Growing up on the other side of the parsonage door gives you a completely different perspective on high holy days. Planning for an Easter worship service an hour in length takes weeks of preparation, research and prayer. Throw in Ash Wednesday, six weeks of Lenten services, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and extemporaneous obligations, throw in a funeral and perhaps some family time and you have an exhausting schedule.
Most of the time that my father has been a pastor in the Dakotas United Methodist church, he has ministered to two or more churches in one parish. Double the above schedule and you will understand why Easter lunch is often followed by a coma that lasts until Tuesday!
As an adult serving in ministry to a local church, I, too, spend hours preparing for Lent and Easter. And I love it! Our clown team ministry has been practicing for the Good Friday for months.
This year, we appeared on the noon show of a local television station. It was an exciting time, trying to see the Good Friday Passion Remembrance from the other side of the camera lens. Would people understand what we were trying to portray? Is our interpretation of the Gospel scripturally accurate? Does everyone's hair look OK?
Being on television was an interesting experience to me. Minutes before leaving for the interview, I was still trying to decide how my hair looked up, down and half up/half down. Seeking counsel from my brother, who wears his hair the same way every day, was of very little help. I flew out of the door with moments to spare, imagining the cloud of wildness that my hair had become from all of the extra primping. The interview was far less stressful than actually being on television. The interviewer was amazing and instantly made me feel at ease. Once the camera was on, the words flowed from my lips in mostly-intelligent sentences. The five minutes went quickly and I was surprised when the lights went out and I was free to go. Cool!
Our church offers a prayer labyrinth during Holy Week. Participants are guided by narration from a CD as they move from station to station. As the labyrinth begins the journey toward the center, you are encouraged to shed those worries, fears and unforgiveness that keeps you from a closer relationship with God. The center of the labyrinth is a time of communion with the Lord, a time of quiet listening. As you start the journey back out of the labyrinth, you are prepared to take your experience out into the world to share God's love with others. It is a powerful experience that provides quiet, healing and sanctuary to many who walk the prayer path.
An amazing encounter with God is something you just can't keep for yourself. We decided to open our prayer labyrinth to the public and promote this opporunity. The local paper called and offered to do a story on the labyrinth. A very kind, capable reporter came to my office to do an interview and the paper's photographer came the next day to take pictures at the church. Our church secretary met the photographer and he took an extraordinary picture of her lighting candles. A masterpiece! Then he came to my office to take my picture for the story. He is a patient, talented photographer who was got a good shot. My parents thought it was adorable! Vanity set in as I looked at my picture and ... surprise, surprise - interesting hair day!
In the midst of Lenten planning, I got a chance to do a radio interview with a local Christian radio station. Now this is my medium. I really like talking, I can use my notes and I can't be seen. The host was wonderful, asked great questions and helped me convey the message to the listeners. It was tons of fun and I liked watching them work with the technology that is radio. The word was out there. Now, we just needed to pray that people's hearts would be moved to come.
As I arrived at work after the interview, my brother came out to my desk to compliment me on the interview. I was flying pretty high. As a parting remark before he returned to his office, he told me that my hair had looked great on the radio!
Our youth group is preparing for the Good Friday Sunrise service on Easter at 7:30 a.m. They always do a terrific job leading this service and they leave their fingerprints all over it. Even sleep deprivated teenagers know that they have an important message to convey - Christ is Risen! Last night found our youth group practicing a song that will open the worship service. A liturgical movement (that on Easter morning could be more accurately named a lethargical movement!) opens our service. It's an upbeat version of the hymn "It Is Well" and they do it so very well. It is definitely worth getting up early for!
In the midst of the busyness of preparations and services, it is easy to lose focus. I do take deliberate time to "be still and know" that He is God. I will take my hour in our church's prayer vigil tomorrow morning. I will walk the prayer labyrinth, opened to His words spoken to me. My life has been purchased with a high price -- the life of Jesus, the Son of God. I am truly not worthy of that sacrifice. Yet God so loved me that He gave His only Son that if I would believe in Him would have eternal life. How do you thank God for such a gift? With prayer, praise and enthusiastic service! Let the hubbub begin.
