Friday Five: Holy Week, Batman!

ReverendMother says: Well, the Clergy Superbowl is almost upon us, and so, I offer up this Friday Five (with apologies for the irreverent title):

1. Will this Sunday be Palms only, Passion only, or hyphenated?

Our service is going to be Palms to Passion. I do wish that we would just linger at Palm Sunday that day, but I'm not in charge! I suppose since many people don't come to the Holy Week services, this assures that they don't just go from celebration to celebration without experiencing some of the hard stuff.

2. Maundy Thursday Footwashing: Discuss.

Well, I grew up in a tradition before I was Presby where the men and women went to separate rooms to do the footwashing. Most of the women would wear nylons and the water would just sort of bead and run off. The Presbyterian churches I've been involved with haven't been too keen on the footwashing, but last year we did wash the children's' feet while we sang "Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love." It was quite moving.

3. Share a particularly meaningful Good Friday worship experience.

I'm having a hard time answering this because all of the services are blurring together. I wonder what that says about me? I do find Good Friday services very meaningful.

4. Easter Sunrise Services--choose one:
a) "Resurrection tradition par excellence!"
b) "Eh. As long as it's sunrise with coffee, I can live with it."
c) "[Yawn] Can't Jesus stay in the tomb just five more minutes, Mom?!?"

A combination of all three. I love sunrise services, but I am so not a morning person! We've never had one since I've been at this church.

5. Complete this sentence: It just isn't Easter without...

Beginning the service with a stripped church from the Maundy Thursday service and bringing in the visuals (lilies, paraments, etc.) while we sing a joyful Easter hymn. Gives me chills every single time!

Bonus: I don't know much about the Easter Vigil, unfortunately. I'll look forward to reading all of your answers on this. So, my bonus will just be to tell you about a tradition that my family has for Holy week: we have a television fast. This is going to be particularly hard this year because I really want to see what hairstyle Sanjaya comes up with this week on American Idol! Is it cheating to Tivo it and watch it next week?

I'm Back, Kinda

Dell finally came through and I have another computer to replace the lemon they sold me before. I'm slowly coming back to the blogosphere, but I haven't had the heart to write anything for awhile.

I'm taking steps to try to feel better. I've been walking and watching my sugar intake, but I think that I need my meds adjusted. So, I have an appointment with a new psychiatrist on Thursday. I hope to get on something that will help me not feel like I'm living my life in slow motion. Also, I hope to find a med that won't take away any and all sexual desire so that I might stay married.

On the upside, I've got really beautiful tulips in my flowerbeds right now! I wish I had a digital camera, so I could post a photo of them. In the fall, I bought a very cheap bag of bulbs at Home Depot, not expecting much from them. But they are gorgeous- some red, some yellow, some red AND yellow! I'm taking hope that I can find pleasure in this small thing.

Computers: Can't Live With Them, Can't Live Without Them!

My computer, which is thankfully still under warranty, went to computer heaven last week. So, I'm waiting for Dell to send me a new one.

I'm beginning to feel better. Thanks for your kind comments and prayers. I'll be blogging again with gusto soon!

I'm Here, Kinda

I've been fighting a nasty cold this week and I am still in a bit of a funk, so I haven't felt like doing much of anything, including blogging. This cold keeps tricking me into thinking that I'm getting better, such as yesterday when I had lunch with Linda. Now it feels like all the gunk is making its way to my chest. Great.

I have several things brewing that I want to write about here, but I can't summon the will to do it. I am not like some bloggers who, like Henri Nouwen, are able to write poignantly and eloquently about how they are feeling when they are in the middle of a depressive episode. Words fail me. I just want to find a small, warm, soft and dark place to hide until I feel like emerging.

So, I'm here....kinda