Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Readings for Palm/Passion Sunday, March 24, 2013

Hello Everyone,

Well, another Monday and another 6 inches of snow to shovel. It is definitely getting old but the one positive thing for me personally is that shoveling is about the only good exercise I get this winter. Celebrate Spring tomorrow by going outside in a t-shirt and shorts and then quickly run back inside to warm up by the fire.

Please make note of the following Holy Week Services:
*Thursday, March 28 at 5:30 PM – Maundy Thursday Agape Supper at Grey Eagle UMC
*Friday, March 29 at 7:00 PM – Good Friday Tenebrae Service at Peace United Church South (8th St. SE and Hwy 287)
*Sunday, March 31 at 7:00 AM – Easter Sunrise Service at Grey Eagle UMC
*8:15 AM – Easter Breakfast at Grey Eagle UMC
*10:30 AM – Easter Celebration Worship and Closure and Discontinuance of our Building at Peace United Church South. This will be our final worship here.

Tomorrow night will be our last Wednesday night Lenten Worship Service. Even if you have not come in the past four weeks we would love to have you. Worship is at 6:00 PM at Peace United Church North and 7:30 PM at Grey Eagle UMC. Our text will be the raising of Lazarus in John 11:17-44.

Since Sunday is both Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday there are two sets of readings.

Liturgy of the Palms:
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
– The first two verses are part of the opening invocation. The last verses are about entering through the gates of righteousness. The most quoted psalm verse in the New Testament is part of our reading: 118:22. Verse 118:26 is quoted in our next lesson. The last verse is an oft repeated theme in the Old Testament: the Lord is good and his steadfast love endures forever.

Luke 19:28-40 – Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives while riding on a colt. Some have speculated that the Roman Governor Pilate entered Jerusalem on the other side of the city on a chariot or in an ornate wagon pulled by magnificent stallions, perhaps even on the same day. How is Jesus’ reign different than any earthly queen, king, emperor, or president?

Liturgy of the Passion:
Isaiah 50:4-9a
– The third of four “Servant Songs” (see also Isaiah 42:1-9, 49:1-7; and 52:13-53:12). Who or what is the Suffering Servant? It could be the Exiled Israelites in Babylon. It could be one of the prophets named Isaiah. Christians have seen Christ in the figure of the Suffering Servant, especially in the last song.

Psalm 31:9-16 – This section is representative of the entire Psalm: the psalmist is in trouble as the community is against him, yet he will trust in the Lord.

Philippians 2:5-11 – This is Paul’s famous description of Jesus Christ as someone who had it all but gave it up for humanity and in his death God lifts him up that we may all one day confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God. And it all starts with “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus . . .” How can we have the same mind as Jesus according to this passage?

Luke 22:14-23:56 – The Passion of Christ beginning with the Last Supper and ending with Jesus’ burial in the tomb and the Sabbath rest.

OR Luke 23:1-49 – The short version of the Passion of Christ.

Do we walk and die with Christ (like Paul wants) during Holy Week or do run away like the disciples when following Jesus gets difficult.

Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor

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