Finding the “Holy” in Holy Week

Pastor Claudine Carlson

It starts off well enough. Just look at the excited procession into Jerusalem -branches waving and voices proclaiming: “Here he is! The blessed One coming in the name of the Lord!” This Jesus. Our Jesus! Any day now, Rome’s humiliating occupation and heavy tax burden will be vanquished, and we, the chosen ones, will be set free! Confident their Messiah/King is about to do what Messiah/Kings DO, their holy exuberance is no wonder. It will not last, of course. Jesus will not take up arms against Romans, King Herod, or anyone else deserving punishment. That’s not what Jesus is about. So the happy parade crowds disperse quickly, disappointed that he let them down.

The few still with him by week’s end are a sorry lot. Confused and afraid, they wonder: “What is happening?!? How did a week beginning with such a rush of holy joy so swiftly descend into this anything-but-holy hell?” At the sombre Passover meal on Thursday, they pledge their love and support - even if it means dying along with him. But later, in the garden, terror overtakes them, and they run for their lives. Jesus is left alone with the Romans he was supposed to destroy. Over the next twenty-four hours, he’ll be tortured, mocked, judged, murdered, and buried. The ones Jesus was “supposed to destroy” instead destroy him.

Innocence and justice are killed while evil appears to triumph. And yet, we dare call this godawful week “holy”! Why? Well, it helps to understand what “holy” actually means, “Holy”. We link it to words like “saintly”, “perfect” (or almost!), “sacrament”, “goodness”, etc. Also, we’re inclined to dislike people who are “too holy” - the “holier-than-thou” types who rarely laugh. Limited to such meanings, it is impossible for this tragic, ugly week to be “holy’; but when we include the other important meaning? Ah-ha! We can get it! The biblical meaning, rooted in the Hebrew word kadosh, is “to be set apart” or “consecrated” for a specific godly purpose. “Set apart” speaks to me most clearly when it comes to Holy Week, for the entire history of God’s relentless love and mercy is packed into these few days. i.e., If we want to know who God is and how God acts, we need look no further.

Here we discover a God whose power is revealed in vulnerable, dying love. A God who forgives even those who crucify him, and the friends who abandon him. A God who does not conquer all malign earthly forces as a warrior, but death itself in the resurrected Christ. This is the God who continues to love and use his holy people - us! Despite our doubts, rebellion, ego, cruelty, greed, etc. Whatever our personal laundry list of flaws and failures, we remain God’s “set apart” beloved people.

The story is good news for us and a world in need of hearing it. In love, God seeks only good for this broken, beautiful world and all its peoples. (ALL!) And despite evidence to the contrary, God is still making all things new. Creative love was the first word and will be the last. After all, in Jesus, the “Word made flesh”, the vulnerable God of love transformed the hateful darkness of Good Friday into the joyous light of Sunday morning. Yes, “set apart” week overflows with heartbreak and despair, but in the midst of it all, the promise of new life, new hope, new YOU is rooted and growing.

Blessed Holy Week, holy people!

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Recent Services on YouTube you may have missed

Good Friday    Cantata It is Finished, Mary McDonald 

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZLX5EJdGpU 

Easter Sunday

            https://www.youtube.com/@mountzionworship9606/streams

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Justice Through Service Presents

Water: Our Sacred Trust

(i) On Sunday, April 19, after the service and light refreshments, there will be a presentation by journalist Bob Burtt entitled “Water: Our Sacred Trust”.    So we can plan for numbers, please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex or phone the Church Office at 519-886-5820 ahead of time if you would like to attend. 

(ii) Feather & Cross has organized a bus trip for a Mohawk Institute Residential School with a catered lunch at St. Luke’s Anglican Church on Six Nations, Saturday, April 18, 8 am to 4 pm.  Tickets from Eventbrite, $76.38 per person, link below.  Limited to 20 attendees.   

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/bus-trip-for-mohawk-residential-institute-tour-with-catered-lunch-and-more-tickets-1985596949928?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

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Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who remembered a loved one, resulting in a beautiful collection of hydrangeas that adorned our chancel on Easter Sunday.

Easter Flowers – April 5, 2026

Richard & Susan Brubacher    Family

Shirley McCall                         Family

Margaret Waechter                Loved ones

Ross & Jane Schlegel               Family

Pauline Finch  Husband          Alfred

Mary Thompson                     Family

Joan & Jacquelyn Schweitzer,  Grandpa, Parents & Joyce

Nancy Beaula                          Family - Mom

Helga Juergensen                    Husband -- Martin

Henriette Stumper                  Husband -- Jake

Carol & Lloyd Ziegler               Loved ones

Bill & Karen Gastmeier           Family

Dianne Frombach                   Loved ones

Judi Harris                               Husband, Jim and son, Jeff

Hermine Nassau                     Husband – Willi

Stephen Brown                       Michael Hammond

Mary Jean Lange                     Husband – Norman

Judy & John Penteker             Loved Ones

Marc & Marnie Jerry               Loved Ones

Charlotte Bourdon                 Julie Bourdon

Peter & Karen Kuhnert            Loved Ones

 

God Speed, Leo!

The congregation celebrated with Leo as he completed his 18-month internship at Mount Zion on March 22. Leo Nupolu Johnson began his internship in September 2024. His first day was memorable: he arrived just as a break-in at our office was discovered, with Pastor Philip and Margaret waiting for the police. But better days were ahead. Mount Zion watched Leo develop his skills, becoming a fine preacher and teacher. We also celebrated his musical talents in singing and drumming.

Although Leo has completed his internship and is scheduled to graduate from Martin Luther University College in June, he will be preparing for his written exam and oral presentation to meet his synod requirements during the next few weeks.

And then what? We eagerly await!

 

Church Council News

Election

At the council’s March meeting, the council elected their executive for 2026-27: Karen Gastmeier, President, Kirk Swanson, Vice President, and Marnie Jerry, Secretary. Richard Brubacher remains as Treasurer.

Council members expressed their thanks to Stephanie von Schilling for the years of service as secretary, often having the minutes sent to our inboxes before we got home. Stephanie remains on council. She is joined by David Murison, Bill Gastmeier, Ross Schlegel, Sharon Heeralall, Mary Thompson, Hanne Kuhnert, and Betty Beam

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Lake Chad Response

Currently, $3350 has been donated to the CLWR project. Mount Zion’s challenge goal was $5000 by the end of March.

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Wednesdays in Lent

Seventy-five community members attended the Wednesday in Lent held at Mount Zion to hear Intern Leo speak about Community Engagement and sample a variety of homemade soups. Thanks to everyone who helped out.

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Reimagining Mount Zion Ongoing

The firm of Reid Jones Christopherson (RJC) completed a detailed building and asbestos survey in March. RJC is an engineering firm that specializes in structural engineering and building envelopes. As part of the survey, they collected over 250 samples of building materials. Their report is expected in mid-April, when it will be reviewed, after which the council will meet with our planning consultants.

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Financial Report

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Mount Zion Really Does Have Talent

Members of the congregation and the choir proved that there is indeed talent within the walls of Mount Zion during a delightful afternoon with a variety of heartwarming music, mime and spoken verse. About 50 braved the weather to attend. Over $ 1,500 was raised to support our talented Choral Scholars. If you missed it, you can watch it on our YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxSTHmX7fOM