[Magdalen] Holy Week

[Judy Fleener]

We have traveled to places (churches we loved for the Triduum) after Bill
retired.  One of the stops was in Crossville with you.  We also visited
Chicago and New York.  This week I am finding solace at St. Thomas, Battle
Creek and Trinity Church Wall Street for online worship. Our parish had
Palm Sunday and Easter only this week.  The church is open for individual
prayer or stations.  I am yearning for more but I get it.  We have a new
very part time rector who is not a liturgist but is doing a great job and a
mostly older congregation.  I just can't imagine not having anything on
Maundy Thursday. I will be sitting at my computer with Trinity Church.
Judy

On Wed, Mar 31, 2021 at 9:44 PM Ann Markle <ann.markle at aya.yale.edu> wrote:

> I hope all are enjoying Holy Week, in whatever manner you're able. Our
> Bishop still has the churches closed, though I did hear that one colleague
> will be having a Great Vigil inside her church. She's vaccinated, what does
> she care? To be fair, I know nothing about her protocol; maybe only fully
> vaccinated people with the 2-week safety margin will be admitted.
>
> I am grieving. Last year was hard, but I think I was still in a bit of
> shock. This year I'm longing for the solemn drama of the liturgies. Most of
> you know that during my tenure in Tennessee, and my first two years here at
> Trinity, Lancaster, I offered services on Tuesday (Stations of the Cross),
> Wednesday (Tenebrae), Thursday (agape meal,  Eucharist around the dinner
> table, then procession into the nave and stripping of the altar), Good
> Friday Liturgy, and Great Vigil, in addition to Sunday services. A real
> marathon,  and it fed my soul, and I hope the souls in the parish, as well.
> This year was Palm Sunday (I blessed the palms in the parking lot, then
> went inside for the usual FM Eucharist broadcast), Good Friday, and one
> Easter Sunday FM service (unless the forecast changes and we can be fully
> outside).
>
> My heart is breaking a little,  differently than usual during Holy Week.
> But humility and obedience are the themes that are speaking to me from the
> scripture readings this week.
>
>
> Ann
> The Reverend Ann Markle
> Buffalo,  NY
> ann.markle at aya.yale.edu
>


-- 
Hope is a thing with feathers that perches in the soul.
Judy Fleener, ObJN
Western Michigan