Holy Week

We had 28 on a beautiful night with several visitors. While remaining cool, the clear conditions provided a wonderful backdrop for the service. Today we had the added benefit of watching osprey watch over a nest they are a making in an old sycamore tree in the front. This takes the old and brings new life, which is a theme of Easter.|Marilyn brought her new 60 string harp tonight for the first time and graced us with music in the prelude “Near the Cross and in the ending Keep Watch segment. Helmut and Nancy provided a vocal and violin duet in the offertory “O Loving Father.” Helmut also provided the mounful accompaniment to the foot washing in “Abendsegen (Evening Blessing).”

Tenebrae on April 16, 2014 was the opening of the Holy Week services. After several warmer than normal days, we had a refreshing (but cold!) rain on Monday day and Monday night that set the stage for a day with glorious sunshine and mild temperatures. We had 20 at Tenebrae which was a good turnout. This was an unusual service with its own Liturgy. 14 candles are lit and extinguished gradually throughout the service until one is left. “This service makes use of the power of light and sound to emphasize the darkness of death. The service ends on a note of hope. One candle remains, a solitary light in the darkness into which we depart.

Jim Heinbach introduced the service saying it was the 25th anniversary of the service St. Peter’s had a prominent role this year – Helmut as the chairman of the Ruritans providing the opening prayer, Catherine and Helmut leading the group with the music at the beginning and end. Alex reading the Apostle’s Creed and Catherine’s sermon. Her sermon is

We had 61 at our 11am Easter service which is close to the average over the last few years. There were some notable contributions. Charles McGuire provided the wonderful flower arrangement up front with the lilies adorned with cherry blossoms and curly willow. Cally had a gold egg and a basked of easter eggs to share with the Godly play children. Bonnets galore – it was wonderful seeing Myrtle there. Other bonnets present included Cookie, Andrea, Cherry (back from Florida), Marilyn and Barbara.|Easter is a time of celebration and that included music with Josh Sylke on the trumpet echoing the hymns, Brad performing the intricate ” Prelude and Fugue in A-minor ” (Bach) and the Helmut adding “Alleluia” during communion.

We had 17 people on an overcast day but warm in the 70’s. There was a “Good Friday” type of mood in the air – somewhat introspective thinking about what happened. Somewhat forboding looking outside. A severe storm was predicted but did not occur. In the midst of the gloom, spring is developing – the dogwoods are out, daffodils, hyacinths. The magnolia tree may be in full bloom at Easter.|After the sermon was the veneration of the cross, the dramatic entrance of the cross. It is slow but dramatic as it is raised and placed on the altar. Then a chance for prayer and to put a taper in the sand in the front and a rose in the vase. By the end there were 14 candles and many prayers said.

Our Maundy Thursday service on April 2 was handled differently this year. The crowd was small at 15 so that we could hold the first part of the service outside on a beautiful spring evening. Footwashing, homily, Liturgy of the Word, Communion were outside. After this we went inside for hymns – “What wonderous love is this”, “As in that upper room”, ” Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love” and “In remembrance of me” and the stripping of the altar singing “Stay with Me” continuously. A full moon greeted us through the windows of St. Peter’s as we departed in silence.

We had 18 at Tenebrae which was a good turnout, though two less than last year. This is an unusual service with its own Liturgy. There is only music – the readings carry the service. And it is not from the traditional Gospel readings. The readings range from Lamentations in the Old Testament to commentary from St Augustine, and at last a reading from Hebrews, in which the theology of Gods saving grace through Jesus Christ our great high priest is presented for our consideration. The Psalms dominate the service.