Maundy Thursday is for the Garden of Gethsemane

Dear Church Family

   Here we are on Maundy Thursday in the middle of Holy Week. Perhaps for the first time in our lives, the crazy week for Jesus is starting to make some sense to us. It has not been what we thought it would be like at all. Maybe we can build on that sense of being out of step, to recognize how God is helping us in our own out of step experiences in this Pandemic of coronavirus. I have particularly experienced all of this in a very personal way. Please keep praying for Elaine. It’s a long time to be out of sync with plans and dreams.

   Back to our own journey in Holy Week as a church family, we are learning new ways of experiencing our life together and apart. For me it’s been the first time in my ministry that what I usually do is not available. Maundy Thursday has usually meant a time to remember the Passover Meal, reflecting on all the elements of the food and it’s special significance to the Jewish People, that Jesus transitioned to the Lord’s Supper and a New Covenant of deliverance. It has meant foot washing components, not always done for feet, sometimes for hands. Hand washing is very important now. Be sure you wash yours a lot.

   In previous times, Maundy Thursday meant a full-blown discussion of Jesus comment about some of the disciples lack of faithfulness, Peter you will deny me, one of you will betray me, all of you will scatter. We have found many ways to share this reflection with the major question is it I Lord? Do we betray by our actions, that we are not yet all Christ like? Do we deny that we know him? Especially when it’s inconvenient to be that loving? Do we scatter when the pressure is on? All very valuable reflections to be sure.

   Sometimes we have taken a lot of time to reflect on what we call the Eucharist, or Holy Communion and it’s institution at that last supper in the Upper Room. We can reflect on the meaning and the desire that Jesus had to give us a piece of himself, and a way to remember his love and his teachings. We really can’t be connected to one another like we want to be because of our physical distancing right now. Doing Communion online is possible in some circumstances, but it feels awkward and take away some of it’s community building elements, when we are separated and with families, or all alone, as many of our church family is right now.

   So what does that leave us? I am leaning toward one of the parts we only skip over because there is so much more going on, and that’s the time in the garden of Gethsemane. This was a time for Jesus to pray and prepare for Good Friday. So this year’s Maundy Thursday service will emphasize the Garden. The hymn go to Dark Gethsemane is all about that experience.

1 Go to dark Gethsemane,
You who feel the tempter's pow'r;
Your Redeemer's conflict see;
Watch with Him one bitter hour;
Turn not from His griefs away;
Learn of Jesus Christ to pray.

   So tonight, for our service, we will spend time going to Gethsemane. To learn to pray as Jesus did, “Not My Will, but Thine be done.” Please join us and maybe we can learn in the midst of this pandemic, a new way to find and trust in God.

   Tonight at 7 pm on Zoom.   

Blessings to you all,                Pastor Jeff