Holy (Spring Break) Week

Last week was spring break for all of the schools around here. It was really nice that it coincided with Holy Week, since we always have extra things to do then. I was glad that I didn't have to deal with my normal teaching schedule along with everything else!

On Palm Sunday, our choir presented Part II of Handel's "Messiah," which meant that we had a Saturday morning rehearsal. The concert was given on Sunday evening, and it went very well. Robyn and I also played the offertory in both services that morning with a flutist and our organist. Our church has noontime services every day of Holy Week, and since Ben isn't working right now, he was finally able to attend them. We went together on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; Robyn even came on Wednesday since our handbell choir was playing for the service. We made a second trip to church for handbells and choir practice Wednesday evening. I did actually have a couple of lessons to teach on Thursday, so Ben went alone to the noon service.

One of the best worship services that we attend all year is the Service of Shadows on Maundy Thursday evening. As the events surrounding the crucifixion are recalled in music and scriptures, the lights in the chapel are gradually extinguished, leaving us in darkness at the end of the service as a chime sounds 33 times, one for each year of Christ's earthly life. It is a powerful reminder of the darkness and evil that threatened to overcome the world. It's hard to imagine how disheartened and hopeless all of Christ's followers must have been, seeing Him suffer so. Praise God for the HOPE that arose on resurrection day!

We sang in both services on Easter Sunday morning, and the handbells played both prelude and offertory for both services. Instead of trying to fix a special meal for Easter, we followed our normal Sunday evening routine and took the kids out to dinner.

From time to time I'm hired as an oboist to play for another church's special music. Last Tuesday I got called for a last-minute job, playing an Easter cantata at a Methodist church in League City. Doing jobs like these very frequently reminds me of how blessed we are with a high quality music program at South Main. We tend to take it for granted that we have singers in all sections of the choir who are solid musicians who can read music, hear pitch, and sing with blending voices (alas, there are a few who don't meet all those criteria, but plenty who do!). Many choirs are not so lucky! So what if it's 23 miles one way....South Main is definitely the place where we are at home in so many ways; we are thankful to have a family of believers with whom we enjoy "doing church."

By the way, you can view any of South Main's services on our website by clicking on the "South Main TV" graphic and selecting the service of choice.

Now for our next adventure---tomorrow morning we leave for Salt Lake City. We plan to visit with Ellen and do some spring skiing at several different places near there. We'll get home next Monday, and then I might have some new pictures to post!