Holy Week Resources

Holy Week is almost upon us. Palm Sunday. Maundy Thursday. Good Friday. Holy Saturday.

Are you ready?

My husband came into my home office a few days ago to find me staring out the window in quite a bleak mood.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"It's impossible," I said. "It's just impossible. There is... there is too much. Five sermons. Four bulletins. Liturgy. Music. Candles. Good Friday. Maundy Thursday. Easter. I have no creative energy left. It will never all get done. Never. It is impossible."

"You say that every Holy Week," he said.

It's true. I do. But with good reason. Holy Week is the finals season of the church year. It's March Madness. It's the Super Bowl, the World Series, prom night, and a wedding. It's a big deal, and there is a lot to do to get a church and a congregation (and myself!) ready.

During the weeks leading up to Holy Week my general state of mind fluctuates between delighted euphoria (Easter is coming!), absolute terror (How on EARTH will we pull this off?), and maniacal laughter (Just what have I gotten myself into? This is so insane it's comical!).

My husband then channeled some Anne Lamott. "Bird by bird," he said. "Just take it bird by bird."

So I did. And slowly, things began to get checked off the list. Don't get me wrong, there is still a LOT that remains on the list, but bird by bird it's getting done. It didn't hurt that one of my dearest friends surprised me with a box of See's candy mid-week. No, sir. That didn't hurt at all.

For those of you who are in the throes of your own Holy Week preparations, I wanted to share a few things that have helped me this year. Hopefully you're (nearly!) finished with preparations for this year's Holy Week by now, but perhaps these can help you out for 2014.

None of these are my own ideas, so I can't take any credit. I'm just passing on the good wisdom of others from my circle of pastoral friends.

Palm Sunday

Eco-friendly palm branches can be found through Eco-Palms, an organization that supports farmers in Mexico and Guatemala.

We order our palms locally to help support our town's struggling economy, but these are fantastic. Lots of local pastors use them and have been really happy with their quality.

Maundy Thursday

We're doing a modified "Stations of the Cross" this Maundy Thursday, and a fellow pastor encouraged me to check out Megan McKenna's book The New Stations of the Cross.

A graduate of Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, McKenna's approach is both ecumenical and creative. She links Scripture readings with ideas for liturgy, traditional readings, and contemporary authors and poets like Victor Frankl and Adrienne Rich.

McKenna also throws in a little Emily Dickinson, which makes me love her work even more.

Particularly for churches outside the Anglo-Catholic tradition, where Stations of the Cross may be an entirely new idea, this book is a readable introduction with good practical wisdom.

Good Friday

Our church choir has fallen on a difficult season. Our (choir, not church!) numbers are dwindling. Sometimes we sing as a choir at the community Good Friday service, but this year we haven't been able to pull it off. So instead, I'm singing a solo. Eep.

I love to sing, but don't sing publicly often anymore, besides helping lead our church's Sunday hymns.

Yet this year I've felt like singing at the community Good Friday service is the right thing. It will take the pressure off our music folks (who are already quite taxed with Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Easter) as well as allow our church to take part in the communal sharing of music.

The Baptist pastor is singing a solo, too, which made me feel less awkward about the whole thing.

I looked high and low to find a Good Friday piece that was simple enough for me to learn (I'm a wee bit rusty on the piano), fitting enough for a Tenebrae service, and somber enough for the dark day that Good Friday is.

I finally stumbled across piece by Fernando Ortega called "Sing to Jesus" on a list of Good Friday resources on the ol' Internets.

I love Fernando's voice. My own alto won't quite do it the same justice, but I'm glad for the opportunity to share his words. "Sing to Jesus, Lord of our shame, Lord of our sinful hearts. He is our great Redeemer!"

Holy Saturday

And from I Can Has Cheezburger, a reminder to you pastors out there for Holy Saturday.

Take care of yourselves. Drink lots of water. Remember to eat. And nap on Saturday. And Sunday afternoon. And Monday. For real.

Happy Holy Week, friends!