Dear Diego,

I’m writing on Saturday, April 19, which is the day after Good Friday and before Easter Sunday. This is a difficult day in Holy Week. At my church, we have lots of special services during Holy Week. We sing lots of special songs. But we don’t have a song for Saturday.

On Palm Sunday, we celebrate Jesus’s arrival in Jerusalem. He rode a donkey instead of a horse to show everyone that he wasn’t a warrior. Instead he wanted to teach people that God has a kingdom of love, not a kingdom of war. This day is hopeful and exciting.

On Maundy Thursday, we remember Jesus’s last meal with his disciples. He led them in remembering the Passover from the book of Exodus. He taught them the Communion ceremony, and we perform it to remember him by eating and drinking. At my church, we sing a song about his last prayer: “Children I am with you but a little while. I will send the Holy Spirit to you.” This day is mysterious.

On Good Friday, we remember Jesus’s death. The Roman and Jewish leaders executed him because they thought he was a threat to their authority. At my church, we sing a song about the moment he died: “No bird sang.” I play my oboe and try not to cry. This day is sad and frightening.

But on the Saturday after he died, nothing special happened. The books of Mark and John don’t say anything about it. The Jewish leaders sent soldiers to guard the tomb so no one could steal the body and make up a story about Jesus coming back to life. (Matthew 27) Saturday was the Jewish Sabbath, so his disciples rested. (Luke 23:56) They probably also hid and were afraid. (John 20:19) Did the disciples remember that Jesus promised he would come back to life? They would not find out that he did for another day. (John 20:9) Maybe this is a day to remember that Jesus defeated evil alone. We don’t have a song for this day. This day is gloomy and uncertain.

Tomorrow, on Sunday, we will remember that Jesus came back to life. On that first Easter, the disciples knew for sure that he wasn’t just a man. He was the Word of God come to life. We will gather at sunrise and cover a cross with flowers. We will celebrate and sing songs of joy: “Nothing can separate us from the love of God!”

Happy Easter! — Garrett Mitchener

I don’t happen to have any pictures from this year’s Holy Week services yet, but here are a few from the Sunrise Service, 2012:

Easter Sunrise Service 2012 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian. This is me (far left with oboe) plus a few men from the choir. By Mary Catherine James

Easter Sunrise Service 2012 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian. Mary Jane, Smith, me, and Spike at the flowering cross. By Mary Catherine James

Easter Sunrise service 2012 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian. This is the congregation seated on picnic benches in our shelter. By Mary Catherine James