Dear People of Central Park, Embody Christ Fellowship, & Rose Park,
Last week I ran into two of our friends while shopping at the Community Action House Food Club. I talked to the first as I was arriving and they were leaving with a cart full of groceries, and I chatted with the second as I was leaving with my hands full of groceries (why do I always underestimate how many groceries I need) and they were arriving. Within both conversations I heard the same phrase: ‘how are you really doing?’
In the context of a beautiful friendship, this question can reveal so much.
I’m tired, and maybe you are too. I’m working two jobs while also trying to have healthy boundaries and spend quality time with my family. Maybe you feel that. I long for one of these stretches of spring weather to really stay and leave winter in the past (although I’ve fallen for this for like 30 years straight). Maybe you know better than me.
And I’m feeling a bunch of other feelings throughout the day and trying not to worry about the future and inflation and war and coming to grips that whatever ‘normal life’ was back before COVID is actually never coming back. Again, maybe you’re feeling all this too.
Yet in the midst of how you and I are feeling, we find ourselves approaching Holy Week.
On Sunday we will celebrate that story from 2,000 years ago that we tell every year right before Easter. A story about a king riding into Jerusalem declaring a new kingdom. Not riding in on a war horse ready to fight and overthrow the Roman Empire but riding on a donkey.
Jesus the Nazarene.
Jesus the King.
For our three churches, this is a flashback from where we’ve been. All of Lent we’ve been hanging out on Good Friday. All of Lent we’ve been listening to the words spoken before our Savior breathed His last. But this Sunday we turn our attention to the Triumphal Entry. Maybe you’ll experience songs with the word ‘Hosanna,’ echoing the crowds as Jesus entered the city. Maybe you’ll wave palm branches or lay your coats on the ground to mimic the actions of the crowd who celebrated His arrival.
All of this excitement juxtaposed to the feelings you might be having regarding life in general.
On Sunday nights I try to sing a song with students at youth group. We take a break from the fun and games for a teaching and often times some music. The past three weeks we’ve sung this chorus from Brandon Lake’s song Gratitude:
So I throw up my hands and praise you again and again Cause all that I have is a hallelujah hallelujah
And I know it’s not much but I’ve nothing else fit for a King Except for a heart singing hallelujah hallelujah
My prayer is that Palm Sunday will be a spark for your soul. That regardless of your circumstances you can celebrate the One who became flesh and experienced the ups and downs of life. That like me, you might not have much to bring but a heart willing to praise the One riding a donkey. That Holy Week might illuminate something inside you to more closely follow the way of Jesus.
Amen.
Max Blumer
Pastor of Worship and Next Gen, Central Park Church
SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Wednesday - Philippians 2:5-11
Thursday - Luke 22:14-38
Friday - Luke 22:39-71
Saturday - Luke 23
Sunday - Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Monday - Acts 10:34-43
Tuesday - Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash