THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 13, 1995 TAG: 9504120158
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DR. ROGER JACKLE
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
FOR CHRISTIANS, EASTER is the most important time of the religious year. It defines the core meaning of our faith - the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
However, the full meaning of this stupendous event is missed if there is a rush toward Easter Sunday. The week before Easter is vitally important if the Resurrection is to be appreciated and best understood.
The Resurrection can only be appreciated if seen in the shadow of the cross. Thus, emphasis must be placed on the whole week, starting with Palm Sunday.
Palm Sunday recalls the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. There, Jesus was greeted by a jubilant crowd whose shouts of ``Hosanna!'' filled the air. But Jesus came to Jerusalem, not to receive accolades, but to die.
He knew this. It was a cause of grief to him, but no surprise, when their shouts of ``Hosanna!'' turned to scowls of ``Crucify him!'' four days later. Thus, the Sunday before Easter is designated Palm/Passion Sunday and introduces the passion (suffering) that is to come.
Many churches hold services every weekday night during Holy Week. Others hold them Thursday, Friday and Saturday, to bear remembrance to Christ's suffering and death.
Maundy Thursday remembers the night of Jesus' arrest. It was then that Jesus observed the first night of the Jewish Passover with his 12 closest disciples and instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion (since called ``the Last Supper''). Some churches observe a contemporary form of this Passover meal, called ``Seder,'' which is usually followed by Holy Communion. This is done not only in remembrance of the Last Supper, but also in remembrance of our Jewish heritage, which also was Jesus' heritage.
Friday, referred to as Good Friday, is the most somber day of the year as it was the day Jesus was crucified. Catholics, and some Protestants, do the 14 Stations of the Cross, that visually symbolize this solemn day with a Tenebrae service. As psalms are read, prayers and hymns offered, the sanctuary becomes progressively darker, in sympathy with the darkness of Jesus' death.
Saturday offers another tradition, the Easter Vigil. It begins Saturday night. Since it is after sundown, this is the first service of Easter Sunday, as the Jewish day began with sundown. The Easter Vigil traditionally is conducted with one candle, representing Christ as the Light of the world. After extensive scripture readings, it is appropriate for baptism and the renewal of baptismal vows to be performed, and then Holy Communion.
Most common of all is worship on Easter morning. Many churches, often in conjunction with other churches, hold an outdoors sunrise service, especially with the congregation facing east. The metaphor is to greet the Risen Son by greeting the rising sun.
Easter can be more than just the most important time of the religious year for the Christian. Easter can be the richest and most moving time when Holy Week is allowed to offer its full range of emotions from grief over the price Jesus paid on the Cross to the joy and new hope offered by his Resurrection.
You are invited to discover this for yourself by attending such services in your own church or another church within the community.
Jackle will lead his church and Faith Lutheran Church in a Maundy Thursday Seder Meal at 7:30 tonight at St. Andrew, 1885 Bridge Road. A joint Good Friday Service will be held at Faith Lutheran, 2730 Bridge Road.
On Easter morning, Jackle will lead a sunrise service at 6:30 at the Bennett's Creek Landing Clubhouse. A Resurrection Celebration will be held at St. Andrew at 11 a.m. MEMO: Dr. Roger Jackle is pastor of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
The Rev. Roger Jackle breaks matzo for the Maundy Thursday
Communion Service at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church.
Staff photo by JIM WALKER
Youthful marchers carry palm branches down Main Street on Palm
Sunday. Congregations from several Suffolk churches joined together
for the processional.
by CNB