HELLO!

Holy Saturday, an invitation to the beautiful mystery of waiting. While we wait, I offer two services. First, the Celebration of Life for Bob Watt: https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZfvct5Z3nRfsAc6GgVOOex8I3uQdyHJKGG7 And the local ecumenical Good Friday service with six reflections on the cross: https://youtube.com/live/lB6sl3MTnnw

On Easter Sunday I hope to see you at one or more of three services. The first, an Easter Sunrise service in the Woodlawn Cemetery at 730 am. The text, Matthew 28:1-10 reveal the women experiencing earth’s shaking. To them, the angel looks like lightning — a sizzling power, fraught with danger. Pivotal words like “suddenly” or “behold” or “look here” cannot convey the untranslatable truth in this sequence of events, light has split a crack in the universe and everything we thought we knew is changed. We cannot meet Jesus without being shaken. The angel says the risen one “is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” Following this 30 minute gathering Kaitlin and Martha offer hospitality in the Brick Hall.

And at 10 am we gather for an Easter service of sacred music and Communion. My sermon will focus on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). Recently I came across a lengthy documentary on Caravaggio’s painting of this sacred story. Caravaggio’s (Italian artist from the early 1600’s) Jesus doesn’t look like a conventional Jesus – he is young and androgynous or even feminine. This is how Caravaggio has interpreted the fact that the disciples didn’t recognize Jesus. Caravaggio created a space between the two disciples which enables the viewer to see and relate to Jesus directly rather than via the disciples and allows the viewer to participate in the symbolic meal. As the disciples recognize their table companion as the risen Christ, they pass from darkness into light.

In Luke’s Gospel Jesus travels incognito. Let us turn to the response of the two disciples. The one on the right flings out his arms in astonishment. His profile is lit by the same supernatural light. It highlights his rough features. He is not looking directly at Jesus’ face. Rather, the focus of his attention seems to be the hand of Jesus’ blessing. The disciple on the left and in the foreground is as taken aback as the first. He expresses his astonishment by grabbing the arms of his chair and pushing himself away from the table. You can almost hear the scraping of the chair as it is forcibly pushed backwards into our space. His face, also in profile, is agape with wonder as he too looks at Jesus’ hand. Both men’s foreheads shoot upwards as their eyes look in incredulity. How has Jesus been present to you in the ordinary events of your life? How aware were you of those moments? How have you responded? One participant in this scene seems to be unaware of the immensity of the moment. His presence reminds us that at moments like these we too are not fully involved, mildly curious but uncertain in our response. Jesus holds all the tensions of light and dark together in his serene presence.

At 230 pm we offer residents, volunteers and staff at Oakwood Terrance (10 Mt Hope Avenue) an Easter service. I am hopeful my voice holds up.

Peace, Kevin

PS As many of you know our dinner theatre musical “Lost in the 50’s” has been sold out for months (April 17 &18). Recently we have decided to offer another show, Wednesday April 15 at 6:30 pm, this one without a full meal, instead a dessert of cheesecake, the price lower at $15. These tickets are selling fast. If you want to go call the office at 902-434-8302, Tuesday-Friday, 9 am – 4 pm. The songs/dances are coming along very well. I am “the weakest link” in song/dance, but I try to make up for it being the loudest cast member, the only one not mic’d for the evening.