Friday Five -- Time Out Edition

Sally from Eternal Echoes shares the Rev Gal Blog Pal Friday Five this week. Feel free to play along in the comments! (The painting is He Qui's Mary and Martha. He's one of my favorite artists, and I guess Sally likes him too.)

Holy Week is almost upon us. I suspect that ordained or not, other revgal/pals calendars look a bit like mine, FULL, FULL, FULL.....Jesus was great at teaching us to take time out, even in that last week, right up to Maunday Thursday he withdrew. John's gospel tells us he hid! He hid not because he was afraid, but because he knew that he needed physical, mental and spiritual strength to get through...So faced with a busy week:

1. What restores you physically?

I am one of those people who just has to crash once in a while and do nothing. I sleep and sleep and sleep some more.

2. What strengthens you emotionally/ mentally?

Being outside. It is hard to get through the frigid winters, but as soon as possible I open the windows to let the outside in, and I spend time in the sunshine.

3. What encourages you spiritually?

Reading writings of some theological thinkers, music, prayer and silence. Oh yes, silence.

4. Share a favourite poem or piece of music from the coming week.

This one is a favorite from my childhood. The imagery of 10,000 angels standing ready always stirred my heart. This is the best version I could find.



5.There may be many services for you to attend/ lead over the next week, which one are you most looking forward to and why? If there aren't do you have a favourite day in Holy week if so which one is it?

I am bit sad about the fact that I will not be leading a Holy Thursday candlelight communion service--something unusual for most AG churches but something I (having an occasional liturgical streak) loved to do. That used to be my favorite, so perhaps I can find one somewhere around to attend. I also love our community Good Friday service. Once again, it will seem very strange not to participate with the other clergy, but I will be there.

Growing up Southern Baptist, I thought Lent was for Catholics, and it seemed we just went straight to Easter. Isn't that a bit strange, considering the emphasis in the free church traditions on Christ's atonement? I admit, I think six weeks is too long for contemplation and soul searching, but I have found great value in observing some of the Lenten traditions with which I did not grow up.