In this culmination of Lent, we enter into Holy Week and we begin with Palm Sunday. For us and many sister congregations, we will celebrate with joy and process into our sanctuary as a way to remember the parade of acclaim that accompanied Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Yet, we also cannot forget (and neither could Jesus) that He was coming into this city one last time in His life. He was about to experience the worst that humanity could do. Many churches also see this day as Passion Sunday; as the first footsteps on the harrowing journey to the cross. As we follow the Narrative Lectionary’s prescribed journey through scripture, Jesus’ trial is finished in John 19. He has been handed over to be crucified, and the inscription on His cross reads “King of the Jews”. Judea’s ruler Pilate has ordered that to be so, much to the chagrin of the religious leaders who consider this blasphemy. Yet we believe it to be true. How does the horror of the cross show who Jesus really is? How do our own struggles and suffering show who we really are? Don’t skip ahead too quickly to Easter. There is something for us right here in this hard and Holy Week.

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This morning’s worship is the last Sunday of Lent before what we call Holy Week. As we journey through the Gospel of John, we have really slowed our pace. It is uncomfortable and even excruciating at times to linger on all these details of Jesus’ journey to the cross, but we believe that in His struggles, we find guidance and solidarity for our own. So as Jesus continues to stand trial this morning before Pilate, perhaps we can ask what we do when we feel put on trial; put to the test; questioned about the core of who we claim to be? Is our response fight or flight or something else entirely? What might it look like to truly surrender to God in these struggles?

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This is the first Sunday of the new year, and also the Sunday where we observe Epiphany, remembering all the ways that God’s Light breaks into our lives and helps us see new ways forward. This Sunday, we explore the ways that Jesus’ disciples were inspired to follow Him in the Gospel of John.

We also partake in our annual tradition of receiving our Star Words–one that we share with many other churches where we pray over this stack of random words; words and ideas like “freedom”, “joy”, “wisdom” and “creativity” that we pray for and then pick at random to have with us for 2022. They give each of us something to hang onto and return to all throughout whatever may come this year. These are words that can anchor our prayer life and guide us like the star guided those wise men on that very first Christmas. This year there is only one copy of each of these many words, so we pray that God will allow you to pick exactly what you need in the year to come!

NOTE: This is also Pastor Jessie’s last Sunday with COA before beginning maternity leave. 

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This first Sunday of Christmas (remember Christmas is a season of 12 days until Epiphany!), we continue to dive into the Gospel of John. We will be lingering on this Gospel as a way to get to know Jesus better all the way through Easter. Today, we come upon the call of John the Baptist to repent and to make the path straight for Jesus to come. What does this mean in real life? Is this just a jarring, negative message interrupting our holiday fun? Or is there opportunity here, especially with a new year right around the corner? Let’s think together about what John’s words might mean for us in this important transition time.

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This Christmas, we think together about a story that does not show up in our traditional pageants; a story with no shepherds or wise men or angels; the story of Jesus in the Beginning as told by the Gospel of John. What does it mean for us that the “Word became flesh”? This service also includes the traditional lessons and carols treasured by our church community. All are welcome to watch or join us on a future Sunday!

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