Youth Group met on Palm Sunday this year; it was the perfect opportunity to give Holy Week some deliberate attention and reflection. In reading through old blog posts of my favorite progressive Christian, an ELCA pastor named Nadia Bolz-Weber, I stumbled upon a Stations of the Cross walk she'd done some years ago. Inspired by what a powerful experience it must have been for many, I wanted to do something similar for our youth. With some help and support, I pulled together a "Walk Through Holy Week" that started with Palm Sunday and ended with the celebration of the risen Lord on Easter Sunday. Each of the stations included banners that hang in the Sanctuary during Lent, scripture readings, the chalice and bread, a basin and pitcher, several different crosses, flowers, and palm branches. The walk through Holy Week began in the Narthex, progressed through the Sanctuary, and ended back in the Narthex.
At each of the stations, the youth and advisors listened to the scripture being read, reflected on what they heard, and looked closely at the visuals before them. Because this story is one we've all heard many times before, I suggested that the participants to pay attention to something new, or something they hadn't noticed before, something that stood out to them in a way they hadn't noticed. I asked them to reflect on the story, to make connections to their own lives and experiences. I asked them to imagine themselves as if this story were happening today....
And so we began. Most had attended worship that morning, so our first stop, Palm Sunday, was brief. We remarked at how welcomed Jesus was when he first arrived in Jerusalem, how the crowd loved him and revered him. They greeted him with"Glory, Laud, and Honor," just as we had sung that morning. Several remarked a sense of foreboding in Palm Sunday, even though it was supposed to be a parade, a celebration...
In the first station in the Sanctuary, we reflected on betrayal and doubt: Peter's denial; Judas' betrayal; the heavy doubt that seemingly filled the hearts of so many. We read Matthew 26: 47-56 and John 18: 15-27. We felt angry for Jesus in the way in which his friends betrayed him. Several spoke of how difficult it is to forgive someone after a betrayal. We talked about Jesus' experience in the Garden, as his friends fell asleep around him. We talked about Bearing Witness, and that Jesus had needed his friends to Bear Witness.... instead, they slumbered.
We reflected on Maundy Thursday, when Jesus washes his disciples' feet, then breaks bread, shares wine, and delivers the instruction: Do this in remembrance of me. A few among us had never heard about the foot washing. We shared stories, connections, and powerful reflections on these acts of love and provision. We noticed how the disciples gathered for a meal, laying down around the table instead of sitting upright. We remembered how we quite literally broke bread during our Summer Mission Project dinner the week before. We read Matthew 26: 26-29 and John 13: 1-20
Solemnly, we reflected on the crucifixion and death of Jesus. One person observed how heavy the cross must have been, and how someone else carried that burden for Jesus. We talked about the varied reactions reflected in the picture to Jesus' crucifixion. We read John 19: 1-28. We scratched our heads at Pilate, feeling very conflicted. Why didn't he follow his conscience? Why did he cave, bow, give in to peer pressure? Some discovered that Pilate wasn't actually as "evil" as they'd come to believe he was during the stories they'd heard as young children. And yet - he still condemned Jesus to die on the cross.
We waited. We reflected on the tomb, marveling at how heavily guarded it was. We read Matthew 27: 27-66 and John 20: 1-10.
We celebrated! (Cautiously and quietly, of course - after all, it is still Lent.) He is Risen! Alleluia!! Easter morning - we read Matthew 28: 1-10 and John 20: 11-18. We remarked on how joyful and relieved the women in the picture looked. One among us observed how fitting it was that women were the ones to discover the empty tomb: women bring forth new life, in birth; it is only fitting, therefore, that women would discover the empty tomb of our Risen Lord.
And then we listened to selected poems and music from http://www.theliturgists.com. We discussed and made connections to “Friday,” “We Believe,” and “Garden.”
I invited anyone who wanted to experience foot washing - either in the washing or having their feet washed - to come forward for the experience. Some chose to have their feet washed, or to wash others'. Others bore witness. We talked about what a humbling, intimate kindness it is to wash another's feet. We talked again of Jesus and how he washed his disciples' feet.
Our Walk through Holy Week was meaningful and powerful. With clean feet and a deepened understanding, many of us walked away with a renewed sense of gratitude and love for God, who gave us God's only Son, and for Jesus, who died to save us. We left with heightened anticipation for the week ahead, and for the celebration that is to come....
