Happy Easter!

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

I just want to wish a blessed Good Friday and Easter to those who celebrate them. I hope your days are meaningful and joyous.

[wil]

ditto, and to you and yours as well...each season, each day...more growth and understanding...gotta love it...

[lunamoth]

Have a happy and blessed Holy week(end)!

BTW, I think I will be going to my first Maundy Thursday service tonight. It should be interesting and I am a little nervous as we do foot-washing as part of the service. How strange! I guess it will remind me of how strange it was to the disciples to have Jesus wash their feet.

This is in the Episcopal church. Anyone else ever gone to such a service?

lunamoth

[lunamoth]

For Maundy Thursday, John 13:

Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet

1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.[a]

2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

7Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

8"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

9"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

10Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
18"I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.'[b]

19"I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. 20I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."

21After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."

22His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."

25Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"

26Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. 27As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

"What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, 28but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. 30As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial
31When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32If God is glorified in him,[c] God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

33"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

36Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?"
Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."

37Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."

38Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

[InLove]

Hi--I can't resist. I hope I am posting this link correctly. If not, I apologize ahead of time. This image and story has made the email rounds, but maybe some here have not seen it. It just begs to be on a thread entitled "Happy Easter".

I was just out in East Texas pine tree country last week for some much-needed recuperation, and I was blessed to witness this phenomenon once again in real life.

(By the way, I have not checked out the rest of the website, so I do not know anything about it--I was just looking for the image.)

Enjoy!

http://www.crossroad.to/Victory/east...ee-crosses.htm

InPeace,
InLove

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by InLove

Hi--I can't resist. I hope I am posting this link correctly. If not, I apologize ahead of time. This image and story has made the email rounds, but maybe some here have not seen it. It just begs to be on a thread entitled "Happy Easter".

I was just out in East Texas pine tree country last week for some much-needed recuperation, and I was blessed to witness this phenomenon once again in real life.

(By the way, I have not checked out the rest of the website, so I do not know anything about it--I was just looking for the image.)

Enjoy!

http://www.crossroad.to/Victory/east...ee-crosses.htm

InPeace,
InLove

So! you saw the crosses in the trees... Don't mind saying I cried a little the first time I saw that.

Luna's question about the "strangeness" of washing some one else's feet, caught my attention. So, I pose a question - is it so strange to wash a baby's bottom? Any baby? Do we care when we are right their in the middle of it, and there is us, and there is the baby with a dirty bottom, looking at us...nope (ok we might twinge a bit at the sight and smell). But the baby needs it, and we are the ones capable of doing it, and we do it out of an innate love for that child.

When we wash another's feet, we acknowledge three things.

1. They are not below us.

2. We are not above them.

3. They need it, and we need to do it because we are capable, because of an innate love for that person.

See, ultimately we really do want what is best for another, even a stranger. It's in our blood. We hold doors open for them, we let them go first, we come to their aid when they are in trouble (think about it, when life is at stake, and it is fading, we get dirty and bloody, and take chances with our own health just to keep that life here...).

Washing another's feet is a symbolic way of re-affirming that commitment to the other's life and well being.

Balance.

my thoughts

v/r

Q

[path_of_one]

I'll never forget my grandmother carefully washing my grandfather's feet when he was in the hospital after a stroke. She is such a gentle and loving soul- and I could see her love for him. She was not lowering her position relative to him, or submitting to his wishes, or doing what was necessary because it had to get done. Quite simply, she just loved him and what naturally came of it was to help him do what he could no longer do, to preserve his dignity and sense of humanity. When I saw this, I cried- because it brought to my mind immediately the story of Jesus washing His disciples feet. A symbol of love and example to us all- God's Son, God Himself, loving others enough to humble Himself and serve them. I try to remember, when I feel prideful or like I deserve this or that in life, that my God Himself is a servant of others. Tends to put my mind in the right place!

[wil]

The Maundy Thursday foot washing services and communion have been one of my favorite services...

The congregational songs were "The greatest thing", "Let us Break Bread Together", "Lord I dedicate my life to you", "My dedication"

Washing others feet and having your feet washed is quite the connection.

mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos ut et vos diligatis invicem aka John 13:34-35 'A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.'

Thanx to Thomas my appreciation has changed again...

Hope anyone who attended a service had a great experience and if they never have begin to consider it next year...

I so enjoy experiencing the Holydays...

[Bandit]

Originally Posted by path_of_one

I'll never forget my grandmother carefully washing my grandfather's feet when he was in the hospital after a stroke. She is such a gentle and loving soul- and I could see her love for him. She was not lowering her position relative to him, or submitting to his wishes, or doing what was necessary because it had to get done. Quite simply, she just loved him and what naturally came of it was to help him do what he could no longer do, to preserve his dignity and sense of humanity. When I saw this, I cried- because it brought to my mind immediately the story of Jesus washing His disciples feet. A symbol of love and example to us all- God's Son, God Himself, loving others enough to humble Himself and serve them. I try to remember, when I feel prideful or like I deserve this or that in life, that my God Himself is a servant of others. Tends to put my mind in the right place!

we have feet washing at my church too. the first sunday of October & communion service with wine & bread is held after feet washing. i think you are right it is about love & humility & it prepares our hearts to recieve each other.
it is the most important service of the year & we prepare for it 3 weeks in advance.

it is a wonderful thing to be there with the brothers loving each other with a towel girded, basins of water, embracing one another & share in the fellowship of the Hoy Ghost. i have found this the most powerful & at the same time the most gentle service among the brothers.

it is no wonder why Jesus taught for us to wash each others feet. i want to do everything Jesus taught us to do without questioning, because Jesus is always right.

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by Bandit

we have feet washing at my church too. the first sunday of October & communion service with wine & bread is held after feet washing. i think you are right it is about love & humility & it prepares our hearts to recieve each other.
it is the most important service of the year & we prepare for it 3 weeks in advance.

it is a wonderful thing to be there with the brothers loving each other with a towel girded, basins of water, embracing one another & share in the fellowship of the Hoy Ghost. i have found this the most powerful & at the same time the most gentle service among the brothers.

it is no wonder why Jesus taught for us to wash each others feet. i want to do everything Jesus taught us to do without questioning, because Jesus is always right.

Is it only among the men of your church? Just wondering because you referred to 'brothers' only.

luna

[China Cat Sunflower]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

Is it only among the men of your church? Just wondering because you referred to 'brothers' only.

luna

I don't know how it is in other denominations. I came up Seventh-day Adventist. The SDA's have communion every thirteenth Saturday. The footwashing ritual is called the "ordinance of humuility." It is a gender segregated affair with women washing women's feet and men with men. I guess that's to keep everything on the up-and-up, so to speak.

I'm reminded of the incident where Mary M. washed Jesus feet with her hair. A very symbolic, and somewhat erotic thing! I can't help thinking it must have tickled like heck!

Chris

[Bandit]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

Is it only among the men of your church? Just wondering because you referred to 'brothers' only.

luna

everybody washes feet & takes communion. no one is left out, unless someone does not want to do it, then they dont have to do it.

many rooms are prepared for men & women, & children... chairs set up, towels & water basins prepared for this because there are hundreds of people who do this on the same sunday.
men wash the mens feet. women wash the womens feet. boys wash the boys feet & girls wash the girls feet under adult supervision.
normally each person only washes one persons feet, but sometimes you wash two or more peoples feet.
my pastor washes many brothers feet.

it is really neat to see the elders teach the young people to observe this & quote the scripture of Jesus speaking from memory.

the men & boys have our own rooms & the women & girls have their own rooms.
i can hear the women recieve their blessings & i am sure they can hear the men recieve their blessings. there is a lot of singing, crying & clapping & rejoicing. then everyone gathers in the main sanctuary for communion (brothers & sisters together)
the whole service including communion, runs for about 3 to 4 hours to get everyone in.

[Bandit]

Originally Posted by Scarlet Pimpernel

I just want to wish a blessed Good Friday and Easter to those who celebrate them. I hope your days are meaningful and joyous.

a joyous belated easter to you also Scarlet

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by Bandit

everybody washes feet & takes communion. no one is left out, unless someone does not want to do it, then they dont have to do it.

many rooms are prepared for men & women, & children... chairs set up, towels & water basins prepared for this because there are hundreds of people who do this on the same sunday.
men wash the mens feet. women wash the womens feet. boys wash the boys feet & girls wash the girls feet under adult supervision.
normally each person only washes one persons feet, but sometimes you wash two or more peoples feet.
my pastor washes many brothers feet.

it is really neat to see the elders teach the young people to observe this & quote the scripture of Jesus speaking from memory.

the men & boys have our own rooms & the women & girls have their own rooms.
i can hear the women recieve their blessings & i am sure they can hear the men recieve their blessings. there is a lot of singing, crying & clapping & rejoicing. then everyone gathers in the main sanctuary for communion (brothers & sisters together)
the whole service including communion, runs for about 3 to 4 hours to get everyone in.

Hi Bandit, Thank you for sharing that. I actually still don't know how it's done in my church because my hub had to work late and I never got to go. Hopefully next year!

lunamoth

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

Hi Bandit, Thank you for sharing that. I actually still don't know how it's done in my church because my hub had to work late and I never got to go. Hopefully next year!

lunamoth

Hmmm, me thinks it could happen tonight...just have the foot tub, towel, attitude and salts ready...LOL

That should prove very interesting...not that I want to know the details.

v/r

Q