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"Holy Week: In Other News"
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One of my guilty pleasures is any Jesus movie playing. While these are often melodramatically over-the-top, there is usually a moment that shows me something new about the story we tell this week. In Mel Gibson's luridly atrocious Passion of the Christ for example (a movie I watched mostly through the fingers of my left hand) the actor portraying Simon of Cyrene reminded me that even a momentary encounter can set each one of us on an entirely new path. In something called The Last Days of Jesus, airing on PBS last week, a refreshingly Semitic-looking Jesus carries the cross through a Jerusalem alleyway. A woman, hunched over while sweeping out a doorway, keeps her eyes fixed on the pavement. A reminder perhaps that crucifixions were routine events in Roman Palestine? Or evidence of her terror or compelled subservience?
The Jerusalem out of which Jesus was driven to die was a place abuzz with activity, of people cheek by jowl but encased in private agendas and realities. This compartmentalization is what the poet W.H. Auden explored in his beautiful poem "Musée des Beaux Arts"--how suffering "always takes place" while "someone else is eating, or opening a window, or just walking dully along." Auden shows us a world where "the torturer's horse scratches its innocent behind on a tree" while the unspeakable occurs.
The energy of cities has a lot to do with this kind of concurrency, and to be a church at the heart of a city in Holy Week is to tell the story in the midst of crowds that don't necessarily care about it, or are used to thinking of processions and new fires as quaintly archaic or even superstitious. Sirens blare as the host is elevated. Our Palm procession passes a Sunday morning demonstration of rowing machines along the Dartmouth Street end of Copley Square. We all beam at each other and keep moving. The Marathon coincides again with Easter Week this year. Copley Square even now is an exciting and humming construction zone. As a community, we have learned over many years how to live fully and faithfully into the fray.
In a post-Christian culture the wider world does not stop for Holy Week and Easter as it does for Christmas, and for me there is an aptness to this. I am sure that as he carried his cross, children were playing games and merchants were haggling within earshot. Perhaps festive music could be heard from one street over. The concurrency is not necessarily evil or to be scolded sanctimoniously. It is part of the story. Who among us has not scratched an innocent behind on a tree?
But on Saturday evening at eight, one of your clergy will light our new vigil fire. We'll be outside this year, on Copley Square, at the open heart of a humming city. I hope you will be there with us. I hope too that someone-- perhaps walking a dog or just out of a restaurant--will be unexpectedly drawn towards the flame. Because as Mel Gibson and Simon of Cyrene each know, even a momentary encounter can set each one of us on an entirely new path.
With blessings for this Holy Week,
Associate Rector for Pastoral Care & Welcome
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MAUNDY THURSDAY * April 13
GOOD FRIDAY
* April 14
Readings: John 18:1-19:42
HOLY SATURDAY * April 15
8 p.m.
Readings: Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:8-18; 9:8-13
EASTER DAY * April 16
8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 6 p.m.
Matthew 28:1-5a, 8-10
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Coming Up at Trinity
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Welcome Marathoners!
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Godspeed to all the Marathoners, including Team Trinity who will be running to support the Trinity Boston Foundation again this year!
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To all those in the Trinity family who are participating in the 2017 Boston Marathon, Godspeed! To all those participants who may be visiting us this weekend, welcome! We hope you'll stand for a blessing and also for a proper Trinity welcome and our thanks.
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Forum: What's Up? A Review of Trinity's Upcoming Construction
Sun., April 23
10:15 a.m.
Forum
Keith Morgan, one of the co-chairs of the How Firm a Foundation campaign, will demystify what will begin to happen as the scaffolding goes into place and our beloved building becomes a construction site, and delve into its history to reflect on why the parish is making this effort. More...
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Scrapbooking Talent Sought!
Do you have a gift for scrapbooking or crafting? We are looking for a few talented volunteers to help with the assembly of the Gratitude Book that will be presented to Sam Lloyd upon his retirement in June. If you would like to be part of this project, please
contact Pat Hurley, 617-536-0944 x389.
And all are invited to share a favorite memory, photo, or message of gratitude, on Sundays beginning April 23, during morning coffee hours & after the 6 p.m. service, in the Commons! More details about other ways to submit your entries to be shared soon.
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| Holy Week Events |
Good Friday Concert with the La Farge Ensemble
Fri., April 14
5:30 p.m.
Church
The La Farge Ensemble offers a concert of choral masterpieces for Holy Week. $20 suggested donation.
More...
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Good Friday Youth Overnight
Fri., April 14, 5:30 p.m.-Sat., April 15, 9:30 a.m.
Commons & Forum
Trinity will host this overnight event for young people (grades 6-12) from around the diocese, exploring how the Passion story relates to our own lives through the arts. To sign up,
Contact Mary Davenport Davis
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Bring a Dessert for Vigil Reception
Sat., April 15, immediately following Easter Vigil service
Commons
Celebrate Easter by bringing your favorite dessert to Trinity's annual Easter Vigil dessert reception.
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Free Guided Tours During Holy Week
We invite visitors and friends to join us for free guided tours during Holy Week.
More...
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Missed last Sunday? Or just looking for more ways to enter into the experience of Holy Week?
We invite you to watch or listen:
Last Sunday's Morning Sermon:
by the Rev. Bill Rich, Vicar
Last Sunday's Evening Sermon:
by the Rev. Rita Powell, Associate Rector for Liturgy
Tuesday's Midday Eucharist Meditation:
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Bring your Appetite for the Walk for Hunger Bake Sale
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People's Climate March Boston
Sat., April 29
3 p.m.
Location TBA
Join other Bostonians for a rally in solidarity with the national event being held in Washington DC, calling for actions at all levels of government to reduce the devastating effects of climate change. For further information, contact Gabriela Artavia.
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April Habitat Work Day
Sat., April 29
8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Meet at Clarendon St. church entrance
Join 8-10 Trinity parishioners (aged 16 and older) as we work with Habitat for Humanity and a partner family to help build a home.
More...
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With the permission of their families, we list here the schedule of upcoming funerals for Trinity parishioners and friends:
Howard Elkus Funeral, Fri., April 28, 2:30 p.m., Church
Arville Stephen Funeral, Sat., April 29, 3 p.m., Church
John Kane Visiting Hours, Fri., May 5, 5:30-7:00 pm, Ferris Library
John Kane Funeral, Sat., May 6, 11 a.m., Church
Nancy Purbeck Funeral, Sat., May 13, 11 a.m., Church
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