Our church has special services this evening; Thursday, March 20th and also Friday the 21st.  The services are called "Tenebrae," Latin for "shadows" and are basically a passion play without the happy ending.  The service incorporates hymns, contemporary music, drama and reproductions of various scenes in Christ's life, from His birth to Good Friday.  You have to come back on Sunday morning to see the ending!  I really appreciate that we're doing it this way, because sometimes I feel that in our non-liturgical churches, we've thrown out the baby with the bathwater in terms of the Christian year.  While we're happy to have fun and be glad in the Lord on every holiday, sometimes I think we take the "Every Sunday should be Resurrection Sunday!" thing too far.  In my own life, I know that there have been years when I feel I really experience Good Friday and Easter, usually during years I'm part of a dramatic or music celebration of them, or am in a deep Bible study of the life of Christ.  But that's not most people's experience, and so I imagine most sortof go through these spring holidays the way I more usually do--remembering that Christ died and rose again and glad of it, but sortof feeling as if the holiday has passed me by.

I'm so glad this year is different for me!  I have a small part in our Tenebrae service, playing the role of a friend of Mary at the time she learned she was to carry the Christ child.  It's just a few lines.  But I'm so honored and thrilled to be part of telling the greatest story ever told; the most true story ever told; the one that all other good and true stories are mere shadows of.  I'm thrilled to wave a palm branch and cry out "Hosanna!" which means "God save us now!" to Jesus as He rides down the aisle (on a real donkey, even!) because I believe He is the Messiah, the only One who truly can save us.  I'm a bit more troubled to find myself a few scenes later, robed in black, watching Jesus come down the aisle, wounded and stumbling, carrying His cross, and being driven back by Roman soldiers shouting, "Is this your King???" as we weep and pray during the crucifixion, which quite honestly I don't even like watching on television.  Anyway, I encourage everyone to attend a recreation of the life and death of Christ this weekend.  Your Easter will mean so much more to you, if you do!  Our services at First Baptist Middleburg are at 7 pm, Thursday and Friday.  I hope you all have a blessed Easter!