From the Pastor: March 29, 2004

     I am trying to organize my thoughts and emotions about the movie some of us saw this afternoon – The Passion of the Christ. It started with Jesus struggling in prayer, contemplating what lay ahead, praying for release and then submitting his human will to the Father. My mind flashed back to my trip to the Holy Land - to the feeling of awe and love as I knelt to pray in Gethsemane. Lord, teach me to surrender my will as you did yours.

     I had read about the almost unbearably long scene of brutal, mocking soldiers beating Jesus. As tears welled up, verses from Isaiah 53 reached down to the depths of my spirit. “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions (my transgressions), he was bruised for our iniquities (my iniquities); upon him was the chastisement that made us whole (made me whole), and with his stripes we are healed (I am healed).

     Whether or not you have seen the movie, please take time over the next few days to think of the truly awesome price our Lord paid in love and agony that we might have forgiveness and life eternal. Holy Week will begin on Palm Sunday with the choir cantata and communion. Then join us on Tuesday to share a Seder Dinner – much like that meal with his disciples when Jesus established the Lord’s Supper. Then on Maundy Thursday evening we will move from light to darkness in contemplation, through Scripture and music, of Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, trial and sentencing to death. Good Friday will bring a series of meditations in seven Northland Churches, meditations that bring us to the holy ground of Calvary. The glorious climax will be on Easter Sunday morning – at Sunrise Service, breakfast and the 10:15 worship service – all in praise and adoration of our living Lord.

      In Christian Love,

      Pastor Harriet

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