It’s Holy Week. This is the week, recounted in each of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), that leads up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. We like to set apart extra time to remember what happened and to see what’s happening in our own lives and times.
Each of our congregations makes time to gather and experience the story. We go through the drama in an intentional way because the story is a place for us to encounter Jesus again. Our Broad and Washington congregation met on Monday night at Independence Mall to read the gospel of Mark up to the Monday of Holy Week (Chapter 12). Check out this picture of Nichole Jackson at the mic and the whole crew listening. Jesus was teaching in the temple, the center of Jerusalem. We went to our nation’s cultural/historical center to proclaim truth there too. Lot’s of people read and many people listened (even though it was cold) to the story from start to almost finish.
The story continued on Tuesday as Art Bucher took us on a tour of Jesus’ teaching in Mark 13 about the end of all things. Tonight we’re in Bethany where a woman anointed Jesus in act of extravagant devotion. Thursday we’ll be with Jesus at the last supper, washing feet and sharing communion. Friday we’re following Jesus to the cross with a vigil from 12-3 that includes an opportunity to take an imaginative prayer walk through our neighborhoods and the Stations of the Cross. Saturday we’ll be in the grave with Jesus learning about Sabbath at the Monthly Training at Marlton and Crescent. And on Sunday we’ll be greeting the Risen Lord on Lemon Hill at 6:00 a.m.
I love Holy Week because of it’s intensity and the experiences our leaders design for us that get our whole beings into the story. — Ben White
