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Reflections on Lent, Holy Week, and Easter

On Ash Wednesday we enter the six weeks of Lent, leading us to Holy Week and its attendant journey through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. In our country and culture we find ourselves in a time of great division, competing values, and strident, argumentative discourse. In the face of all of this, in my own Lenten discipline this year, I have felt called to use the prayer: “Holy One, give me the strength, courage, and wisdom not to add to the polarization before me and within me.”

Rev. Don Wells reflects on immigration issues in the US, writing "Will we stand firm and protect the innocent?"

Two things converged for me during these past couple of weeks that shed fresh light on the difficult place we find ourselves in as we begin a new year. The first was my rediscovery of a poem by the late Arnold Kenseth, poet, author, pastor and friend, entitled ‘Flight Into Egypt’ (from The Ritual Year, 1993). While still in the Epiphany Season when we remember the star and the journey of the Magi to that rude shed, Kenseth’s poem moves the Jesus story ahead to the flight into Egypt where the Holy Family hoped to find refuge from the wrath of King Herod.

Dear Old South Church in Boston,

On the eve of our national day of Thanksgiving, I have much for which to give God thanks.

Among these, I am thankful for an Old South Church member named Thankful Fish. Thankful joined this church on July 9, 1727. Thank you, Thankful.

Old Souther Emma Brewer-Wallin participated in a civil disobedience action to call on Gov. Charlie Baker to take action on climate change.

To my beloved friends, family, Church:

Yesterday I broke the law: I was charged with trespassing and unlawful assembly.

Perhaps you are like me in sometimes finding it hard to ‘give thanks’ in a time when so many live in fear and uncertainty in this current political nightmare in which we find ourselves. I’m afraid it will only get worse in the next couple of years. Frustration, despair, and anger are often the themes of our days.

Last Sunday, a man entered the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas and opened fire on worshippers. 26 died. Over 20 are injured, ten of whom remain in critical condition. The building itself was so badly damaged by the barrage of gunfire from a semi-automatic weapon that it may be beyond repair. God help us all.

On September 24, a gunman entered Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, Tennessee and opened fire upon worshippers. He killed one and injured seven. God help us for the grizzly business of needing to count in this way.

Read our letter regarding the impact of shadows from the Back Bay/South End Gateway Project on the community.

Published in the United Church of Christ devotional booklet 'Rise Up: Spirituality for Resistance' (June 2017).

"They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail." Acts 5:18

It was Children’s Sabbath and young Ady was giving the Words of Welcome. Finally, she announced, “Oh, and this week our pastor, Rev. John, was arrested.” The church erupted into cheers and applause.