HELLO!

A lot is going on at Woodlawn this week. The central story of Christians is Holy Week. There is no Christianity without resurrection. And speaking of Easter faith, we celebrate two lives over the next week. On Palm Sunday March 29^th at 2 pm we re-member Eileen Eisener. On Maundy Thursday April 2^nd at 2 pm we re-member Bob Watt. I hope you can be there for both celebrations of life. Please keep these families in your prayers.

Eileen’s obituary: https://personalcarecremations.ca/memorial/v-eileen-eisener/

Bob’s obituary: https://www.arbormemorial.ca/en/atlantic-dartmouth/obituaries/james-robert-bob-watt/158056.html

Our Lenten Faith Study, based on the book, The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem (John Dominic Crossan & Marcus Borg) ends with a session Wednesday April 1^st at 11 am in the Sams Room. There is no expectation you have read the book. I summarize it and encourage comments and questions. All are welcome.

Holy Week services involving Woodlawn United Church

Holy Week service, Tuesday March 31^st at 2 pm Glasgow Hall, 76 Baker Dr.

Maundy Thursday service, April 2^nd, downstairs in the Brick Hall at 7 pm, with Communion, sermon, reflections on deep friendship-solidarity from the Gunter and Torishnia families, and music from the Torishnia children.

Good Friday service, April 3^rd at St. Luke’s Anglican Church at 130 pm, including reflections on the Cross from five local clergy and mass choir.

Easter Sunrise service, April 5^th at the Woodlawn cemetery (next to the church), 730 am (Outdoors, please dress for the weather).

Easter service, April 5^th at 10 am, in the sanctuary with Holy Communion.

Easter service April 5^th at 230 pm, at Oakwood Terrace, 10 Mt Hope Ave.

If you were alive 2000 years ago, living in Jerusalem, you would be faced with a choice. You could watch the triumphal entry of the Roman governor. At Passover Jews celebrated their deliverance from an oppressive foreign power – the Romans most certainly wanted to make sure Jews got no such ideas about the Romans. Pilate entered Jerusalem to ensure the people got the message. He came from the west, with a display of Roman power. A display of imperial power. Pilate came in the name of the emperor who expected his subjects to worship him as God.

From the east came another procession, not on a horse accompanied by armoured soldiers. Jesus rode on a donkey, the people rejoicing with common palm branches. His courageous love proved he was their saviour.

Recently I read this story. A grandfather is talking with his grandson. The grandfather says, “In life, there are two wolves inside of us which are always at battle. One is a wolf which represents things like kindness, bravery, and love. The other is a wolf which represents things like greed, hatred, and fear”. The grandson stops, and thinks about it, then he looks up at his grandfather and says, “Grandfather, which one wins?” The grandfather replies, “The one you feed”. Which one do we feed?

Feeding each other with love, love that demands choices. Peace, Kevin