Rector's Ramblings

By The Rev. Jim Stewart

     We have just finished the Palm Sunday through Easter week.  This is a season filled with many services and I hope all were able to take in a few extra services throughout the week.  I found each service to be unique and full of meaning.  We started with Palm Sunday a time in which Jesus made his journey into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey with all shouting and waving branches while laying their outer garments on the ground for Him to enter.  We read the passion and leave in silence.

     The week then moved on to two wonderful Stations of the Cross services.  The first was to remember Jesus’s journey while also remembering the journey we have had in Wyoming towards injustice towards others of different nationalities as well as woman’s rights.  The second was our traditional stations led by Carolyn Gentzler with all participating in the service helping to remember our journey so long ago.

    Maundy Thursday was one of those services that we remember the Last supper sharing the traditional foods of that time and celebrating the Eucharist as Jesus has taught us to do.  Then came the stripping of the Altar and the reading of Psalm 22 as the cross was draped in a black shroud.  We strip the Altar to remember that Jesus was stripped of His worldly possessions by the Roman Soldiers beat, spit on and humiliated for our sake so we strip all our possessions around the Altar to remember what He went through for us.  Finally, I was taught by a few priests in the past about washing the Altar.  This is not a traditional Episcopal function but one that I think also brings the meaning of what we are doing.  The Altar has always been regarded as the place where man comes together to be with God.  Jesus died on the cross for our sins so that we can be able to be in the presence of God.  I take some of the blood from the Eucharist to the Altar and have all gather around putting their hands on the Altar as I wash it with the Blood of Christ.  It is through His sacrifice that we can even be in the presence of God remembering what He has done for us.  Our building is unique in that our cross is directly above the Altar.  It is a reminder to me that the blood fell from the cross giving us a path to God.  We then leave in Silence. 

    Good Friday was a wonderful experience for us this year as a number of churches came together to worship on Good Friday.  I had a number of Pastor’s, Ministers and Priest’s take part in the service this year as we nailed our sins to the cross while others left a nail acknowledging their sins to God.  A cross was brought in and laid at the altar.  The passion was read and we left in silence once again.

    The final two services were the Easter services.  Easter Vigil was on Saturday night bringing the light of Christ into the church and remembering Jesus as our light.  Easter Sunday was amazing as we flowered the cross remembering the death on Good Friday and seeing where that cross has led us today.  To the open tomb and the life of Jesus Christ as well as our own lives.

     Sometimes the journey is long but well worth the lessons we learn along the way.  I hope all had a wonderful Easter and continue to learn along the way.  We have been blessed in many ways.