What great memories from the week that was! Once again I thank the Worship Arts Committee (WAC) for their wonderful sensory additions to our services. Will get you caught up here for a few things that occurred.
Good Friday the entrance and sanctuary looked like this:
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| draped cross for Good Friday |
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| altar on G.F. |
the front wrought (sp?) iron cross candles were lit at the beginning of the service and at the end were extinguished one by one after each of the 7 Last Words were identified for one last time during the homily.
then we moved onto the Easter artwork -
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| the open tomb |
this was Saturday morning - I include it for the "detail" - isn't that about the greatest tomb you've ever seen- ... as tombs go. And it's empty! YES!
this year (for the first time) we had an egg hunt for the kids on Saturday ... we planned that 35-50 kids would be a success - well, about 100 kids and just as many parents came to a worshipful gathering (led by Jeff) in the gym and then on to the hunt! What joy that was! And the SUN SHINED! First time in 40 days! A Lenten lesson for us all ...
inside the fence, 3 and under; outside, everybody else
Then on Easter Sunday it looks like this ...
the processional cross is draped with lilies for Easter (left front); the tall "cage" contained butterflies (5 out of 10) had hatched and 3 of them came out on Easter - during the services! The second service homily/Kids service takes place with all the kids sitting up front. I always have a gift to present them that ties in with the message: this year, of course, it was The Resurrection Butterfly! But before that happens we return "alleluia" to our worship (after its removal on Transfiguration Sunday) in dramatic fashion - as "Allelu, Allelu, Allelu, Alleluia" is being sung the Alleluia "ascends" from the tomb - and it really is cool!
alleluia rising!
after the services we headed home to CRASH!!! But not until after enjoying a wonderful turkey and dressing and layered raspberry jello delight! We wore our special Easter-colored outfits for the occasion: We look like Okoboji Easter Eggs!
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| a little too much background light |
Dorothy (Karina's mom) joined us for the weekend - she came Friday afternoon and I took her back to the train on Monday morning. As we used to say and then convey in print in the 'old' Aurelia Sentinel --
"a good time was had by all!"
we love you
A blessed Resurrection Season to all.
Karina and Dan
Well, that Holy Week tour was SUPER GREAT. Before I launch into this entry, I wanted to share something else with you. Sarah was also impressed with the Journey with Jesus video I showed her on the computer. She thought Eliza's pre-school teacher would LOVE this concept. I have already shared several ideas of your WAC w/ our pre-school teacher & Ed Committee.
ReplyDeleteOnce again the WAC did a visually exciting GF and Easter. The empty tomb - what a great concept - especially for the children to see 'up close'. :)
Our church did an Easter egg hunt after the 9:00 service for Grade 5 and under. Our grandchildren took part for awhile. Anyway, I was delighted to know that the church sponsored an EE hunt. That was new for us.
Yes, I bet you two did crash after all the fanfare and delightful Alleluia ascension. COOL. Reminded me of a Christmas program we designed one year - with helium filled balloons. Filled them in the AM, but by the evening service, they'd all dropped and got tangled up together. ALL 80 of them! :( Great concept - execution needed work.
I sorta wondered if Karina's mom was with you. Yeah! You both look smashing in your Okoboji shirts....and festive!
Nice job sprucing up your blog backgrounds/mats. Feels springy here on Weird Portland.
OK now...check your email while we listen to your "While It was Still Dark" sermon.
He is Risen Indeed! Thanks for taking us on the journey with you and your POP family.
PS
ReplyDeleteWonderful Easter message. Lest you wonder if anyone is with you in your sermonizing, you/we could hear one very excited 'soul' who was there at the tomb w/ Mary --- vicariously in your message. He made us smile with appreciation and delight.
thanks for the comments ... his name is Paul; has cerebral palsy; is 50 something ... but is pure unbridled joy in his responses - and you picked up on his listening skills; sometime you wonder if he's with you ... this week he was! Oh that other people's faith could be as child-like (complete trust in Jesus) as his! he also has played for our offering - he has absolute pitch; plays by ear - when he was in Good Shepherd group home (no longer in existence {state laws banned them}) Pastor K (the chaplain) would lead them in weekly worship. One week (during Lent) the organist couldn't be there and Pastor K asked "does anyone know 'Not all the Blood of Beasts'" (or some other obscure Lenten hymn), to which Paul responded, "I know it" and proceeded to walk over to the keyboard and play it for memory. (His dad is a retired pastor) It's hard to ask him to play these days, though, because he does have a mind of his own, and if you theme the worship and think "Amazing Grace" would be perfect here, he might just change his mind and give you "The Stars and Stripes Forever" ... which, by the way, will be wonderfully performed, yet totally out of the blue. Keeps you on you toes!
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Yup, you were with him though and his 'unbridled responses'! Good for you!
Delete...and regarding Thomas: good to know - I can be a Lutheran and still have my doubts. But, now I have a better reason to allow for those doubts. Thank you for that qualification, D. Thomas W.
ReplyDeleteI had completely MISSED the important statement, through the years, of his willingness to die. I had FORGOTTEN, through those same years, that it was Thomas who questioned Jesus about 'where He was going' and so, 'where am I to follow?' Thank you for this teaching moment -- now it all comes together so well.
Blessings in the Afterglow of Easter -
Love - sis