|
April 2, 2007 |
|
|
|
April 2, 2007 |
|
|
|
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Ah,
it is Holy Week. This is the week when Jesus’ friends got scarce. The
crowds of yesterday had returned to their work. Jesus’ circle of
friends narrowed to those who were closest to him. In a few days he would
find himself with his most trusted folk alone in a garden – and even
they could not manage to stay awake with him. In the end, it was just a few
– Peter who wouldn’t own up to his relationship, a few women at a
distance, and a Roman Centurion. This
week is probably the toughest week of the year for Ministers of the Word and
Sacrament. No other week contains this many services. And the subject matter
is, well, dark. The last bell is tolled, the last candle is put out, and we
leave on Good Friday literally in darkness. And so, if the Minister of Word
and Sacrament is to be the sacrament of the Word then one must embrace the
darkness. And like Jesus thousands of years ago – we do it pretty much
alone. Yesterday’s wavers of Palm Branches have returned to work and
most will not show up until John Wesley’s words ring out, “Christ
the Lord is risen today! Alleluia!” It
is during Holy Week that I find myself often humming the words, “Were
you there when they crucified my Lord?” And the sad and disappointing
truth is that for most of those for whom we care, the answer is “no,
not really.” But
you – Ministers of the Word and Sacrament, Church Administrators,
Organists and Choir Directors, and Elders serving communion – are there
and you have an amazingly important charge. Like the priest serving at the
altar, you represent the others – those who are too tired to come to
church, too socially engaged to go to church, too disconnected to go to
church, too far from home to go to church – you represent them
“when they crucified my Lord,” “when they nailed Him to the
tree,” “when they pierced Him in the side,” and “when
they laid Him in the tomb.” You represent all of your far flung
brothers and sisters as you stand there with Jesus this week. And you
represent the great cloud of witnesses, the saints that have gone before and
are with you every time you lead worship. I pray that it will “cause you
to tremble, tremble, tremble.” Blessings, Peter Nord |
Inside this issue Events of the Week: Maundy Thursday Apr. 6 Good Friday (office closed) Apr. 7 Easter Worship
Throughout the Presbytery Apr. 8 Take Note/Act Now § Part-time DCE § Bishop John Rucyahana § New Imani Workshop § Discipleship Deadline § Nat’l PCUSA § April Presbytery Mtg. Focus § Synod April Bulletin Insert § ICJS Event in April § Pastor-Congregation Relations § Diploma in Lay Pastoral Ministry Prayer
Concerns The Presbytery of |
|
People Please
pray for Ted Durr’s wife, Barbara,
who is recovering from a fall. Please
pray for Mary Gaut as she cares
for ill family members. Please
pray for Elizabeth Rogers as she
begins to return to work. Prayers
of praise and thanksgiving on behalf of Charles
and Marilyn Forbes, who are celebrating the birth of their first
granddaughter. |
|
Prayer Concerns The
Next Generation Project asks for prayers: ·
That those who come to
“A Journey Toward Hope” (April 5-7) would experience God’s
love and grace in such a way that their lives would be transformed ·
For people to step
forward to participate in a leadership team ·
For continued and
additional contacts with those who might be interested in participating The
Presbytery of asks for prayers: ·
For the leaders and
members of and visitors to our 74 church communities as they celebrate and
commemorate the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord during this
meaningful and busy week in the life of the church Contact Information For the Presbytery
Offices: Phone: 410-433-2012 or 800-511-0087 Office E-mail: office@baltimorepresbytery.org Website: www.baltimorepresbytery.org To
Unsubscribe: email Alice
McGee or call the office |
Take Note/Act Now Baltimore
Presbytery Items (non-dated items
first; dated items in date order) Kenwood
PC is seeking a part-time Director of
Christian Education (more). Central PC will be hosting a special evening with Bishop John Rucyahana from Rwanda on
Monday, April 2nd at 7:00pm. Bishop John is one of New The deadline
for submission of articles for the May issue of Discipleship,
the joint newsletter of the The National PCUSA Guatemala Partnership
Network will be meeting at First of The next Presbytery meeting will be on April 26th
at 4:00pm. One focus of the meeting will be on Peacemaking and Urban Violence with special guest speaker Rick
Ufford-Chase and the Initiative Against Urban Violence Task Force will
present a panel of local experts on reducing violence in our communities (more). Synod and General
Assembly The
Synod April Bulletin Insert and
Military Prayer List are now available on the synod website: www.synatlantic.org. Other Items The
ICJS presents “An Evening with
Walter Bruggemann and Peter Ochs: Jews and Christians Reflect on How
their Minds Have Been Changed”, April 18th at 8:00pm at
Chizuk Amuno Congregation in Baltimore (more). Also on our website Don’t miss all the new Local Church Announcements at: http://www.baltimorepresbytery.org/announcements.html Presbytery
Yearly Calendar Past Issues of Tidings are available at: http://www.baltimorepresbytery.org/midweekmail.html. |
|
|
Peter Nord, Executive Presbyter |
Bill Millen, Associate Executive |
Charles Forbes, Stated Clerk |
|
Deb Milcarek Associate of |
Jane Johnson |
Rita Walters Director of Development rwalters@baltimorepresbytery.org |
|
Director of Public Policy |
Judi Forrester Coordinator of Financial Services |
Alice McGee Coordinator of Information Services |
|
Coordinator of Resources |
Coordinator of Communications |
Questions? Comments? |
