April 2026

This year, the month of April begins with Holy Week and our retelling of the most eventful week in human history.

 Throughout the season of Lent, every week on Wednesday evenings alongside our New Creation partners Cross of Glory and Faith-Lilac Way, we’ve been moving through the events following Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

 Jesus’ challenging teachings and powerful words lead to conflict between Jesus and the Temple authorities. As we preparing for Holy Week and Easter is that our readings and songs put us right in the thick of the action.

 Instead of treating the events of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection as ancient history, during Holy Week, we’re invited to see ourselves in the midst of God’s action. It’s just like Stephanie Saldaña writes in the Christian Century:

 The liturgy is always about the present tense, with Christ truly present in the Eucharist as well as in the gathered body. During the liturgy we do not only remember; we participate. The eternal God speaks to us, the assembled, here and now.

 When we sing, “All Glory Laud and Honor” and then “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” we’re invited to see ourselves standing right alongside Jesus, as his modern day disciples. We’re invited to live into the great expectations, the shock and surprise, the disappointment and uncertainty of Palm Sunday and the story of the Passion.

 God’s unfolding story of salvation is not a story about other people, but about us. In the face of injustice and moral injury, amidst the chaos and power struggles of our time, we have something to do and it matters. Instead of wondering what we might have done ‘way back then,’ we’re invited to ask ourselves: “How is Christ calling me today?”

 This year, beyond the palm procession on Palm Sunday morning, we’re invited to join Christians from all across the nation for a Palm Sunday Faith Action. Together with the other Wildfire congregation, we’re invited to take a bus down to Saint Paul at 1pm for a Palm Procession and worship at the Capitol. (contact the office if you haven’t had the chance to sign up, yet!)

 It promises to be a peaceful, family-led, demonstration made up of everyday, neighbor-loving faithful like us. In this time when so many Christians are caught up in the power-seeking, waring designs of Christian Nationalism, we’re invited to publicly point to a power made perfect in Jesus’ cross, death and resurrection.

 During Holy Week, we’re excited to gather for Maundy Thursday Dinner Church at 6pm here at First, alongside New Creation friends from Faith-Lilac Way. Good Friday’s Tenebrae Service will be similar to other years at Faith-Lilac Way at 7pm. We’re excited to have Cross of Glory joining for that joint New Creation Worship.

 Hope arrives in the present on Easter Sunday (April 5th at 9:30). Together we’ll proclaim: “Jesus Christ is Risen, Alleluia!” As witnesses to that empty tomb, we’ll celebrate that our faith is present and active, making all things new, and bringing new life, new creation and resurrection to all God’s children!

 Thanks and peace,

 Pr Colin