A New Creation, Today, Tomorrow, Forever

The Rev. Sheila McJilton

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19)

This past winter was challenging—bitterly cold, dark, snowy. Perhaps because the winter was so long and dark, the past three weeks has been more delightful: birds’ songs seem more joyful.

Something Unlike Stability

The Rev. Greg Syler

I had prepared and was set to lead the Prayers of the People. Such was my liturgical role that Palm Sunday, the year in Divinity School I was serving as intern.

Looking at the order of service, I saw that the prayers immediately followed an organ anthem, always a wonderful thing when played on Rockefeller Chapel’s tremendous E. M. Skinner organ.

I sat in the choir stall, text of the prayers on my lap, prayers I thought decently inspired and marked by themes I remembered from previous Palm Sundays: the expectant and joy-filled crowd, the promise of glory to come, a day of honest celebration. In my Congregationalist church growing up, Palm Sunday was really a prequel to Easter and had many, if not most, of the same themes as the Sunday to come. So were my prayers that day about hope, renewal, celebration and joy.

Then the anthem started.