Dear U Park Family,
There’s an old preacher’s cliché: “if you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”
I’ve never liked that question, partly because we can never be sure about the inner lives of others. Although we might see outward behavior that points to Christian commitments, we can’t tell why people behave the way they do. I believe that being Christian is both an outer form of behavior and an inner life of motives and beliefs. I think intentions count.
On Sunday, I’ll continue our “In the Flesh” sermon series by reflecting on the story of Jesus’ friend Mary, who in a shocking scene from John’s Gospel kneels and anoints his feet with very expensive perfume and then wipes them with her hair. Judas (yes, that Judas) accuses her of being wastefully extravagant: the money she spent on perfume could have been given to the poor. So is Mary being Christian by honoring Jesus, or is she betraying the spirit of our faith through such an extravagant gesture?
Jesus responds, “Leave her alone. She bought it for the day of my burial. The poor you have always with you. You do not always have me.” It’s an unexpected answer from someone who seems to have identified with the poor, and who tells a wealthy young man to sell all he has and give the money to people who need it. I hope you’ll join us this for worship on Sunday in Wasser Chapel at 9:00 or our Sanctuary at 11:00 as we reflect on this surprising story.
It’s hard to believe that Lent has gone so fast! To prepare for Holy Week and Easter, we have a church cleaning day this Saturday, April 5, from 9:00 – Noon. We’ll have a list of jobs on the desk in the lobby and we’ll serve coffee and baked goods. If you can come in for any of that time, just initial a job on the list, pick up the cleaning supplies we’ll have there, and do what you can. Deep cleaning our church helps us welcome the visitors who come for Easter Sunday.
Palm Sunday this year is April 13, and Bethany Hader Crabbs, our Children’s and Care Ministry Director, is putting together an all ages Sunday School for that morning at 10. We’ll bake pretzels, have games for the children, and celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem to begin Holy Week. Remember that our annual Easter Cantata this year will NOT take place that morning; our Choir will perform Joseph Martin’s Cantata “The Weeping Tree” for our Good Friday service at 7:00 April 18 in the Sanctuary. It’s a powerful and moving cantata, and I hope you’ll be there on Good Friday to hear it.
Yesterday, the church staff and I gathered to plan our ministry through September. We’re excited about what’s coming: Celebration Sunday in May, Mission Trips in June and July, Vacation Bible School in July – and a lot more. I’m grateful to work with such a thoughtful and dedicated group of church staff, and with all of you who are involved in our ministry in so many ways to bring those plans to fruition. See you in church!
Grace and Peace,
Andy