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Welcome to St. Catherine's!As I write to you on the cusp of Holy Week, I am about to work with four readers to present the Passion Gospel in church this coming Sunday. It is the Christian tradition to begin the observance of Holy Week with both the Palm Gospel at the beginning of the service, when we remember Jesus’s entry to Jerusalem, apparently to huge popular support and enthusiasm. Then, we hear how the story of that last week unfolds in a reading of the Passion narrative from one of the synoptic Gospels. This telling of the story at the beginning of the week sets a tone for the whole week as we continue to walk through the story, specifically on Maundy Thursday when we remember Jesus’s last meal with the disciples, and then on Good Friday when we hear again an account of his betrayal, arrest, condemnation, and execution—this time from the Gospel of John. As we hear these accounts, which many of us have heard many times before in the many Holy Weeks of our lives, we are invited to revisit what this story means for us. It is easy to comfort ourselves with the joys of springtime and new life, easter bunnies, chocolate eggs, and daffodils. Spring is in the air, and when the rain stops, it is re-energizing to take a deep breath and smell the air! Here comes the summer! Resurrection is in the air! Breathe it in! But there is the other side to it, the darker side. The betrayal, the injustice of it all, the cruelty, the suffering, the death, life cut short. Sadly, these are still with us, and the world is going through a particularly dark and perilous time right now. You don’t need me to tell you that. It strikes me that the story of Holy Week – the week of “The Passion” (passion=suffering) – is like a mirror to the world. We hold up this story, we retell it, and it is like saying, “Look, this is who we are; this is the way the world is; how are we to respond?” Where do we find ourselves in the Holy Week story? How am I going to grow through re-experiencing this story? Where does this story of human betrayal, injustice, cruelty, and suffering land with me? And how do I find my way through to the other side, to resurrection and new life? Of course, I don’t have answers to these questions, not even for myself, as we haven’t yet begun to walk through this experience. That begins in two days’ time with Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday. But the invitation is there to ask ourselves these questions and walk through the experience, seeking to discern how we might respond, once more. I look forward to sharing this time with you and seeing you at the various services (details below). Blessings+ to you all for Holy Week, Angus
This Sunday, April 13th, 2025 Here is the link to the downloadable bulletin: Presider and Preacher: Rev. Angus Stuart
To access the livestream, click on the button below.
Previous livestreamed services and sermon notes can be found on the website here.
Image: Bennilover(Creative Commons)
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Easter Flowers - Reminder
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Holy Week & Easter 2025Holy Week is special because it captures Jesus's transformational ministry, death, and resurrection. This week profoundly impacts our lives as it marks the fulfillment of Jesus’s mission and eternal life being given to us. Scripture enables us to experience these moments, witness Christ’s love, and deepen our connection with God. You don’t have to journey alone. Let us at St. Catherine’s join you on your faith journey, together we can celebrate this transformative time and support one another. We hope this schedule helps you plan to observe these important days, in community with St. Catherine’s. Services are offered in-person and via livestream. Services marked with a * will be offered in-person only.
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