March 31, 2020
Dear Christ Church family,
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The clergy and I continue to pray for you and your family as we walk through these challenging days.
It is an understatement to write that this Holy Week will be very different.
As it has for many centuries, Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday -
powerful and distinct.
Traditionally, the worship service begins with a procession, recalling the vivid scene described in Mark 11 - the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. But the service moves from that glorious procession to the Passion of our Lord and the death of Christ Jesus on Golgotha.
What begins with exuberant shouts of ‘
Hosannah’ ends with tears of sorrow on Calvary.
For the first time ever, Christ Church, like much of the world, will remember that historic week and worship the Lord on Palm Sunday from our homes. Thankfully, the ‘shelter in place’ order for Smith County allows the worship team to gather at both our historic downtown campus and at Christ Church South to lead the worship services.
This year’s procession, however, will be especially different and, I believe, powerful.
For each of the past few weeks, over 1,500 homes have participated in the Christ Church online worship services. Whether worshipping over YouTube or Facebook Live, we know that people from hundreds of miles away have been joining the Christ Church family in worship. It is amazing!
This Sunday, I invite you to personalize the Palm Sunday procession from your home.
The clergy will begin this powerful service from both campuses at 11 with the Liturgy of the Palms. I invite you to
cut leafy branches off a tree in your backyard – creating your own processional Palms, even if they are clipped from an oak. The clergy will offer the Blessing over the Branches for the pine, elm, ash, and magnolias each of us is waving. Then join the throng from throughout the community and beyond, waving your backyard branches and shouting ‘
Hosannah’ as the Cross processes into the nave and Great Hall.
These days will end. God willing, sooner rather than later.
For now, remember the essential lesson of Palm Sunday – the heart of the Gospel:
Christ died for YOU. He loves you. He knows you. He stands with you through this challenging time.
May the Lord bless you with good health and great faith through these difficult days.
Faithfully yours in Christ Jesus,
David+
