A Blessing You Can’t Turn Back
My heart soared seeing so many faces yesterday. It was Maundy Thursday, and over 40 screens (filled with 70-100 people) gathered via zoom to remember Jesus’ last supper, share in communion from our many different rooms and tables, and receive a blessing. If you weren’t able to join, I want to share that blessing with you (at the very bottom of this email). I pray these words bless your soul as they have mine.
See you (digitally) Easter Sunday,
PS – We can still worship together, even if we can’t gather in person. Easter’s digital liturgy will premier on South Elkhorn’s Facebook page at 10:00 AM on Sunday–say “hi” to friends and family as you watch, worship, and celebrate. And Easter’s digital liturgy is filled with many South Elkhorn faces and voices–I can’t wait to share it with you soon. See the short teaser video here and below. I think it will make your heart smile.
PPS – Bring a canned good to donate at the Easter Parade. Rain or shine we will gather (in our cars safely and healthfully) to spread the joy and love of the risen Christ! Learn more, sign up, and prepare to celebrate by clicking here.
Worship each week with a digital liturgy: pause, pray, sing, reflect, and reconnect.
Digital liturgy is posted each weekend to South Elkhorn’s website and premiers on South Elkhorn’s Facebook page at 10:00AM on Sunday. You can also subscribe to the YouTube account where the videos go live.
A BLESSING
Gathered with his friends in the upper room on the night before his crucifixion, Jesus did something unexpected…
Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet.
—John 13.5
Blessing You Cannot Turn Back
For Holy Thursday
As if you could
stop this blessing
from washing
over you.
As if you could
turn it back,
could return it
from your body
to the bowl,
from the bowl
to the pitcher,
from the pitcher
to the hand
that set this blessing
on its way.
As if you could
change the course
by which this blessing
flows.
As if you could
control how it
pours over you—
unbidden,
unsought,
unasked,
yet startling
in the way
it matches the need
you did not know
you had.
As if you could
become undrenched.
As if you could
resist gathering it up
in your two hands
and letting your body
follow the arc
this blessing makes.
—Jan Richardson
from Circle of Grace
© Jan Richardson. janrichardson.com.
Worship each week with a digital liturgy: pause, pray, sing, reflect, and reconnect.
Digital liturgy is posted each weekend to South Elkhorn’s website and premiers on South Elkhorn’s Facebook page at 10:00AM on Sunday. You can also subscribe to the YouTube account where the videos go live.