Excruciating Prayers
Excruciating Prayers
This Sunday is the day we commemorate Palm Sunday, a celebration of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of what has come to be known as Holy Week: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
But the week—and the service—turn quickly from celebration to passion (from the Latin “passio”, suffering), culminating in the crucifixion, a suffering so indescribable that a new word had to be coined to describe it: excruciation, literally meaning “from the cross”.
This is not to be pedantic (though I can be prone to that). It’s important to understand that “passion” doesn’t mean “really super excited”, and “excruciation” isn’t a word meant to describe an ingrown toenail, much as it might hurt. Because in this week’s Gospel reading, it’s at the height of passion, from the cross, that Jesus prays two of the most beautiful, comforting, and instructive prayers in Scripture.
See you Sunday.
Steve+
Good Friday Service: April 15, 6:30PM
Easter Saturday Service: April 16, Noon, on Zoom
Seeking: Teachers' Assistants for Children's Formation
As a community, we are all called to aid in the growth and raising of our youngest members and we commit to it as a church when we engage in the sacrament of baptism. Currently, we have four teachers rotating in our one Children's Formation class. We'd like to expand to two classes broken up by age 5 through 2nd grade and 3rd through 5th grade. We need four to eight volunteers to assist our teachers and abide by our policy of two adults in every children's class. This role is simple and really requires nothing more than showing up ready to help! Prayerfully consider if this is a way you could engage our young believers. Contact Karissa Simmons at karissa.simmons@redeemerannapolis.org.
Seeking: Nominations for Vestry
Redeemer’s Vestry is seeking nominations for a female member to fill a 1.5 year vacancy. If you know of someone you can nominate, or you yourself would like to serve, please write to Steve Wishart at steve@redeemerannapolis.org and he can fill you in on the details.
Picture credit: Pietro Lorenzetti, Jesus Enters Jerusalem.