Dear LVHPC family,
As we enter the third week of this wilderness journey, I hope you are well. I trust God is giving you good and unexpected gifts during this time of social distancing and solitude. I am sure God is also using this time to nurture your hunger for community and togetherness.
The wilderness is a rich image within the scriptures. It is the place where the old and familiar have been left behind, and where what is to be is not yet known. It is a place of wildness, uncertainty, lack and loss. It is also a place of encounter, provision, and blessing. I have experienced all these aspects of wilderness the past few weeks. I imagine you have as well.
Session has been in regular conversation about the ministry of LVHPC during this unprecedented season. Through this time, you have been invited to three core practices: pray, prevent, and participate. These practices are intended to keep us connected to God while: 1) caring for those in our community who are most vulnerable (Galatians 6:2); 2) supporting public leaders and caregivers throughout our communities (Romans 13:1 & 10); 3) and, nurturing and supporting community as best we can during this time (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Within the Christian year, we are nearing the end of our Lenten journey. Our hearts and minds are turning toward Holy Week and the glory of the resurrection at Easter. At the same time, we all know nothing about this year is typical. As we look to Easter, we do so in a foreboding season. We do not know how long we will need to refrain from being together. We do know our reunion will not be soon. At this point, it is safe to say we will likely be separated until at least sometime in May. Session will update you at the end of each month.
What are we to make of this season? As we look toward Easter, I am inviting all of us to embrace this time of isolation and uncertainty as an extended journey in the wilderness.
This coming Sunday, April 5th, we will celebrate Palm Sunday during Church Online. The following week at Church Online we will begin our Easter celebration. I say begin, because our Easter celebration will consist of two parts this year. The first part will take place on April 12th and the second part will take place when we are together again.
On April 12th, part one of our Easter celebration will begin with The Great Vigil of Easter. While this service is typically held on Holy Saturday and aims to end at midnight, we will celebrate the liturgy as a sunrise service on Sunday morning.
If you are unfamiliar with The Great Vigil of Easter, the service has been called the “brightest jewel” of all Christian liturgies. Traditionally, it consists of four parts. First, the service of light, which gives thanks for the light of Christ shining in the darkness; second, the service of readings, which tells the story of God’s salvation through biblical history; third, the service of baptism, which gives thanks to God for our baptism and union with Christ; and, fourth, the service of the Lord’s Supper. We will celebrate the first three of these services. The fourth we will hold.
Following our Easter celebration on April 12th, we will begin a new sermon series – Entering the Wilderness. We’ll be exploring the wilderness in the scriptures, asking how God wants to shape us through this time. This series will last however long our wilderness journey of isolation lasts.
When this time comes to an end, whenever that may be, we will make plans to gather and to celebrate. Our celebration will include the service of the Lord’s Supper from The Great Vigil of Easter. In this way, our celebration when we are back together will culminate the fullness of our Easter journey together.
Session’s hope is that celebrating in this way invites you to see this entire wilderness journey within the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
My invitation to you, during this season, is to continue to pray, prevent, and practice. As you do so, embrace this time as a moment of opportunity. God is with us. God is at work. Even now, and maybe especially now, God has good gifts to give us through Jesus Christ our Lord.
To Him be all honor and glory, now and forever!
Pastor Jonathan
