April 5, 2022

Dear friends,

This is the week before Holy Week, a week filled with intention and meaning. In a pastor’s world, it is the calm before the storm. It is a lot of late nights and early mornings during Holy Week, trying to craft an experience to help the congregation fully grasp the meaning of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. It is important to keep in mind that anything we try to do to capture the magnitude of the crucifixion and resurrection event is going to fall short. Human language does not have the capacity to express it. 

There is a quote attributed to Martin Luther, the great reformer, that says, “If I knew the world were going to pieces tomorrow, I would plant a tree.” This has always been a confusing sentiment to me. However, the meaning I can take from it in this season is that when there is so much to do and be that it overwhelms you, maybe do something else. I would take a walk. Because all that is God and is of God will remain, no matter my efforts. So much of our pressure to be a good Christian is self-imposed. The Holy Spirit will guide us, we do not need to conjure it.

This is why I am excited for Saturday, April 9th, the day before Holy Week begins. As a whole church, we are going to gather and do some spring cleaning and decorating of our campus. We are going to clean out some clutter, decorate for Easter, move some furniture, and whatever else may come about. As Marie Kondo taught all of us, a good cleaning and organizing does wonders for the soul, and I invite the whole church to come to take part. 

By making room for all of God’s children, we are making room for the Holy Spirit. Because I think that is how Easter comes into our hearts. We do not conjure it but make room for it. I pray that as we have witnessed to our faith, and have understood what kind of witness we are, we have made room to see God’s glory again this Easter.

Peace,

Jordan