the stone had been removed...

John 20: 1-18

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, 

Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 

So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, 

“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 

Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 

The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 

He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. 

He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, 

not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 

Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 

for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 

Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. 

As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 

and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, 

one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, 

“Woman, why are you weeping?” 

She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” 

Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, 

“Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” 

She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 

Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. 

But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 

 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

it is finished...

John 19: 25-30
Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
 After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfil the scripture), ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Friday Five: Holy Week Favorites...

Long time since I've played Friday Five with the Revgals...
Today's five:

Holy Week is upon us.
Realizing that most of our readers are clergy, and that clergy don't necessarily have the opportunity to fully worship when they are responsible for leading (creating, writing, facilitating) worship:
I invite you to share five favorite Holy Week things, five things that are truly worshipful for you.  It may be that it's the way they are done in your congregation (or were done in a previous one).  It may be your personal preparation for certain services or observances.  
Breathe.  Be still.  Look to the week ahead, and Holy Weeks past, and imagine the worship.
Bonus:  a piece of music that "is" Holy Week for you.

Aaaaand here goes... things past and present:

1/ As part of my personal preparation, I go back to Joyce Rupp's book 'Your Sorrow is My Sorrow' - wonderful reflective stuff to help put me in the right mental place.

2/ Hearing the cry 'Jerusalem!  Jerusalem! Return to the Lord your God' sung in a Tenebrae service

3/ The shock of the starkness of a church stripped bare

4/ The feel of dough being kneaded and subsequent smell of bread baking in the early hours after keeping all-night vigil

5/ Watching the steam rise from the breaking of that same bread at the Easter communion.

As to music... spoilt for choice but Handel's 'He was Despised'