On Maundy Thursday, the Altar Guild ladies participated in the stripping of the altar. Sorry about Paul's head in this shot, but behind him is Ethel receiving the stole from Pastor as Bonnie and Donna remove the candles and paten. Terri, Ethel's lovely daughter, is in front of Donna, folding the communion cloths to lay them across Ethel's arms. It is quite moving to watch, and to be a part of. As they progress, the lights are dimmed. Betty, one of our newer members, remarked yesterday that this was the first time she ever attended a Maundy Thursday service and was totally blown away by what she saw and heard. Could barely get through the hymns, she said....
Mike C. leading the service on Good Friday. Note the black paraments, altar clothes, drape on the 'old wooden cross' as well as the crown of thorns over the top of the cross. There are seven candles on the table in the foreground, which were extinguished one by one as the service progressed. The Christ candle remained lit, was carried out, and then replaced at the end of the service in the darkened sanctuary. It was a highly evocative service...
It is such a beautiful morning today! Some fishermen pulling in their nets, reminding me of the Bible story when Jesus appeared once more to the disciples after His resurrection...I don't think these men caught 153 fish, though...
Marky came to Easter breakfast and I got him to pose with his grandma, Twila. The Lord works in mysterious ways, as Mark is fairly regular now in attendance for worship
Before the choir rehearsed for the Festival Service, I was able to snap a few photos of the now resplendent chancel, redressed after the stark, black backdrop of Good Friday
He is risen! He is risen indeed! Christos anesti!
Maggie O. and her daughter, Marissa, joined us for sunrise worship and even had time to stay for breakfast. After eating, they were heading to their own church for Bible study and more Easter worship. We have made tentative plans to watch "Waiting for Superman" on Saturday, as both are in the teaching profession. Marissa has decided, though, to pursue the law for her career when this school year is out. Good for her!
The Easter cross, fashioned from the trunk of a Christmas tree, sporting fresh cut flowers for the celebration of the resurrection!
Ron, Sarah, and Josh at the dining room table. Sarah is looking up a word in her Spanish to English translator to come up with the correct description of a certain restaurant, themed around various meats. Apparently English has no such word...It's a restaurant at the Beaches, though, that sounds quite delicious to me! Ron and Sarah are a couple, and Josh is a classmate of Sarah's (therefore defaults as friend to all), both of them studying to be doctors!
Justin and Jesse trying to help Sarah figure out the correct word for this type of restaurant. I guess that is why so many places have foreign-sounding names---English simply does not have a word for it!
On Maundy Thursday, the Altar Guild ladies participated in the stripping of the altar. Sorry about Paul's head in this shot, but behind him is Ethel receiving the stole from Pastor as Bonnie and Donna remove the candles and paten. Terri, Ethel's lovely daughter, is in front of Donna, folding the communion cloths to lay them across Ethel's arms. It is quite moving to watch, and to be a part of. As they progress, the lights are dimmed. Betty, one of our newer members, remarked yesterday that this was the first time she ever attended a Maundy Thursday service and was totally blown away by what she saw and heard. Could barely get through the hymns, she said....
Mike C. leading the service on Good Friday. Note the black paraments, altar clothes, drape on the 'old wooden cross' as well as the crown of thorns over the top of the cross. There are seven candles on the table in the foreground, which were extinguished one by one as the service progressed. The Christ candle remained lit, was carried out, and then replaced at the end of the service in the darkened sanctuary. It was a highly evocative service...
