Peace which the world cannot give, I give to you

I give you a new commandment: that you love one another, as I have loved you. By this the world shall know that you are my disciples, that you have love for one another.

Yeah, brace yourself. It’s church talk.

Maundy Thursday is the beginning of the three-night observance leading up to Easter, known as the Great Triduum. I had to go check the spelling. Not everyone knows (or cares) that for many Christians, Easter is not a day or a holiday, it is a season. There are three nights of preparation leading up to Easter Sunday, and then fifty days of celebration thereafter. More chocolate for everyone!

Maundy Thursday is my favorite service of the entire year. The last two years have been a little off, because our services were conducted via Facebook Live in the interest of sanity and health through the pandemic. We skipped washing each other’s feet, and while my son and I love to sing, it’s not quite the same with just the two of us. (My husband declines to sing, as his voice… well, let’s just say he has many talents that do not involve singing).

Often on Maundy Thursday, our choir sings my favorite anthem, written by Ragan Courtney. Indeed, we sang it again this year… a song I love so much that I asked them to sing it at my wedding, and have asked my husband to please remember to have them…