Episode 321: Lenten Practices, Part Six--Holy Week

Throughout the season of Lent, many Christians take on new practices or return to annual disciplines to refocus our faith and discipleship.  Over the course of these weeks, pastors Sarah, Steve, and Erica have explored some of those traditional practices, ranging from fasting to prayer to almsgiving and other sorts of variations on them.  But as Lent turns to Holy Week, a different kind of ancient practice comes to the center of our attention: we retell, and even rehearse, stories.  The observances of Holy Week, from the procession with palms to the washing of feet to the growing darkness of Good Friday, and beyond, all are part of the ancient rhythms of the church's time-keeping.  And in a sense, they are also faith practices--or rather they are all part of being "re-storied" each year with the central events and meaning of Jesus' cross and resurrection.  And instead of "doing" more--like fasting, praying more, or giving more--this re-storying is something we let happen to us, to be reshaped again in the cruciform love of Jesus.  In the coming days, we'll have the chance to gather with others in the Christian community to mark the events of Jesus' last days and the hope of resurrection, and in this episode we'll unpack a little of what happens at each of those moments.