Originally published in the 2017 Summer Quarterly Explorer
Seasons of the Church
The winter and spring seasons are comprised of many different observances for churches like ours who follow the Liturgical Calendar. From January through May, we celebrated the light of Epiphany, the music and fun of Shrove Tuesday, the sorrow of Ash Wednesday, the introspection and mindfulness of Lent, the parade of Palm Sunday, the anguish of Holy Week, and the incredible celebration of the Resurrection. We continue this journey of faith knowing that #EasterContinues—not just for the 50 days before Pentecost we call the season of Easter, but forever in the lives of Christ’s followers.
When the Saints Go Marching In
We ushered out the season of Epiphany with a party! Our families gathered together on Shrove Tuesday for a pancake supper to eat sweets and have fun together before the season of Lent began. There was King Cake, balloons, noise makers, and music. Chester Phelps taught us about why Shrove Tuesday is important and how it ends one church season and begins another. We had a Dixieland procession with percussion and baritone, and everyone taking part with instruments. Fun was had by all as the saints came marching in. Thanks to Chester Phelps and Marguerite Bostic for preparing the meal, to our music leaders Ben Blanchard and Zach Bostic, and to Andrea Glaze for helping with decorations. Laissez les bon temps rouler!
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Journey through Lent
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Ash Wednesday – We began our season of Lent with our Ash Wednesday service, held in our sanctuary. In this service, we express sorrow for the ways in which we as Christians have not lived into the fullness of our calling, and we recognize our humanity through the receiving of ashes. The service included the imposition of ashes on the forehead or hand, symbolizing that we are dust, and to dust we shall return.
For the forty day Lenten journey this year, our fellowship gathered together to listen to stories for each of the five Wednesday nights during that time period and before Holy Week. Our Lenten series for included hearing faith stories in many ways:
Family Style — Multiple generations of River Road families joined us to share how their faith has been shaped as they have journeyed together for many years, and how River Road has been part of that journey.
Table Style — We gathered around the table with our church family with crafts and books to share faith stories and the impact of Lent on our faith journeys.
Spiritual Style — Our pastoral staff told their stories about how some spiritual disciplines have affected their faith journeys.
Lenten Style — Rev. Andrew Terry, an Episcopal priest and an extended part of the River Road family, spoke to us about how Lent is celebrated in his church’s tradition.
Musical Style — Dr. Bob Gallagher shared with us how music inspires us during Lent and in the rest of our faith journey by sharing “O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig” (“O Spotless Lamb of God”).
HYMN 82 – O Lamb of God, Most Holy
- 1522/23 paraphrase of the text of “Lamb of God” by Nicolaus Decius (1485 – ca. 1546).
- John 1:29, speaking to Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.”
- One of the oldest hymns of the Lutheran church (along with Allein Gott in der Höh sie ehr). Used for Abendmahl, i.e., the Lord’s Supper.
- Plainchant origins:
Responsory – Regnum mundi, et omnem ornatum
Ordinary of the Mass (Agnus Dei/Lamb of God) - First printed in Low German in Joachim Slüter’s Geystlyke leder in Rostock in 1531 (O Lam Godtes unschüldig).
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Eastertide with Children
Our children began Holy Week with our palm processional in worship at the beginning of the day and ended with our Easter Egg Hunt. Our older children searched for eggs, especially our golden eggs on the Plaza, while our younger children searched for eggs in the Courtyard.
Many thanks to our volunteers who helped with the palm processional: Padgett Shoemake, Diane Shoemake, Marge Rusher, Fred Redford, and Maxine Redford. Thank you also to our egg and treat bag stuffers: Deb Gray, Andrea Glaze, Cassandra Ducca, Kate Knerr, Caroline Koskinen, Emily Sumner, Tara Savedge, Julia Tyler, Jan Davis, Justin Davis, Kara Harman-Barrios, and Eva Grace Barrios.
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Walk the Path of Holy Week
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When we face the cross from Palm Sunday, we don’t skip the rest of Holy Week and come back for Easter. Instead, we embrace the pain and reflective walk of Holy Week’s meaning.
Celebrate Easter
The joy of Easter comes in the morning, and on Sunday, April 16, we palpably felt the joy of resurrection! From music to prayers to preaching, worship was filled with hope and exultation. Our sanctuary adorned with life-filled flora and our movement from darkness to a room full of light, reminded and reminds us of the power of our holiest celebrations.
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#EasterContinues
The power of resurrection does not end on Easter Sunday – it begins! Not only does the church season dictate that Eastertide is a period of multiple Sundays following Easter (until Pentecost), but the very nature of Easter should usher us into a faithful season of the witness of rebirth. To that end, our church has begun a social media campaign to remind us of how resurrection continues to happen among us. If you are on social media, join us!
When you find moments of inspiration in your own life, or read about them online, post those moments to Facebook/Twitter with the hashtags #EasterContinues and #rrcb – and tagging the church social media sites (Facebook: @RRCBaptist and Twitter: @RRCBaptist) so that we can all share in these moments of inspiration.
Our pastor, Daniel Glaze points out to us that: Jesus kept comparing the Kingdom of God to this or that (a hidden treasure, a farmer sowing seed, a woman searching for a coin, etc.). Can we do the same in the 21st Century by using our own lives (or contemporary stories) as an example? Folks share inspirational stuff online all the time (I like Upworthy), so can we think theologically about our own lives as we watch Easter unfold around us?