It’s my first real memory of our parish. I remember about ten years ago I drove up to Historic Trinity from Memphis for a buddy of mine’s wedding. I was a pastoral intern at the time, and had just enough free space to make it to St. Louis for his wedding before heading back to get settled and ready for Sunday worship. Everything was planned down to the minute.
I could have sworn the wedding started at 4:00 pm. I was sure of it. So sure, in fact, that I planned my whole trip to make absolutely certain I get there at exactly 3:30.
I was wrong. It turned out that this wedding I drove 300 miles to be a part of… started at 3:00. I remember sneaking into church as quietly as I could, wondering what I had already missed. What had happened before I got there? I’ll never know. I showed up late.
In two weeks, hundreds of thousands of people will flock to churches all around St. Louis to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, and what a wonderful experience it’ll be! Christ is risen; He is risen indeed! Alleluia! I’m thankful that on Easter Sunday, I get a chance to tell the good news of Christ’s resurrection to countless souls who otherwise wouldn’t darken the door of a church. It’s a wonderful opportunity to share the Gospel, but…
The three days before Easter: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday; these are the holiest days of the Christian year too. Together, Thursday through Sunday encompass the celebration of the one event of Christ’s death… and resurrection. Do you ever wonder what we miss if we skip straight to the end?
I can promise you that this Blessed Weekend – between Thursday and Sunday – if you can focus your heart on the rollercoaster of Christ’s betrayal and promise in the Eucharist, the terror of the cross and the spear, and the celebration of the Easter Vigil as we await the news that He indeed has risen; if you can focus your heart on that spiritual rollercoaster for those four days, it will be a blessing in your life that’s beyond compare.
I invite you this year, if you’ve never taken the opportunity to do so, to walk the whole road of the Triduum with us here at Historic Trinity. To immerse yourself in the whole worship experience from Thursday to Sunday. To not miss a thing about this most holy and blessed week. Don’t be late…
Click Here for our Holy Week Worship Schedule…
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About the Author
Josh Hatcher is a devoted husband and father, hopeless wonder-junkie, and Senior Pastor of Historic Trinity Lutheran Church – an open and caring, radically Christ-centered, deeply sacramental and sometimes eclectic ministry in the heart of the Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis.
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Pastor Josh, you have changed my life around. I feel so much more joy full then before. I used to be catholic. I quite going to church, I didn’t like what they had to say. I was invited to a lutheran church and I went.
I was invited here by a friend, and I just love this church. You Josh you have inspired me. Than you
Thank you so much, Jill, for sharing your heart! What a joy to know the Spirit is moving in this place and in your life! ~ JMH