Part of what I love about Holy Week is that it invites us also to intentionally walk alongside Jesus on the way of the cross. From Maundy Thursday all the way through to Easter Sunday, we take time to be with our Savior at each step of the way. There’s nothing new about the story, of course. But there’s always something new in our story — in the things we’ve experienced, the ways we’ve been challenged and grown in the year past. So I find that each year, as I walk through this week, God shows me something new about what Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection mean for me and for our world.

Will you join me this week on the way to the cross? I hope to see you at one or all of these special Holy Week services.

• Maundy Thursday
  • 7:30pm – Holy Eucharist and footwashing service*
• Good Friday
  • 12 – 3pm – Church open for prayer and reflection
  • 7:30pm – The Seven Last Words of Christ*
• Holy Saturday
  • 8:30pm – The Great Vigil of Easter – Baptisms, Holy Eucharist, and a great Resurrection Party!
• Easter Sunday
  • 9am, 11am, and 5pm – Holy Eucharist*

* – nursery care provided

The Ash Wednesday liturgy captures some of what I love best about Anglicanism–  beauty, intentional words, silence, kneeling, sacrament, tactile helps, Eucharist, confession, Scripture, hope, history, prayer, deep hymns, visible reminders.

One of my dear friends, Cliff Warner is an Anglican priest in Austin, TX. He just wrote his top 5 reasons [in no particular order] for being Anglican.  He says it well…

1. Because I am part of something bigger than myself. Anglicanism is global and historic; it stretches across both space and time.

2. Because Anglicanism has a robust track record of theological reflection, thinking the faith and engaging contemporary issues (William Wilberforce, C. S. Lewis, J. I. Packer, John Stott, N. T. Wright).

3. Because Anglicanism appreciates the role of beauty in worship and formation, paying close attention to the use of words, space and music.

4. Because Anglicanism observes a rhythm of life and worship, from framing our days with Morning and Evening Prayer, to the church calendar.

5. Because the liturgical format of worship is Christ-centered, scripture-saturated and shaped to bring me face to face with my desperate need and God’s glorious mercy, then brings me and all the saints to the Lord’s Table.

Relish this season of Lent.  Be intentional.

Choose to be small.  Let God be big.

Yesterday I went for a long run and listened to this story.  I love the way they tell a story. The premise is the consequence to a man who is wrongfully accused because of a confession that is wrongfully dragged out of someone.  I just read a book by John Grisham with the same plot, so this theme must be cutting edge…

The first 30 minutes of the story are painful.  All of your righteous indignation gets boiled up.  You can’t believe that this kind of injustice is happening.  You want to scream it’s not fair!! I actually didn’t enjoy it (nor did I enjoy that part of Grisham’s book).

The second 30 minutes is this incredible picture of confession and redemption.  Twenty years after a man was wrongfully sent to prison, his friends re-investigate the case.  They find the ‘witnesses’ who made up the story that sent their friend to jail.  As soon as they mention his name to them, the truth comes gushing out– alongside lots of emotion.  They talk about the anxiety and stress they have been carrying from the wrong they did.

Confession sets them free.

Then one of the lawyers describes the man who went to prison meeting the man who’s story wrongfully put him there.  He says, ‘he looked like Jesus Himself come down off a stained glass window.’  He was describing his outward appearance.

Forgiveness.  Redemption.  The grace noted story line shows up all the time.  We long for this.  We live among so many broken people who want it.  The story is real.  He doesn’t just live on stained glass windows.

Ash Wednesday is a gift.  There will be 3 services:  6:30am, Noon, and 7:30pm that end with Eucharist.  The service centers around confession.  The prayer leads us way beyond ‘what we have done and what we have left undone’ and gives us lots of categories and venues where we have hurt, ignored, and left behind.  Confession sets us free.

The season of Epiphany ends today.  Our service on Sunday had some real highlights.  I admire and respect the people who stood up and make public commitments to the Restoration community. Being a member is not about privileges, it is a choice to use our resources and to live our lives alongside others who are wanting to look more like Jesus.  Everyone should be a member of a church.  I am so thankful to live life with ours.

The ashes wait.  See you tomorrow.

This morning I am sitting under my tree–  enjoying the lights and the last few minutes of calm before the kids wake up.  My first Christmas gift:  a little peace.

I am overwhelmed by the idea that God, (GOD!!) took on humanity.  That He walked around.  God (!) wanted to have a relationship with me so He came for me.  I know what it is like to be human.  God came so that I could see what creation was meant to be at its best–  what the new creation will be like.

Following Jesus is the most satisfying, exciting, never-boring decision I ever made.  I am overwhelmed.

It was great to worship with you last night.  I loved the kids singing Silent Night, Bev’s solo (wow!), Matt’s instrumental interludes, responding at the Lord’s table, listening to Erin read the Luke story, seeing the church bathed in candle-light, grabbing soup in between services, the pictures Becky found for the readings, the violin and piano, the amazing volunteers (and Andrew’s family!!) who loved on our kids in the nursery, getting to see dear friends in the pews, the floodlights on the banner and the door wreaths, seeing my boys in a tie :)

Merry Christmas my friends.

We can’t wait to see you on Christmas Eve!!  Wondering what to expect? Here is a Christmas list…

1. Candles. Lots of candles.  On the Advent wreath.  In people’s hands.  Lots and lots of candles.
2. Carols. We are singing like 36 of ‘em.  Ok, more like 11.  If you’ve been longing for carols while we wait in Advent, come get your sing on.
3. Parking Shuttles! There will be a shuttle running continuously from the Washington-Lee High School Parking garage up to Restoration from 3:30-7:30 on Christmas Eve.  If you are visiting Restoration, please use our lot behind the church. If this is your regular gig, please park at W-L.
4. Children. Singing!  When we sing Silent Night, we are inviting all the children to the front of the sanctuary to sing the first verse by themselves (this is also our chance to light all those hand-held candles, without children in the pews…).  We would love for your child to join in this spontaneously planned impromptu children’s choir.
5. The Story.  It’s an old one, told by many voices.  We will read ‘the lessons’ and remember the tale– that God came for us.
6. Generous Giving. We will take on offering during the service.  All of the money will go outside Restoration to 2 projects we are supporting around the world.  (1) A homework club at a church in Moldova–  Our gifts will enable them to provide tutoring after school and a warm meal for every child for a year.  (2) And the refurbishment of a community center in Philippi, WV where we send a mission team each summer.
7. Beautiful Art. The walls are decked with images from our Advent series.  During the readings, there will be beauty that draws our eyes and heart into the story.
8. Squished pews. There will be a nursery for children 2 and under.  Everyone else will be together in the sanctuary (children worship guides are available).  We encourage you to come early and to be flexible!
9. Eucharist. We remember that Jesus did not just come as a baby.  He grew to a man who was like us in every respect (except our sin).  We remember that He came to save His people and deliver them.  We remember at His table, which is open to anyone who is baptized and trying to follow Jesus as the One who leads their life.
10. Angels, ornaments, smiles, and giggles. This service just makes you smile.  Being immersed in the beauty of song and space is the best place to be on Christmas Eve.  Joy to the world!  The Lord is come!

See you on Christmas Eve!

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Part Two)

I am thankful for more reflections from Cindy Darnell about this time of year…

As some of you may remember, this time last year, I wrote a blog about the challenges of Christmas time. Erica recently referred to it in a conversation we were having so I went back and read it and was really encouraged by the conversation it spawned and thought it would be good to open the door again this year for similar conversation. Just to recap… last year I basically outed myself in admitting that Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year for me for many reasons. I know lots of people struggle with some very real things during the holidays and in the spirit of making Restoration a place where we can be open with and pray for one another, my heart is to shine light in the darkness and provide an avenue for conversation.

In looking back over last year, I can see some small signs of progress. First and foremost, as a dear mentor of mine says, I have decided to “make peace with my reality”. The reality of my situation is that my immediate family lives hundreds of miles away and I’d rather be with them than home alone, so that means I have to travel at Christmas because it’s easier for me to do so than them for many reasons. The angst I had about the travel last year did me no good in the grand scheme of things. The other reality of my situation is that while I’d love to be celebrating Christmas with a husband, I’m still single. While it’s good to acknowledge the disappointment that comes with that reality and pray through it, it doesn’t do any good to dwell in it. So, taking the emotion out of it I am better able this year to accept my situation for what it is, even though it’s not what I would prefer, and just get on with it.

Secondly, I’m realizing that choices have consequences. (Duh, right?) I made a choice 12 years ago to live away from my family. This Thanksgiving, I made a choice to stay home rather than travel to be with family. Consequently, I was bummed to not be with family on Thanksgiving but it was a result of two choices I made. Even my parents’ decision to divorce over 30 years ago still has consequences in that if I want to see both sets of parents, I have to travel both to PA and New England.

Thirdly, I need to have the courage and humility to ask for what I need. As I was thinking about what I would do for Thanksgiving this year instead of being with my own family, I knew I wanted to be with A family that is part of my extended family in Christ for the holidays. God brought a couple folks to mind and I finally got up the courage to ask. I was totally blessed by the result. I ended up spending the majority of the day with the mentor I mentioned above. I’ve heard a lot about her family over the years and it was a blessing to be able to spend time with them and see how they interact and just soak in the experience. I heard later from a mutual friend that she was thrilled that I asked and my mentor has told me since that she is “adopting me as her grandchild”. What a blessing!

To summarize the lessons, I would say the bottom line is I need to put aside the emotion and not let it drive me. If I’m able to see the situation more clearly and not be blinded by sadness or pride or anxiety it makes things much easier (not easy…easier). This is something I need to learn throughout my life, not just at Christmastime.

Finally, as Cameron pointed out in the blog comments last year, Advent essentially is all about the tension of the longing for Christ in a broken world. I think so often that is lost in the midst of all the commercialized holiday cheer. When I really focus on the true meaning of this season, it makes me feel a whole lot less guilty about not being very cheerful at Christmas. I recently saw the quote below written about advent on this website. I pray that it helps to reframe the way you look at this season.

If you are struggling this season – talk to someone:  friends, family, your small group leader, me – just don’t sit in the darkness.

Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing. There is a yearning for deliverance from the evils of the world, first expressed by Israelite slaves in Egypt as they cried out from their bitter oppression. It is the cry of those who have experienced the tyranny of injustice in a world under the curse of sin, and yet who have hope of deliverance by a God who has heard the cries of oppressed slaves and brought deliverance!

It is that hope, however faint at times, and that God, however distant He sometimes seems, which brings to the world the anticipation of a King who will rule with truth and justice and righteousness over His people and in His creation. It is that hope that once anticipated, and now anticipates anew, the reign of an Anointed One, a Messiah, who will bring peace and justice and righteousness to the world.

Advent is the first season of the Christian year.  It is a 4 week time of preparation for the incarnation of Christ.  Historically the church has used these weeks for quiet, reflection, repentance, and fasting.  Traditionally, the parties happen AFTER the 25th, during the 12 days between Christmas and Epiphany.  (Perhaps you’ve heard a song about this…)

We will be digging in to Matthew 1, the genealogy of Jesus.  That’s right…  Matthew’s begats.  Lots of fun names and who gave birth to who.

Now before you yawn, let me tell you my premise:  if you really want to understand the incarnation, then the genealogy tells the stories of how Jesus really ‘gets’ us.  Very simply, the junk in your family tree is the same junk that was in Christ’s. That is an encouragement to me.

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

I look with great anticipation towards experiencing these next 4 weeks with you.

See ya on Sunday.

And yet.  There’s something about the quiet drive to church, the dimly lit sanctuary, the creak of the pew as I settle in. There’s something about the ancient words of scripture and prayers and the quiet periods of stillness and reflection. There’s something about this discipline of prayer that is at once personal and communal that makes me set the alarm early and will my feet to the floor when it goes off well before daylight. I think that something is the fact that, for reasons I don’t fully know, God chooses to meet me in unique and powerful ways in these bleary-eyed early mornings.

I’m grateful to have these opportunities for prayer and worship as we journey through this Holy Week. In yesterday’s collect for Palm Sunday, we asked God to “mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of Jesus’ suffering, and also share in his resurrection.” It’s an audacious prayer, frighteningly bold on both counts. But one of the gifts of the church is its rich tradition of Holy Week services that guide us through Jesus’ last days — a kind of road map through that daunting prayer. From the quiet mornings in the beginning of the week, through the mounting intensity of the last supper (Maundy Thursday) and the crucifixion (Good Friday), on through the dramatic proclamation of Saturday’s Great Vigil and the joyful triumph of Easter Sunday — it’s a profoundly powerful journey.  And it’s one that never fails to open my heart in new ways to the unspeakable goodness of the Gospel.

I hope you’ll join me on that journey this week. Set your alarm early, or make a change in your usual evening routine. Choose to follow Jesus in the way of his suffering.  I think you’ll find that your “Alleluia!” will be that much more joyful when we reach the empty tomb on Sunday morning.

• Tuesday — 6 am — Morning Prayer
• Wednesday — 6 am — Morning Prayer
• Maundy Thursday — 7:30 pm — Eucharist and Footwashing
• Good Friday — 12:00 – 3:00 pm — Church is open for prayer and the liturgy of reconciliation
• Good Friday — 7:30 pm — Seven Last Words of Christ
• Holy Saturday — 8:30 pm — Great Vigil of Easter
• Easter Sunday — 8:30 and 10:00 am — Holy Eucharist

Even as we journey deep into the heart of Lent, we’re keeping our eyes lifted toward Holy Week and the great hope of Jesus’ resurrection.  The culmination of all of our Holy Week services and the beginning of our celebration of Easter is the Great Vigil of Easter.  The Vigil is held the Saturday night before Easter Sunday.  This year, it’s on April 3rd at 8:30 pm.

The Vigil is a beautiful, powerful service of worship (definitely my favorite of the whole year).  The liturgy is in four parts, and through scripture, song, and sacrament, it unfolds the great story of redemption.  It begins in silent darkness and proceeds to a joyous, light-filled proclamation of Alleluia!

The Vigil dates back to the earliest centuries of the church, when it was the time that new converts to the Christian faith were baptized. (This came after a period of preparation and fasting — what eventually became the season of Lent.)  Baptism is still at the heart of the Easter Vigil.  Not only will we all renew our baptismal vows, but we’ll have the opportunity to baptize any adults who want to be baptized!

Would you like to be baptized? If you have committed to following Jesus as the one who forgives and rescues you — or if you would like to — and you’ve never been baptized, we would love to baptize you at the Easter Vigil.  If you’re interested or have questions, please contact David or Erin (you can reach us here). We’d love to talk with you!

(If you have an infant whom you would like to be baptized, we’ll have infant baptisms on Pentecost, May 23rd. Please contact us if you’re interested.)

I really hope that all of you will consider coming to the Great Vigil of Easter. I promise that you’ll experience the joy of Christ’s resurrection in a profoundly powerful way!

Lent is a season of waiting, anticipation, denial, adding on.  It is our most corporate time as a universal, historic church. For 40 days (just over a tithe of the year!!), we choose disciplines and practices that prepare us to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus.

You will notice some differences during our Sunday worship:

1. After a song of worship, we begin with a litany of penitence. The leader will read each of the 10 commandments and we will sing, “Lord have mercy upon us and incline our hearts and minds to keep this law.”  Out of this reminder of the ethic that is to shape our life, we pray the prayer of confession.  We begin each of the 6 weeks with a deliberate choice to face our shortcomings and intentional disobedience.  It is my prayer that this will whet our appetite for grace.  Self-examination is always ‘in vogue’, but only the cross has a means for us to be truly transformed.
2. After the sermon, we have built a song of response around the prayers of the people.
3. We are using a different Eucharistic liturgy. It is older, more robust in its theology, and longer.  You will hear some words you might not immediately recognize:

• Oblation:  from the Latin oblatus which means offering.  On the cross, Jesus was an oblation for our sins–  a full satisfaction for the penalty we deserved, a perfect offering who needed no forgiveness, a sufficient sacrifice for all of our sins.  That’s what we mean by oblation.

• Procured:  Yep, you probably know what this means– to obtain something.  But you’ll hear me say it as I give thanks for all the benefits that Christ’s passion, death, resurrection, and ascension ‘procured’ for us.  Remember, when we come to the table, we come to be reminded that Jesus has rescued us.  It’s a memorial meal so that we can remember what He has done.

If you hear other words you don’t understand or find curious, post them here as a comment.  I’ll answer them in the blog.

At the end, you’ll hear me say ‘we are unworthy to offer you any sacrifice, but we ask you to accept this–  our required duty and service…’ The Eucharist wasn’t our idea, it was Christ’s.  When I pray that prayer, I am asking God, by His Word and Holy Spirit, to make a little bread and a little wine a sacrament–  a visible, tangible reminder that we have been rescued, that we have received grace.  That prayer tells the story of what Jesus did and why He had to do it.  Sometimes it gets a little long and the words might be unfamiliar, but it’s our story.  Thanks be to God.