Christ Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!

I am still savoring the lingering flavor of a marvelous Holy
Week here in St. Andrews. During the past week I saw,
heard, tasted, smelled, and touched the Gospel of the Death
and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ in ways that I
have rarely experienced before. It was a special week for
me, one that I will not soon forget.


Holy Week began at a Palm Sunday service at Holy Trinity,
my home church here in St. Andrews. It is a large Church
of Scotland parish church for the town. A large turnout pro-
cessed around the ancient church. As is my usual custom,
Monday through Friday I joined with two to five others for
the short Morning Prayer at the ancient University Chapel.
For Holy Week we prepared for Good Friday and Resurrec-
tion Sunday by reading from John 18-19. On Wednesday
there was Evensong and on Thursday evening, Compline.
These activities that I attend throughout the University
academic year helped me to prepare myself for Good Fri-
day and Resurrection Sunday.


Starting Thursday, I attended five services at a very liturgi-
cal Scottish Episcopal Church in town. Each service was a dra-
matic reading of Scripture that focused on one event in the
last few days of Christ's life. It was a very moving time for
me when I was able to focus on the passion, death, and Res-
urrection of Jesus Christ. For Maundy Thursday there was
a Solemn Eucharist of the Lord's Supper and a moving Strip-
ping of the Altar. Early on Good Friday there was a short
service when we meditated on the Stations of the Cross. Our
salvation, lives, and resurrections were seen in the light of
the Cross of Christ.


A highlight for me was the evening service of the Good Friday
Solemn Liturgy of the Lord's Passion. The central theme of the
service was the events leading up to Christ's crucifixion as por-
trayed in John's Gospel. We ended the service by taking part
in the Lord's Supper. Saturday morning I attended a short
service that reflected on Christ's crucified body being laid in
the tomb, awaiting the Resurrection on the third day. The
highpoint for me was the late Saturday night Solemn Euchar-
ist of the Easter Vigil. It began with a service of light of a can-
dle that was brought into the darkened sanctuary and used
to light the candles of the congregation. Then we listened to
Scripture readings about God's great acts of creation and re-
demption. This was followed by a personally meaningful re-
newal of our baptismal vows. The service ended early Eas-
ter morning with the celebration of the Lord's Supper.


I did not get to bed until around 2am on Sunday morning.
I had planned to get up early for a very moving Sunrise ser-
vice put on by the area churches that I have attended in
Easters past. But when my alarm clock went off, I decided
not to go. I felt content to continue to rest in what God had
done through the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. I
did get up in time to attend a wonderful Easter service at
Holy Trinity. An Easter lunch with a good friend, a long nap,
and time to read and journal concluded a special Holy Week
that culminated in a glorious Resurection Sunday.


Easter Blessings to you and yours,