[Note: The following message from Bob Prim outlines the church’s schedule for Holy Week.]
Peace and grace to you all. I hope this email note finds you — and finds you doing well. Please continue to be vigilant in your “physical distancing” and your hand washing!
Outlined below is our Holy Week schedule of video recordings.
Maundy Thursday is April 9. A recorded service will be posted on the church’s YouTube Channel on Wednesday or Thursday and a link will be sent by email. We usually have a Eucharistic service in Fellowship Hall after a simple supper of lentil soup and bread shared in quietness. We will record the full service, but you are invited to carry it out in your home. I will begin with a prayer for our meal and then I will begin the service and invite your participation in prayers, a hymn, and in sharing the bread and wine. This means we will share the Lord’s Supper in our homes. If possible, I hope we can all be sitting down for the meal at 6:00 pm and then moving through the service at the same time (roughly). You will need to plan your own meal and have bread and wine (or juice) to share when the time comes to share the elements. You can say to yourself or to the members of your family “the Bread of Life” and then “the Cup of Salvation.” The response is “Amen.” Barbara Luhn and Cheri Crutchfield Luhn will provide the music for this service.
Good Friday is April 10. A recorded service will be posted on Thursday or Friday and a link sent by email. This will be a more traditional service with an order you will recognize. It includes a full reading of the passion narrative of Jesus as told by Matthew. Special music in this service will provided by Barbara Luhn, Bess Prim and Anja Racic, Becky Portwood, Sylvia Price, and Clarissa Evans.
Easter Sunday is April 12. A recorded service will be posted and a link sent on Saturday night. As with the Maundy Thursday service we will celebrate the Eucharist. I invite you to gather as family with bread and wine (or juice) and share the Lord’s Supper with our community across the distance of our various places of residence. The words to say when sharing the bread are “The Bread of Life” and “The Cup of Salvation.” The response is “Amen.” There will be lots of special music included in this celebration!
Many thanks to Barbara Luhn, Music Director at NPC, and the various musicians who are sharing their gifts with us for worship during this time apart. Also, thank you to Becky Portwood and Linda Harding who have so beautifully fashioned the videos for our worship!
The Session has decided that public worship and all public gatherings at our church will be suspended through May 24. If things wonderfully change before that time, we will alter our plans, but this seems the most prudent path at this time.
Stay well. Keep the faith.
Peace,
Bob