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Palm Sunday | "Strange"Rev. Ethan Gregory Read: Mark 11:1-11

I remember one year when I was in elementary school. It was Palm Sunday. My mother wasthe children's director at my local United Methodist Church in Mineral Wells, Texas. We hadfinished Sunday school and were lining up in the narthex outside the sanctuary for theannual Palm Sunday processional. As we were lining up, it didn't take long for the parentvolunteers to begin asking one another, "Where are the palm branches?" At first thisquestion was asked calmly; after all, it's a reasonable question to ask given the situation.However, after a few minutes the question was asked with a sense of panic beginning tobuzz around us.

My mother was never responsible for ordering the palm branches. That job was alwaysdone by someone in the church office. But, this particular year that someone forgot. Therewere no palm branches. Nevertheless, a quick-thinking parent surveyed the room andimmediately asked for a pair of scissors. She turned around and began dismantling the ficustree in the corner.

It was strange, but we waved the ficus tree branches down the center aisles of thesanctuary as the congregation sang, "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna," and the worship serviceunfolded as it normally would have.

But, perhaps that's the point of Palm Sunday. It's a strange day. In fact, even before Jesusrides into town on the back of a donkey, the strangeness of it all is anticipated by Jesus, ashe instructs two of his disciples, “Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter it, youwill find tied up there a colt that no one has ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone saysto you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘Its master needs it, and he will send it back rightaway.’”

It's strange to untie someone else's colt and borrow it for the day. It's strange to ride into thecity in the same manner as the Roman Emperor or the Emperor's representatives. And, it'sstrange for a king to ride on the back of a donkey.

But, following Jesus is always a strange thing, isn't it?

What strange things has following Jesus caused you to do in your life?The crowd that greets Jesus as he rides into town is shouting, "Hosanna! Blessings onthe one who comes in the name of the Lord." Who are the ones who "come in the nameof the Lord" in these days? In what ways do you wave your own kind of palm branch tocelebrate and welcome them?The events and actions taken by Jesus on Palm Sunday can quite easily be describedin today's terms as a protest march. Given the continued rise and spread of whitesupremacy, an increase in anti-Asian and Pacific Islander violence, and also analarming number of mass shootings in recent days, how are you making your voiceheard to declare that enough is enough and to support the work of justice in ourcommunity?

Celebrate Palm Sunday. Wave the palm branch that you received from the church or beresourceful and find your own palm branch in your yard or somewhere else outside.Take pictures and post them on social media and also send them to Rev. Ethan(egregory@fumcpdx.org).Get involved in the work of praise and protest. Check out the church website to find therecording of our recent "Race and Racism Forum" and be on the lookout for more waysin the coming weeks and months for how we can do the important work of dismantlingracism together as a church.

Reflect:

Act:

Pray:God of strangers and strangeness, today, we find ourselves on the sidelines waving ourpalm branches and shouting with the crowds, "Hosanna! Blessings upon the one whocomes in the name of the Lord." But, tomorrow, help us to be the ones riding, walking, orrunning strangely into the city with the intention that justice must be done. Amen.

Monday of Holy Week | "Fairness"Rev. Andy Oliver Read: Isaiah 42:1-9

The Bible talks about stuff. Embarrassingly the Bible talks about money and wealth andpossessions . . . a lot. In our passage when Isaiah uses the word justice, he means, “Is ourwealth distributed fairly?” Is society fairly organized and structured? How wealth getsdistributed is a pressing concern for God and God’s people.

Much of Jewish Law pertains to our social world and what we do with physical things. Forexample, how are things sold and bought? Are the marketplaces corrupt or are they fair?How is debt handled?

In the Bible there are rich people and there are poor people and the relationship betweenthe two is of concern to God. Justice happens when rich people do not make their moneyupon the exploitation of the poor. Justice happens when poverty is viewed, not as a sign ofone’s moral failure, but as an expression of the moral failure of policies made by folks whohave more policy making power. Lent is a time to tell the truth about our sin, seek to moveaway from sin, seek forgiveness and do penance (reparations).

For Kids:Ask your parents how they make money? Ask your parents how Christian faith influences the way they make a living? Ask them how people or the earth is helped or hurt by the way they make money (ora little of both)? Ask your parents how they give money to others? Work with your parents in giving a portion of your money away.

For Adults:Read two articles or watch two videos on the website:

The Poor People’s Campaign: https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/What does Christian faith have to do with the material on this website?

Activity:

Pray:Gracious God, we give our lives over to you. Thank you for all the ways we have beenblessed. We pray for health care for those who have none. We pray for justice in the way wemake money. We ask you to make us into a generous people. Amen.

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

It is fitting that April Fool’s Day should fall in the midst of Holy Week – on Thursday thisyear. Though we don’t celebrate it along with Maundy Thursday, the story of Christ’s deathand resurrection has always been recognized as a bit of foolishness. As early as the firstcentury, Paul writes to the Corinthians reminding them of this foolishness:

For the message of the cross is complete absurdity to those who are headed for ruin, but tous who are experiencing salvation, it is the power of God. Scripture says: “I will destroy thewisdom of the wise and thwart the learning of the learned.” Where are the wise? Where arethe scholars? Where are the philosophers of this age? Has not God turned the wisdom ofthis world into folly?... For while the Jews call for miracles and the Greeks look for wisdom,here we are preaching a Messiah nailed to a cross. To the Jews this is an obstacle theycannot get over, and to the Greeks it is madness – but to those who have been called,whether they are Jews or Greeks, Christ is the power and the wisdom of God. For God’sfoolishness is wiser than human wisdom and God’s weakness is stronger than humanstrength. [1 Corinthians 1:18-25]

To a world that has inverted the order of things, choosing the creation over the Creator, theredemptive nature of the cross is something only a fool could believe. What power

Tuesday of Holy Week | "Foolishness"Rev. Donna Pritchard

How does God’s wisdom contrast with the world’s wisdom?Can you think of a time when God used some person, situation or thing that seemedfoolish or weak – but was actually wise or strong?What does the cross of Christ mean in your life?

What words come to mind when you hear the word “foolish”? Make a listWhat words come to mind when you hear the word “wise”? Make another listDraw a picture or tell a story using one or more words from each list

– what glory – is found in a broken man dying an excruciating death, executed as anenemy of the State? What wisdom could possibly reside in the agonized cries of one morerevolutionary peasant preacher?

Paul is not asking us to turn aside from true learning, to shun all technical, scientific,philosophical or literary knowledge. But he is reminding us that the Gospel is not somethingyou ascertain with the rational mind alone. Our knowing is influenced by our limitations –most especially our rebellion and alienation from God. Claiming to be wise, we becomefools, as we try to know the world apart from the God who made it.

Following Jesus means recognizing wisdom that comes in foolish disguises. It meansrelinquishing the tyranny of reason in favor of the seeming chaos of our hearts, especiallyduring these days before Easter.

Reflect:

Act:

Pray:Wake us up, O God! Help us to see You and to hear You in this very day. When we areafraid, give us courage. When we are sad, or lonely, give us comfort. When we areconfused, give us peace. And when we are lost, teach us to trust your foolish wisdom,grounded in the sacrificial love of Christ. Amen.

Wednesday of Holy Week | "Not Alone"Rev. Ethan Gregory Read: Hebrews 12:1-3

One of my favorite affirmations of faith found in our United Methodist Hymnal is "AStatement of Faith of The United Church of Canada. The second half of the affirmation is asfollows:

We are called to be the church:to celebrate God's presence,to love and serve others,to seek justice and resist evil,to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,

our judge and our hope.In life, in death, in life beyond death,

God is with us.We are not alone.Thanks be to God. Amen.

We are not alone. This truth is essential for our how I understand and make sense of theChristian tradition. This truth is also essential for how we begin to understand and makesense of Holy Week.

At this point in the story the disciples and Jesus' other family and followers had no clue whatwas to come in the days ahead: no clue that a day from now there would be a big meal andsome foot washing, no clue of the betrayal that was already being planned, no clue that byFriday they would all have run their separate ways to leave Jesus hanging on a cross, andno clue that three days later his tomb would be empty. But, even in their cluelessness, thedisciples kept walking and following together.

Even though we are a bit more familiar with the details of this story that we are in theprocess of retelling, like the disciples, we too, are not at the front of the line. Jesus keepswalking ahead of us. And, not only Jesus, but so does that "great cloud of witnesses," thosewho have gone before us for thousands of years.

Who is your "great cloud of witnesses?" Who are the friends, family, mentors, pastors,and teachers who taught you the ways of faith?Who do you walk with these days?Consider a time in which you were reminded of the truth, "We are not alone."

The last year has made us feel isolated, and yet we continue to remain connected toone another. Find a note card, a special card, or just a plain piece of paper, anenvelope, and a stamp and write a note today to someone whom you haven't contactedin a while. In your writing, remind them that they are not alone. As you drive or walk tothe post office pray for that person as a reminder that even when we feel isolated fromone another, God never leaves us.Find a candle or perhaps several candles in your home. Light each candle slowly inremembrance of a particular person or of the entire "great cloud of witnesses" that hasgone ahead of you. As you sit in the silence with the candle lit, recall your memorieswith these persons, and trust that you are not alone.

Reflect:

Act:

Pray:God of all people, we delight in the truth that in life, in death, in life beyond death, you arewith us. We are not alone. And so, help us to walk together, following right behind you andthe cloud of witnesses who have gone before, as we enter into these final days of Lent andHoly Week together. Amen.

Read: John 13:1-17

According to John, Jesus ends up washing Judas’ feet even though, “the devil had alreadyput it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray Jesus.”(vs2) The story issurrounded by the identity and mission of Christ; his life, death, and resurrection.Apparently when Jesus decides to love somebody, he does not consider the worthiness ofthat person. Something larger is going on.

We have come from God, we are going to God. In between we wash each other’s feet. Thatis, we receive those who are harassed and heavy laden, those who are lost, those who arefriendless, those in the ditch, through no fault of their own, beside the road who need theirwounds to be washed and bound up.

We do this not because we are nice, or polite, or want to make the world a better place, butbecause our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ told us to. And we believe he has theauthority to tell us because he has already come from God and has gone to God. In otherwords, true life is not found in how hard we work at helping others, it is found in thisPalestinian Jew who was the Son of God; the sender of us messengers. We can put downall burdens of working to be saved.

On earth, as it apparently already is in heaven, the law is love. Not love based on cozyfeelings or political alliances or utilitarian functioning but on the commandments of Christ.This is a commandment which is performed in the presence and on behalf of the sinnerswho will betray us.

Lord help us, this is the only way to be discovered by a hope.

Maundy Thursday | "wash their feet"Rev. Andy Oliver

Activity: The activity is Foot washing – whether alone or with others. One could wash feet while onZoom with other people as everyone washes feet together. Read the story from John. Get two pans, 1 for washing and 1 for rinsing, a little bit of soap, and some towels.Notice how awkward it feels; how uncomfortable and unnatural and maybe vulnerable. Thissmacks of discipleship. Rest a moment afterwards. Simply be and take it in. The grace ofGod has drawn near.

Pray: Your grace has drawn nigh, and we are thankful. You love us, you bathe us out oftenderness. We are thankful we can rest in you. Amen.

Read: John 18:1-19:42

The story of Jesus’ arrest, his sham of a trial in front of the Temple authorities, followed byhis interrogation by the Roman governor and his subsequent suffering, crucifixion and death– all this is what grabs us on the day we Christians call “good”. Add to that Judas’ traitorousact of handing Jesus over to the authorities, and Peter’s betrayal of Jesus three times over,and we are left wondering “what is GOOD about any of this?”

Traditional Christianity points to Jesus’ obedience to God, his willingness to endure the painand the humiliation of the cross as a way to atone for the sin of the world. However, the realgoodness of Good Friday may be found in remembering his life more than his death.

In Jesus, God enters into the fullness of humanity, including our dysfunction: our bigotry ourterrorism, our disloyalty, and our brokenness. In Jesus, God wears the body of anyone whois lost and broken. Perhaps that is really what’s so good about this day – it shows us thatGod is willing to get caught in the chaos of our world, to take on our brokenness in order totransform it. By loving us through the life and death of Jesus, God reimagined the world andthe possibilities for it.

Theologian and Biblical scholar Walter Brueggeman suggests that Good Friday points outthe core truth of Christianity, which is this:

Good Friday | "What's so good about this?"Rev. Donna Pritchard

What is “good” about Good Friday for you?What difference does Jesus’ death make in your life?Into what chaos would you invite God’s redemptive presence?

At Christmas we affirm Jesus as the Light of the world. On Good Friday it is important toremember that nothing – not even death – can extinguish that Light. Consider making a“stained glass” votive…

Make a salt painting to remember the story of the Cross…

The God of the Gospel brings life out of death. We can line out the move from death to lifephysically, historically, metaphorically, symbolically…any way you want. But the truth is arock-bottom acknowledgement that God can probe into our deepest negations and createnew possibilities, new space for life, new energy for obedience, new waves of joy.

If God is willing to be caught in the chaos of the world, God is not only willing, but able, toenter into the chaos of my own life and to help me find within it new possibilities, new space,new energy, and new joy. Therein lies the “goodness” of Good Friday.

Reflect:

Act:

1. Using a small jar or a plain votive holder, “paint” the outside with glue (somethinglike Elmer’s)2. Tear small pieces of different colored tissue paper into random shapes3. Press the paper onto the glue to simulate stained glass; use a tealight or othersmall candle to let your light shine.

1. Take a piece of construction paper (preferably black or another dark color)2. “Paint” a cross on it using liquid glue (like Elmer’s)3. Pour plain table salt over all the glue; shake off the excess4. Add color by lightly touching the salt with watercolor paint or a wet marker(because the salt is porous it will absorb and the color will spread easily over yourdesign).

Pray:O Holy One, you invite us into life even in the midst of death, to peace in the presence ofchaos, to joy in the face of deep sorrow. Fill us, we pray, with your wildly creative Spirit, thatwe may answer your invitation and join once more the movement of life and hope and love.In Christ’s name we pray… Amen.

Holy Saturday | "Mystery"Rev. Ethan Gregory Read: Ezekiel 37:1-14

It's true that I have many favorite days on the church calendar, but Holy Saturday has got tobe in the top three. It's a day of mystery, a day of both uncertainty and hope, a day of bothdarkness and light, a day where completely opposite things and ideas can be true within thespan of hours. The day begins with the same silence in which we left Good Friday. Jesustook his final breaths on the cross and it is still finished as his body lays in the tomb. But, aswe know all too well, God does some of God's best work in the dark, and so, as night fallson Holy Saturday something special happens and we begin to see the first signs ofresurrection.

In the early centuries of the church, Holy Saturday was quite a special day indeed. Lent wasthe designated time for those who were new to the faith to learn the story--what we mightcall a Confirmation Class. It was then on Holy Saturday at a service called the Easter Vigilthat these soon-to-be new Christians were baptized and confirmed into the faith.

The Easter Vigil had a four-fold pattern: Light, Word, Table, and Water. Traditionally thecongregation would gather together outside the sanctuary or worship space. A fire would beat the center of the gathering area and from it the Christ candle would be lit. Thecongregation would then proceed into the sanctuary for what would not exactly be theshortest of worship services. The service consisted largely of scripture readings. Beginningin Genesis with creation, the stories of Noah, Abraham, and their families, continuing intoparts of the Exodus story, readings from the prophets, followed by selected readings fromthe New Testament, and finally late in the night, after all of this remembering a reading fromone of the Gospels, boldly proclaiming into the night the story of Easter and Resurrection.

After all of these readings, the congregation would gather at Christ's table and around theBaptismal font, where both sacraments would be celebrated and those who were justbaptized would receive their first Communion.

This service continues today in some places. In the lectionary, this reading from Ezekiel isamong the suggested readings. We may not be gathering for an Easter Vigil this evening;nevertheless, today is a day for telling the story, for paying attention as day turns into night,and for slowly allowing our uncertainty to be overwhelmed by our hope.

What mysteries are you wrestling or sitting with as we find ourselves between GoodFriday and Easter Sunday?What uncertainties are you holding onto today?What are you hoping will be resurrected within you, our community, our church, ourworld this Easter?

Hold a vigil of your own. You don't have to do it all at once, but as you go throughoutyour day, make plans to walk through and sit with the four movements of the EasterVigil:

Light: Light a candle, go for a walk outside for even the faintest glimmer of sun, turnon a lamp in a dark room, or even just open a window.Word: Along with the Ezekiel story, reread some of the stories of faith. The book ofGenesis is a great starting point. Read as little or as much as you'd like. And, asnight falls, either by yourself or with your family as a bed time story, read John 20:1-18, and fall asleep into the first moments of Easter.Table: Eat a meal together with your family, with a friend or neighbor, or if you're likeme, on your couch with your favorite Netflix show on TV. Water: As you wash your hands throughout the day, when you take your bath orshower, or when you walk out into the Portland drizzle, allow the water to touch yourbody. Remember your own baptism and give thanks that you are baptized.

Reflect:

Act:

Pray:God of mystery and of truth, as the day turns into the night, as Good Friday turns intoEaster, and as death turns into resurrection, help us to pay attention. And, through light,word, table, and water remind us once again of your great love for us and the story we holdmost dear. Amen.

Read: John 20:1-18

Hallelujah! Christ is risen – Christ is risen, indeed! There could hardly be a more joy-filledcry for Easter, or for any day of the week. Easter is God’s moment, the triumph of life overdeath, of love over hate, of wholeness over brokenness. Easter is our moment, as well, thetriumph of hope over despair, of freedom over limitation, of love over alienation.

This day – and an empty tomb – has been our destination throughout all our Lentenlamentations. We have been traveling together from the shadows into the dawn. Now wesee – like Mary Magdalene – that this is not the place we stop. This is not the end. It is onlythe beginning.

Nan Merrill, in her book Psalms for Praying, paraphrases a portion of Psalm 83 in this way:

Clothe us with the dress of your peace,and the stronghold of your mercy,that we might bear the power of love.Let us walk in shoes of integrity, and don the mantle of truth.Let us shed the tatters of envy and fear, the rags of anger and greed,and say, “We shall seek only the Truth,”which will set us free.

Easter Sunday | "Joy"Rev. Donna Pritchard

If Easter is not a stopping point or a final destination, where might God lead you next?What is the power of love calling you to do in your own life?How will you celebrate Easter joy beyond this one day?

The symbols we often associate with Easter – colored eggs, butterflies, lilies, evenbunnies – all speak of new life and the abundance of life. Celebrate Easter joy bycoloring some eggs (don’t forget to boil them first).Draw and color some butterflies, cut them out and hide them around the house forothers to find at random moments, reminding them of Easter’s promise of new life.Make hot cross buns (you can find a simple recipe here:https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/hot-cross-buns/Come to church for the Easter Sunrise service (outdoors by the playground), at 6:30 amJoin us online for worship from the Sanctuary at 10:30 am, www.fumcpdx.org/livestream

Easter provides us with the dress of God’s peace, and opens to us the stronghold of God’smercy. Easter is what enables us to bear the power of love. We tend to think of love assomething soft and comforting, like a warm quilt wrapped around a shivering child. Yet lovehas a fury and a punch to it as it demands truth and seeks justice. Love tears down wallsand erodes the very sands of time. So it can be an act of courage, to open yourself to love’spower, and to leave the garden tomb empty behind us.

Reflect:

Act:

Pray:We stand at an empty tomb in the Easter garden, O God, wondering who will hear ourshouts of joy this day. We stand at what we thought was the end of our journey, only to findit is just the beginning. Give us courage, we pray. Wrap us up not in soft folds but in thebright wonder of your love. Let us be changed and moved and brought to life in some newway. Lead us out of all that is past and into the Light of a new beginning. Christ is risen, andso shall we rise this day! Amen.