Pay attention to how our worship ends today. Or, it would be more accurate to say, pay attention to how it doesn’t end. There are no final prayers. The concluding blessing is not given. We do not exchange the peace. For those of you who are very observant, you will know right away what is missing. For others who are maybe not as familiar with the flow of our regular worship, you might feel that something is different but not be able to identify what that difference is.
This is important. In fact, today’s worship doesn’t end until next weekend. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the Christian journey with Jesus in the last week of his life – to the cross and to Resurrection. Rather than understanding Holy Week as a series of services or liturgies to mark Jesus’ final days, we actually understand the upcoming worship events as part of ONE service. Logistically it would be impossible for all of us to stay in this building for the week worshipping, but during Holy Week, our regular lives become essentially suspended as the unfolding worship becomes our central and connecting act as we journey to the final meal on Thursday, the cross on Friday, the mysterious transition of Holy Saturday, and to the astounding Easter proclamation made on the first day of the week.
Don’t miss out on the story. Don’t opt for only a select portion of these events that so clearly and concisely reveal the nature of Jesus’ life and the Good News he offers. This year, we are connecting the story through a preaching series which will delve into the actions and perspective of a parent: Mary of Nazareth, Mother of Jesus.
Palm Sunday was the original cliff-hanger. Each of the unfolding services – Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday – leave us in suspense. Not until the darkness is banished by the light of Christ on Easter Saturday, that bridge between death and resurrection, our first Easter proclamation: ‘He is risen!’ , do we then bring the worship we have begun today to its conclusion. Today we are not sent out to be Christ’s light and life in the world. We are asked to stay. To stay in this space. To inhabit the story.
Don’t miss out.