Central,

GOOD FRIDAY: the paradox that is Christianity is understood in today's name. Seems like it should be called Dark Friday or Terrible Friday.  But God's power "is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). "God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised to bring to nothing the things that are." (1 Corinthians 1:27)

Between 6 and 9am, Jesus was tried by Pilate. Jesus was mocked, whipped, made a laughing-stock. "He was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Surely he has borne our grief, and carried our sorrows. He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, with his stripes we are healed. He was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth, like a lamb led to the slaughter; they made his grave with the wicked, although he had done no violence." (Isaiah 53)

Beginning mid-morning, and extending through mid-afternoon, Jesus was crucified, a horrific form of capital punishment.  Public crucifixion was designed to intimidate the rabble rouse-rs and keep the peace. In the process of being crucified, Jesus cried out, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus did not remain safely in heaven, but he entered human sin and suffering at its darkest.

Good Friday is a day to check your watch, at 9 when Jesus was sentenced, at 3 in the afternoon when he breathed his last, and as it grows dark, and consider the sufferings, death and burial of our Lord. At Central we have two opportunities to experience this day.

JOURNEY TO THE CROSS is from 12:00noon to 3:00pm.  Give yourself about 45 minutes to participate in this self-guided, interactive journey to the Cross.  Come in the door to the Family Life Center by the Lion's Park side of the building to begin this reflective and moving journey

THE TENNEBRAE SERVICE is at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary.  This powerful service of light and darkness ends in somber silence as leave quietly and move towards Silent Saturday. Or you might want to contemplate artist's renderings of Good Friday.  You can go online and search for Good Friday art or Crucifixion art.


Paul

Central,

GOOD FRIDAY: the paradox that is Christianity is understood in today's name. Seems like it should be called Dark Friday or Terrible Friday.  But God's power "is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). "God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised to bring to nothing the things that are." (1 Corinthians 1:27)

Between 6 and 9am, Jesus was tried by Pilate. Jesus was mocked, whipped, made a laughing-stock. "He was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Surely he has borne our grief, and carried our sorrows. He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, with his stripes we are healed. He was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth, like a lamb led to the slaughter; they made his grave with the wicked, although he had done no violence." (Isaiah 53)

Beginning mid-morning, and extending through mid-afternoon, Jesus was crucified, a horrific form of capital punishment.  Public crucifixion was designed to intimidate the rabble rouse-rs and keep the peace. In the process of being crucified, Jesus cried out, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus did not remain safely in heaven, but he entered human sin and suffering at its darkest.

Good Friday is a day to check your watch, at 9 when Jesus was sentenced, at 3 in the afternoon when he breathed his last, and as it grows dark, and consider the sufferings, death and burial of our Lord. At Central we have two opportunities to experience this day.

JOURNEY TO THE CROSS is from 12:00noon to 3:00pm.  Give yourself about 45 minutes to participate in this self-guided, interactive journey to the Cross.  Come in the door to the Family Life Center by the Lion's Park side of the building to begin this reflective and moving journey.

THE TENNEBRAE SERVICE is at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary.  This powerful service of light and darkness ends in somber silence as leave quietly and move towards Silent Saturday. Or you might want to contemplate artist's renderings of Good Friday.  You can go online and search for Good Friday art or Crucifixion art. 

Paul

Central,

Maundy Thursday Greetings!

Hope to see many of you at 12:00Noon or 7:00PM for our Maundy Thursday worship experiences!

Maundy Thursday is one of those days, for me, when I am silenced and moved to consider something much bigger than my relationships, circumstances and experiences.  The word "maundy" derives from the same ancient root word as our word "mandate."  On this day Jesus issued two 'MANDATES'; "I am giving you and new commandment, to love one another as I have loved you," and "Do this in remembrance of me."  Today we do!

All of Jesus' meals were probably memorable. He "ate with sinners" and offended the pious. He let a woman wash his feet and another anoint him with oil. He suggested that when you have a dinner party, don't invite those who can invite you back, but invite the poor, blind, maimed and lame to eat with you.

But no meal was more significant than his last. Thursday at sundown was the beginning of the Passover, that sacred moment when Jews celebrated God's salvation of Israel from Egypt, remembered by eating lamb, unleavened bread, and drinking wine. Jesus set the stage by washing his disciples feet, and talking about his upcoming suffering. As he broke a piece of bread, he said 'take, eat; this is my body," and as he took the cup of wine, he said, 'drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

And after the meal Jesus walked out of the walled city of Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives to pray in the garden called Gethsemane. Kneeling in anguish, Jesus prayed, "Not my will, but your will be done." He actively sought and embraced God's will, no matter what the cost.  Soon afterwards Jesus was arrested, the charges were trumped up, witnesses were compelled to lie, and he was abused, mistreated and detained.  So tonight we will go to bed, knowing that we wait for the dawn of the new day with the paradoxical name: GOOD FRIDAY!

On Friday you are invited to come to Central between 12:00Noon and 3:00PM for a self-guided, interactive journey to the Cross.  You should plan on giving yourself about 45 minutes to allow time for reflection and prayer.  At 7:00PM we gather for the Tenebrae Service of light and darkness around the seven last words that Jesus speaks from the cross.

More to come tomorrow.....

Paul

Central,

What happened on Wednesday of Holy Week? Read the gospels and the chronology isn't entirely clear. Did Jesus teach someplace, or heal someone, and no one wrote it down?  Or did he visit with two or three people privately?  Such a public person like Jesus had private relationships, perhaps with Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathea - or maybe he simply hung out with friends in Bethany?  Another possibility is that Jesus withdrew from people and activity and prayed. We know that Jesus regularly "withdrew to a lonely place to pray." (Luke 5:16, Matthew 14:23)

During this week I like to imagine what Jesus was feeling, thinking, saying and doing.  I also like the idea that Jesus is BIGGER than what we know. John ends his gospel by saying "There are many other things which Jesus did." Like Jesus can we imagine ourselves kneeling and praying, "Not my will but your will be done."?  This week will you surrender to Jesus knowing that he will do far more than we can ever ask or imagine?

I hope many of you will join me tomorrow at 12:00Noon or 7:00PM for the Maundy Thursday worship. Maundy comes from the same ancient root as our word "mandate." What were the 'mandates' or 'commands' that Jesus issued on Thursday of Holy Week?  More about that tomorrow!

Please let me know if there is any way I can be praying for you these days of Holy Week.

Your brother in the Lord's Family,

Paul

Central,

MARCH MADNESS! For many of us our thoughts turn to the NCAA Basketball tournament BUT for a few moments consider 'March Madness' as a term for the week we are about to embark upon. Jesus' three year MARCH to his betrayal, suffering, death and resurrection is about to be completed! We call this HOLY WEEK! Considering the MADNESS of human betrayal, denial, abandonment, rebellion, murder, etc., how can we call this week Holy? This week is Holy because, at the end of the day, it is GOD'S STORY!

Our thoughts, words and deeds are maddening to say the least. Just consider the absolute fickleness and foolishness of our cries; HOSANNA! HOSANNA! HOSANNA! and CRUCIFY! CRUCIFY! CRUCIFY! It is important to recognize our place in the story of this week BUT it is more important to consider what the author of the story of this week is saying. What is God saying through the words and acts of the week we call HOLY? It all comes down to 3 WORDS; "__ _______________ ________!" When we gather for Palm/Passion worship tomorrow we will hear God's 3 Words to you!

Just this morning I received the following invitation to prayer from Kris, one of the women who count the weekly tithes and offerings that are received on a weekly basis. Please take a moment to read it and plan on kneeling at the altar tomorrow to begin your personal journey to the Cross. Prior to kneeling at the altar you will have the opportunity to be anointed with oil as an act of being consecrated or set apart to begin your Holy Week journey!

Paul