This is a fragile time to make an appearance at a church to which you've never been. Traditions vary from one Lutheran church to another. And unless you've been a part of services there in the past, it's hard to know where, how and when to jump into processions commemorating these celebrations. This becomes a clear demonstration of the kind of work that any church needs to do in order to welcome new people to embrace this holy time and consider participation in a worship community.
I am preparing to be the musician for services at my home congregation for Good Friday and Easter. It will be a strange time in many ways...because our church will not be there in its same form next year...because I rarely attend services there anymore...because the services do not resemble some of the deeply profound and moving services I've participated in as a pastor.
But it will be good. It will be good to offer worship and praise with music. It will be a sacrifice of time I do not have (so indeed a sacrifice) and it will provide me with the opportunity to prayerfully discuss with God, via music, my true purpose and calling - a constant search, it seems.
Today I am thankful for unexpected opportunities, times of musical prayer and Holy Week.
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