Tomorrow I will be heading up to Virginia. This Friday I will be officiating the graveside service for Pam's mother at Arlington National Cemetery. Pam's mother will be buried next to her father who served as a Colonel in the Air Force. I had the privilege of officiating her Father's service, so this will be my second time at Arlington. It is a very special place and I find it very moving to be there.
Because so many veterans wish to be buried in Arlington, there is a fairly long time period between when someone dies and the actual burial. They simply inform you of the date and time the burial will take place. When they told us a few months ago that the service would take place on
April 3, 2015 at 11:00 a.m., it did not occur to me until a few days later that it was Good Friday of Holy Week - the day in the life of the church when we remember the death of Christ on the cross. Different Christian traditions observe it in different ways. At Johns Creek Presbyterian Church we simply have the Chapel open for prayer from 9:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m.
Because we are travelling on Thursday, I will not be able to attend our Maundy Thursday service. As some of you know, this is one of the most meaningful worship services for me during the year. Maybe it is the music played by a wonderful string ensemble and sung by our choir. Maybe it is the re-telling of the events of Jesus' last days here on earth leading up to his death on a Roman cross. Maybe it is the ritual of dimming the lights bit by bit until there is only darkness and we leave in silence. Whatever it is, I experience the presence of God's Spirit in a very powerful way that night. I just finished reading over the words of our Tenebrae service and even that had a profound effect on me. I hope you will come Thursday night so that you might experience something profound and meaningful.
Prayer for Today
Gracious God, as we move from the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, to the Last Supper you shared with your disciples, to the death of Jesus on a Roman cross, and on through a time of waiting until Sunday dawns and Jesus is raised from the dead -- help us to slow down enough to experience your presence in our lives in deep and profound ways. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
