Pastors' Blog
Archives: April 2020
In our pre-pandemic world, Kent, Jaz, Susan and I talked about preaching on the Book of Acts during Eastertide. Rather than following the lectionary, however, which does indeed include many passages from Acts during this season, we decided we'd pick out passages ourselves, some of which never made it into the lectionary and may even be the first time you've heard them!
We are now in the great Fifty Days of Eastertide that stretch from Easter (April 12) to Pentecost (May 31), in which we celebrate the risen Christ in our midst. We actually celebrate this all year long, but we especially highlight it during this season. This coincides with our Stewardship season, in which we renew our commitment to our parish's common life, and think about how each of us will contribute our time, talents and finances for our shared...
Nine years ago at Eastertime, our congregation received the gift of a modern oratorio, The Son of Man, commissioned by Susan DeSelms, our Minister of Music. Syrian-American composer Kareem Roustom based his libretto text on passages from...
Holy Week 2020 at United ParishOn this, our holiest week of the year, we will continue to gather for worship online. We invite you and yours to join us.Maundy Thursday, April 9, 2020 a live, interactive Zoom worship service6:45pm Foot-washing Ritual. Prepare a basin of water and/or wash cloth and towel and re-enact this loving, serving act of Jesus to his disciples (...
The year is...32...ish. No one has ever heard of coronavirus, let alone Zoom or Protestantism or Palm Sunday. It's early morning, and there you are in Bethphage, getting ready to load up your pottery on your donkey to head to market. You're bringing the colt, this time, too, to get her used to the route she'll soon take when she's strong enough to bear the weight of your wares. You pop back into your home to get your purse and when you come out, two men, clearly out-of-towners, are...
