 At OPC we have an Easter tradition -- Flowering the Cross. It begins with a cross made of gnarled logs, covered in chicken wire. This cross comes out of storage for the Maundy Thursday service and remains in the sanctuary for Easter Sunday. It's a reminder of Christ's ugly and brutal death. Easter Sunday congregants bring fresh-cut flowers from their gardens. (We also have a supply for those who can't bring their own.)  During the final hymn, everyone comes forward and positions their flowers into the chicken wire. If you're sitting in the pew, you'll just see a mob of people descend upon the cross. But when they all return to their seats, you can see something special has happened. The cross is now a colorful display of flowers -- a symbol of Christ's resurrection and triumph over death. The ugly has been transformed into something beautiful. 
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 Easter Sunday is always a time of joy. For Easter 2025, we'll be joined in worship with a brass sextet, which should heighten that emotion.
The tradition of brass instruments playing during congregational hymns dates back to the Renaissance. Churches who could afford the musicians ensured brass ensembles were on hand for major holidays. This year you'll have an opportunity to experience that tradition as the sextet plays along with "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" and "Crown Him with Many Crowns." There is also some truly special music in store. You'll hear the celebratory anthem "Gioioso!" for brass and organ. The original work by Charles Torian was commissioned for the inaugural concert of our new organ last year. It's an exciting work brimming with joy. The sextet will also play selections from "Christ Triumphant" for brass sextet, and "Lift High the Cross." And because Easter is a time of joy, Handel's "Hallelujah!" chorus will be performed as well. The service starts at 10:00 am, Apr. 20, 2025, but if you want to hear all the music, be sure to arrive by 9:45 am.  The OPC Easter tradition continues. Yesterday, during the first hymn of the Easter worship service, people came to the front of the sanctuary. An ugly, wooden cross was their destination.
The cross, covered in chicken wire. represented was a symbol of Jesus' death. The congregants covered the cross with fresh flowers. So many people crowded around the cross that it was blocked from view. But when everyone returned to their seats, the cross was transformed. It was covered in fresh flowers of all different colors and hues. It was now a thing of beauty and life. The perfect symbol for Jesus' resurrection. As this tradition has been at OPC for decades. The Flowering of the Cross is a beloved Easter tradition here at OPC. It's a simple concept, yet it provides such a powerful witness. For the Easter service, a small wooden cross sits next to the communion table. It's two pieces of gnarled wood, crudely nailed together and covered with chicken wire. It's a small ugly reminder of Christ's crucifixion.  But then something wonderful happens. During the singing of the first hymn, members of the congregation come forward. In their hands are flowers. Some bring blooms from their gardens. Others have flowers the church provided when they entered.  They come forward and insert their flowers into the chicken wire. Just a few come forward at first, but soon the pews empty. The cross disappears from view, surrounded by people with flowers.
And when everyone returns to their seats, the cross has been transformed. It has become a cross of flowers, full of vibrant colors. What was a symbol of death has become a symbol of life -- the new life in Christ. The world is changing again. This time a year ago we were all under lock down, fearful of what the future would look like. In the past year we have lost loved ones, lost precious time, and learned how to cope. It seems like this past year has been a perpetual Good Friday – living in the reality of death. And yet, we have the promise of Easter. We have the promise of resurrection. As the flowers bloom, the birds sing, and the bunnies hop, we are reminded of new life, of hope. I, like so many of you, have received my vaccination. In fact, I received my second shot on Good Friday. (If you have not received your vaccination yet, I pray that you soon will.)
This truly is a new time. And yet, even on Easter we remember the pain of Good Friday. We remember the pain of death. We remember what has been lost. So, as we enter this time of new beginnings, this time of resurrection, I ask you to reflect on the question: what now? What do we do now, as people of faith? What happens now that we have entered this new time? What does it mean now that we are safer? What now? We cannot go back, we can only go forward, so what will we do with this gift of newness? How will we embrace this new time? What now? I pray God’s blessings upon you all as you discover what this newness means for you and for OPC. I pray that when we gather, we will be safe. I pray that we do not forget our time of Good Friday, even as we rejoice in the promise of Easter. In Christ, - Pastor Rebekah |
