 26:14-27:66
- April 12, 2020 Easter Sunday, worship with St. Patrick's -
      A Festival of the Resurrection — Eucharist, with Music, found on our YouTube page.

Look for our next section about Holy Week in our email at the end of this week.

Arts /Religion/Education
 

An interesting site: Cousera.org
Ivy League universities are offering a range of online courses for free.  There are a number of courses from science to religion, art and music! I am taking one called, “Journey Through Western Christianity from a Persecuted Faith to Global Religion” taught by Yale professor, Bruce Gordon.  It is self-paced for 11 weeks. Others are about 4 weeks. You can audit the courses or take them for credit.
 
What is in a story?
From time to time I will offer some stories that my colleagues and I used in teacher training at the Faculty of Education at Cambridge University. Here is one from the Jewish tradition which was to act as an antidote to its more formal mitzvot (law centered) teachings. It suggests that what is really important in religious belief and practice is to live in a way that encapsulates the meaning of a practice. I share this one now as it asks the question of “What is Religion For?”
 
When Rabbi Israel Shem -Tov saw misfortune looming it was his custom to go into a particular glade of the forest to meditate. But before he began his meditation he would always light a fire and offer up a prayer and the disaster would be averted.  Years passed and his disciple Magid of Mexeritch, finding himself in a similar situation, went to the forest glade and said to the powers that be, “I do not know how to light a fire, but I can offer up the prayer” and again the disaster was averted. Later still, Rabbi Moshe-Leib wandered into the forest, “ I do not know the whereabouts of the special glade or how to light a fire, but at least I can say the prayer,” and once more disaster was averted. Finally, it was the turn of Rabbi Israel of Rizhin to deal with impending doom.  He sat in his study for long hours with his head in his hands.  At last he said, “Listen, Lord, I cannot light the fire, or find the special glade in the forest and, forgive me, I am old and tired and failing in my wits and, to be frank, I have forgotten, if I ever knew, the words of the special prayer.  But I can tell the story.”
 
This story asks us what is the significance of sacred places in religions? Or, do you think God answers prayers. Or, do beliefs and practices help us make meaning in our lives? And, lastly, what is religion for?
 
How a poem can move us!
 

“Lockdown"
 
Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.
But,
They say that in Wuhan (China) after so many years of noise
You can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet
The sky is no longer thick with fumes
But blue and grey and clear.
They say that in the streets of Assisi (Italy)
People are singing to each other
across the empty squares,
keeping their windows open
so that those who are alone
may hear the sounds of family around them.
They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland
Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
Today a young woman I know
is busy spreading fliers with her number
through the neighborhood
So that the elders may have someone to call on.
Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples
are preparing to welcome
and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary
All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting
All over the world people are looking at their neighbors in a new way
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality
To how big we really are.
To how little control we really have.
To what really matters.
To Love.
So we pray and we remember that
Yes there is fear.
But there does not have to be hate.
Yes there is isolation.
But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying.
But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death.
But there can always be a rebirth of love.
Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is coming,
And we are always encompassed by Love.
Open the windows of your soul
And though you may not be able
to touch across the empty square,
Sing.
 
- Fr. Richard Hendrick, OFM

 
 For those who want to share thoughts, other stories and poems, join us via Zoom on Wednesday at 4 P.M. Laurie Boone Hogen