Adoramus te, Christe,
et benedicimus tibi,
quia per sanctam crucem tuam
redemisti mundum.
Qui passus es pro nobis,
Domine, miserere nobis.
We adore you, O Christ,
and we bless you,
because by your holy cross
you have redeemed the world.
O Lord, who suffered for us,
have mercy on us.
1. How will you pray and worship today? For the first time I can remember, we have not been given any part of the day off. Therefore, I am praying along with those of you who have daytime services, and hope to make it to an evening one, if traffic is not too bad. Later in the evening I will be dyeing and deviling eggs and making hot cross buns while listening to the Godspell soundtrack.
2. Share a powerful memory or memories of Good Friday past. I'm stumped on this. Maybe I have amnesia!?
3. How have you grown and experienced God's love during this past Lent? I'm still not sure what I am growing into; but it has been made possible by the love and care of friends who have supported me.
4. In whom do you see the face of the suffering Christ most clearly? People in Africa without food or water. People in my own country who live in fear of losing their livelihoods. People whose small Texas towns burned to the ground last night. GLBT people whom the church - including my own church - disadvantages and disregards.
5. Where do you find hope for resurrection? Last night at Maundy Thursday service, we had a guest soloist for the Rutter "Pie Jesu." Rebecca is the daughter of one of our amazing, retired priests; she is a music minister at the Lutheran church down the street and a glorious soprano. Her face, looking so much like her mom's while she sang last night, and her glorious voice, roused a joy I had forgotten.
And joy also came through her wonderful son (about 7), who sat with her in the loft during the service and who went down on his own for the foot-washing...watching him have his feet washed, washing someone else's, and his grandfather regarding all of it with quiet pride from the altar. So, I guess the short answer is: community and family. People.
Bonus: Share a song, poem, or prayer that makes the paschal mystery come alive for you. We sang this last night (in English):
Now, my tongue, the mystery telling
of the glorious Body sing,
and the Blood, all price excelling,
which the gentiles' Lord and King,
in a Virgin's womb once dwelling,
shed for this world's ransoming.
Given for us, and condescending,
to be born for us below,
he, with men in converse blending,
dwelt the seed of truth to sow,
till he closed with wondrous ending
his most patient life of woe.
That last night, at supper lying,
'mid the twelve, his chosen band,
Jesus, with the law complying,
keeps the feast its rites demand;
then, more precious food supplying,
gives himself with his own hand.
Word-made-flesh true bread he maketh
by his word his Flesh to be;
wine his Blood; which whoso taketh
must from carnal thoughts be free;
faith alone, though sight forsaketh,
shows true hearts the mystery.
Therefore we, before him bending,
this great Sacrament revere;
types and shadows have their ending,
for the newer rite is here;
faith, our outward sense befriending,
makes our inward vision clear.
Glory let us give, and blessing
to the Father, and the Son,
honor, might and praise addressing,
while eternal ages run;
ever too his love confessing,
who from both with both is one.
