A thriving faith community engaged in compassionate service

Friday April 3, 2020

Dear Friends,

We will gather again this Sunday – virtually, of course – for our video Palm Sunday worship service. We will certainly miss shouting out “Hosanna!” and waving our palm branches together in our sanctuary, but we can still immerse ourselves in the power of this special day from our own homes.

Susana Breese-Owens and Greg White have prepared two hymns for us to enrich this special service. I am very grateful to them for providing us with music to stir and touch us. And, just to provide reassurance, they prepared the hymns separately from the service so we could truly keep our distance.

One of my favorite works of art is this sculpture, created in Germany back in the 13^th century, a life-size Jesus on the back of a donkey, set on a wheeled base so it could be pulled through a church, as the faithful shouted out their Hosannas, followed by “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” How many joyful voices has this charming Palm Sunday Jesus heard over the centuries – surely tens of thousands.

I hope you clicked on the link that took you to the YouTube video of the virtual choir singing “Down to the River.” Here’s the link in case you missed it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BumCkswUUDA

I marvel at the power of virtual choirs and the creativity of the singers and arrangers. It is the perfect way to join voices from anywhere and everywhere. Here is another virtual choir, this one singing a hymn that seems particularly appropriate for us right now: “It Is Well With My Soul”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDIJz6zzHNU

Grace & peace,
Pastor Skip