Some Thoughts on Holy Weekend

Early on in yesterday's phone conversation with CGFC, we talked about how draining yesterday's Good Friday service had been. I remarked that it wasn't just about the physical exhaustion because the service lasted nearly 3 hours (and then I stayed for Stations of the Cross afterwards, something I'd never done before but was glad I had chosen to stay). The emotional toll of considering every part of the service ~ the hymn texts, the Scriptural passages, the sermons (we had two brief ones), the prayers, thinking about what happened 2000 years ago and what that must have been like ...

(I didn't say it on the phone, but mentally included on the list the personal responsibility I feel when I'm focusing on Jesus on the cross. He died for a reason. Not for Himself. But for me. Dwelling on that thought for three hours is tough.)

"Just imagine," CGFC said, "that 2000 years ago, they thought that today was the end of the story. Jesus died and that was that. Imagine today being it- they just saw Him die, and they don't realize that there's so much more about to happen. We know that today was not the end."

And I think his point was that today (really meaning yesterday) was certainly difficult to swallow, even 2000 years later, but we're blessed with the knowledge of what is to come ~ the Resurrection. Even though yesterday was exhausting (especially as both CGFC and I served in roles which minister to the congregation), we wait in joyful anticipation for the Good News that will be shared this evening and tomorrow!
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Earlier today, I wondered again where I'll end up getting a teaching job for next year. (Or ~ if the Graduate Assistantship I'm auditioning/interviewing for on Monday is going to be a good fit for me?! Aack! I have a conducting audition, vocal audition, interview with the ensemble director, interview with another important person in the music school, and possibly a piano audition. Please pray for me!)

And I thought ~ not so much about the potential teaching jobs (or additional schooling), but about churches. What kind of church will I be at next year? My church up here in CoolCity is quite different from my churches (I have two) at home. The particular denomination is more traditional, as compared with HomeChurch#1 which has lately been going ultra-technology-happy (i.e. sermon on Powerpoint and canned accompaniment tracks so that a soloist's offertory sounds like something on American Idol) and HomeChurch#2, a sweet, country church, which has some more contemporary elements but is still somewhat traditional. (Both of these are different denominations from one another; HC#1 was my first church and I grew in my faith and my music ministry there. HC#2 was my first church job, but I have really come to view the congregation as a church family to me, and I've stayed more involved there during my years at college than at HC#1.)

Something to think about whenever I relocate, I guess.

For the time being, I'm grateful that my church job here in CoolCity has become so much more than a job. I may be a paid vocalist at the church, but the people there have really become my church family. The choir didn't sing at the Maundy Thursday service; none of the other paid vocalists showed up. I came, not for the free dinner beforehand and not because I wanted to see CGFC (although both of those were certainly perks!). I went because it has become my church home. :-)
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Speaking of my church home (literally, while I was writing this last paragraph), the choir director just called. I had asked about getting into the church today to practice for my upcoming audition, and it was locked when I walked downtown today! (The music building is closed for the holiday weekend.) So ... I'm getting a ride down there in a few moments and I've gotta go! :-)