“To sacrifice something is to make it holy by giving it away for love.”
– Frederick Buechner
Dear Caldwell,
Today is called Maundy (Latin for ‘mandate’) Thursday, when we remember the mandate, or command, Jesus gave his disciples at the Last Supper: to love with humility by serving one another and to remember his sacrifice. Christians worldwide mark this day by sharing communion and other acts. Today, Pope Francis washed the feet of 12 prisoners to remember Christ’s washing the disciples’ feet.
Tonight’s 7:30 service is often considered one of the most moving we offer. It is appropriately solemn, an opportunity to consider how we – individually or as a society – abandon, deny and crucify Christ in our own ways, almost daily. We will take communion, hear the Passion narrative and consider what it means to have the heart of Christ.
After the service, we immediately begin our 24-hour prayer vigil. Special prayer stations have been arranged to allow for variation in our prayer. It promises to be a special time.
One of the things we can put on our prayer list is that we now know that Tom Bohr’s heart surgery will be this coming Monday. He continues to rest and build his strength at CMC Pineville.
See you soon.
In Christ,
John