Passion Sunday - Rector's Rambling for April 2, 2017

As you may have noticed, the crosses on the altars and around the church are now veiled.  Although most Episcopal churches follow the modern Roman Catholic form for veiling the crosses on all the Sundays of Lent, we keep to the old tradition of doing so from Passion Sunday onwards.  Dr. Taylor Marshall, a former Episcopal priest, writes on his blog Canterbury Tales, “In the old days, Passion Sunday (5th Sunday) ‘ramped up’ the Lenten season.  Passion Sunday (also called Judica Sunday from the opening Introit) is the traditional day for veiling the crucifixes and statues in the churches.  The practice allegedly derives from Bavaria (though I’d love for someone more knowledgeable to shed light on the origin of this custom).  The crosses and images remain veiled and add to the dramatic effect of the Paschal Vigil when they are unveiled for the glory and wonder of our Lord’s resurrection.  The famous medieval triptychs that opened and closed were constructed for the purpose of closing them for this season.”

In today’s Chronicle you will find several copies of an invitation to our Holy Week services, which begin next Sunday with Palm Sunday.  Write the dates on your calendar and plan on attending as many of them as you can!  Your attendance will be good for you, and an encouragement to the others who attend as well, especially guests.

      And once you have written down the dates, share the invite with a friend or neighbor.  Offer them a ride to church with you, and pray they find a home here