Holy Week

I know that you have already noticed some changes in this weekly newsletter; we are having fun trying a new format in hopes of communicating the ministry of Woodville UMC in an increasingly attractive, vibrant and spirit-filled way. We will continue to work on it being done well and used as both a tool for ministry and a ministry itself. I hope you enjoy the color photographs here, we won’t have color every week because of cost but we will fairly often. We have also moved some things around and hope to prioritize our “front page” items as those articles that meet the most current needs and the back page items focusing on the long term and the reports we are now calling our “evidences of fruitfulness.” This includes our worship and Sunday school attendance, our giving and our budget figures.
Last Sunday was as moving a Palm Sunday experience as I have ever experienced in my ministry. Thank you to the choir, soloists, instrumentalists and all who offered their gifts to God. You’ll also see highlighted in this newsletter the wonderful confirmation students that committed their lives to Christ and the church on Sunday. I look forward with great anticipation as I know you do, for the worship services this week on Thursday and Friday and of course on Easter Sunday.
I want to share a little about a special portion of our Maundy Thursday service that is new. We will of course celebrate the last supper Jesus shared with his disciples and this year we will also emulate another act that occurred in those last days Jesus had with his disciples – a foot washing experience. After the last supper in the Gospel of John, chapter 13, Jesus turned and began washing the disciples’ feet. Peter protested and said, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus said, “you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Jesus’ response reminds us that all of us are called to be servants and share in the ministry of Jesus.
Our Emmaus group will lead us in a foot-washing service. All preparations are being made for there to be sterile cloths, hands and basins for that experience. It will be completely voluntary; you can observe and not participate. More will be said at the service about this but having participated in one before, I will tell you, it can be very powerful, after-all, Jesus did it and I am sure feet and hands were dirty then too. To allow your feet to be washed is a humbling experience and to wash someone else’s feet is also humbling. Again, your experience with Christ in this Holy Week/Lenten/Easter will be increased by the more you intentionally stay close to Christ.