3/29
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| Sabrina, Stephen, Jamie, Brandon, Camille and Pastor Brashear |
The winter seems to be
passing. At last. Palms cover the steps of West-Park. (And in the sharing of
palms we share the commemoration of Christ’s passion with our friends from
Advent Lutheran and their pastor Elise.) People who look like they’ve wandered
in from a mid-European shtetl or even the Warsaw ghetto are on the steps, saying
shalom, passing out palms to those who enter, those who pass by.
Inside, once again, our
friends from Theatre Dzieci will lead us through an experience of Matthew’s
Passion in what has become an annual tradition. As the scroll is unwrapped and
the strains of hinay ma tov umanayim begin to unfold, it has the feel of a
story passed on within a community. A story of and in community. We are
reminded of course that the story began as a Jewish story, but through the lens
of the particular we view the universal. Thus the Yeshua character is not only a community member remembered and
loved but a universal figure of
redemptive (we hope) suffering. The feeling that this story has been told over and over
again affirms a sense of redemption without being explicit.
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| The Passion |
On a deeper level, the
shifting of characters is a classic expression of reformed theology. We are all
the maschiach. And we are all the betrayer Judas. The impulsive and cowardly
Peter. The empire collaborating religious establishment and the closest of
friends. As in any good parable, we are all
the characters. Who can live through the most profound losses and still go on,
even with an undetermined future. The gathered community exits the sanctuary
with an affirming sense of hope. The sanctuary is hushed and silent.
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| Theatre Dzieci |
But this Palm/Passion
Sunday is different. For there is something to celebrate as well. The baptism
of Brandon Manuel Ayala, son of Jamie
and Camille Padilla Ayala. Grandson of Luis and Alma. This is our first baptism in three years and
this marks five generations of this family in our church. Luis was one of the
rocks who led our return from exile. Good to see him back.
Elder Samantha presents
Brandon for baptism. Deacon Stephen and Sabrina are the godparents. Jeremy
leads us into the ceremony with take me to the water. And later Baptized in water, to the tune of Morning has broken. The right questions
are asked. And answered. Dion and Deacon John hold the Occupy Font. I will bless the water and add in drops of the Jordan River water Pastor Alistair brought back to us from his Holy Land trip. Brandon
will screw up his brow and look at me quizzically as I touch his head with
water. The people applaud. We gather in a circle. Sing Amen. Which little
Xavier loves. And wish each other peace. It’s been a beautiful Sunday.
* * * *
The Koreans are coming in
soon. They had a big gathering Friday night.
This morning one of the counter guys at Greengrass said, What was happening Friday night? Saw lots of our people…
where's our rainbow flag and the denominational flag?
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