The Easter rites

[mountaingal]

This being a tuff year for me, have decided to partake of the Easter rites, as a means of undergoing some spiritual meditation and reflection (as most on here know that I am an atheist).

i dont know about others, but i find the connection with community and deep significance of the Easter rites engaging and very comforting.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Maundy Thursday</span> - washing of the feet, to symbolize equality
<span style="font-weight: bold">Good Friday</span> 3-hour passion service - understanding suffering
<span style="font-weight: bold">Saturday vigil</span> - symbolizing light triumphant over dark, good over evil
<span style="font-weight: bold">Easter Sunday</span> - celebrating rebirth.

my young daughter is coming with me for tonight's service - i feel so good to have her company.

Anyone else doing the Easter mysteries?

[rudemonk]

Re: The Easter rites

yep. although, within the inner circle we have nicknamed tonight &quot;ok&quot; Thursday, since tomorrow is Good Friday.

I don't subscribe to much of my former beliefs but still retain what i feel are the core teachings of yashua and so that is what i celebrate.

the passion can definitely be seen on a broader level and i feel there is much there for the agnostic and atheist and believer alike.

[Emperah]

Re: The Easter rites

[Peasie]

Re: The Easter rites

MGee, I am doing the Easter mysteries except that I am skipping tonight's Maundy Thursday rite. I am participating in Good Friday service (but not fi no three hours ) and Easter Sunday.

At the church I worship, Good Friday service starts in a walled garden on the church's grounds which is a &quot;burial ground&quot; of sorts -- former parishioners can have their cremated remains buried in a biodegradable container so there are no markers on the ground -- they can opt for a memorial plaque on the wall. This sort of simulates an old tradition of having Good Friday services begin in a cemetery to remind us of death and then (Easter Sunday) resurrection of the spirit. It is a simple ceremony which ends in the church for the usual.

Easter Sunday at my church is the bomb diggity The congregants are mostly African and dem dress to puss back foot dat day and nuff singing a gwaan.

Good luck on your spiritual journey I started on one four years ago and I surely did NOT expect to end up in the tradition I have chosen. But I respect all spiritual traditions and I don't think my path is necessarily the path for others. Peace to all

[mountaingal]

Re: The Easter rites

hi, peasie

just winding down from the maundy thursday service. forgot how powerful it can be to see a person of authority (priest) washing the feet of ordinary folk.

was also reminded of the last commandment - love others as i have loved you.

i didnt take communion but went up for a blessing, came back to my pew then burst into tears, much to my daughter's consternation. i later stammered that i had been under so much spiritual distress lately, that hearing the familiar phrase, &quot;may the lord bless and keep you,&quot; undid me. can't explain it.

tomorrow going for the passion service, expect to bawl nuff, especially at that song, u know the one, them sing it while the procession go up the aisle with the cross shrouded in black.

O sacred head, surrounded
by crown of piercing thorn!
O bleeding head, so wounded,
reviled and put to scorn!
Our sins have marred the glory
of thy most holy face,
yet angel hosts adore thee
and tremble as they gaze

I see thy strength and vigor
all fading in the strife,
and death with cruel rigor,
bereaving thee of life;
O agony and dying!
O love to sinners free!
Jesus, all grace supplying,
O turn thy face on me.

In this thy bitter passion,
Good Shepherd, think of me
with thy most sweet compassion,
unworthy though I be:
beneath thy cross abiding
for ever would I rest,
in thy dear love confiding,
and with thy presence blest.

[mountaingal]

Re: The Easter rites

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Emperah_dehyah</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> </div></div>

mine fly ketch inna u mout. lol. ((dj)) - u know already that i'm a cultural christian.

[mountaingal]

Re: The Easter rites

Gethsemane

I only want to say
If there is a way
Take this cup away from me
For I don't want to taste its poison
Feel it burn me,
I have changed I'm not as sure
As when we started

Then I was inspired
Now I'm sad and tired
Listen surely I've exceeded
Expectations
Tried for three years
Seems like thirty
Could you ask as much
From any other man?

But if I die
See the saga through
And do the things you ask of me
Let them hate me, hit me, hurt me
Nail me to their tree

I'd want to know
I'd want to know my God
I'd want to see
I'd want to see my God

Why I should die
Would I be more noticed
Than I ever was before?
Would the things I've said and done
Matter any more?

I'd have to know
I'd have to know my Lord
'd have to see
I'd have to see my Lord

If I die what will be my reward?
I'd have to know
I'd have to know my Lord

Why, why should I die?
Oh, why should I die?

Can you show me now
That I would not be killed in vain?
Show me just a little
Of your omnipresent brain
Show me there's a reason
For your wanting me to die
You're far too keen on where and how
But not so hot on why

Alright I'll die!
Just watch me die!
See how, see how I die!
Oh, just watch me die!

Then I was inspired
Now I'm sad and tired
After all I've tried for three years
Seems like ninety
Why then am I scared
To finish what I started
What you started
I didn't start it

God thy will is hard
But you hold every card
I will drink your cup of poison
Nail me to your cross and break me
Bleed me, beat me
Kill me, take me now
Before I change my mind

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[seemiyah]

Re: The Easter rites

I play Jesus Christ Superstar CD in the car all this week, listened to Gethsemane this morning...it always makes me tear up, especially if I am going through a tough time.

[mountaingal]

Re: The Easter rites

smy - nice to find another jcan who can embrace the awesomeness of this rock opera.

i only remembered Gethsemane this morning, and the power of it. my JCS lp got misplaced and i keep saying i'll get the cd to replace it and havent done so yet. its an amazing soundtrack.

found this rendition by ted neely who starred in the movie version of JCS. it's reprise performance from 2006, the actor/singer is older but still quite moving.

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[rudemonk]

Re: The Easter rites

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: seemiyah</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I play Jesus Christ Superstar CD in the car all this week, listened to Gethsemane this morning...it always makes me tear up, especially if I am going through a tough time. </div></div>

nice! there are some real gems in that production. I also love What's the Buzz!
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[seemiyah]

Re: The Easter rites

Not to derail the thread into a JCS thread but my father played it for us every Good Friday growing up so we know every single word on the entire album. I saw Ted Neely about 4 years ago in a live JCS production, actually I was dissapointed and thought he should probably retire now, I love him in the original.

Monk I think I love every song (well except Herod's)

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[Peasie]

Re: The Easter rites

When JCS The Movie first showed in Jamaica in mid or late 1970s, there was so much furor from the religious groups saying how it was sacrilegious, etc. My mother, a quiet religious woman herself, piled her four older children - there were six us - into our VW minibus along with a couple of neighbor's children and marched us to the movie - near Half-Way-Tree if mi membah right - got us good seats, and let us decide for ourselves. We all loved the movie - the music and the passionate portrayal of all the biblical characters. We didn't care too much that Judas Isacariot was portrayed as a black man. My mother was moved to tears at the movie.

That was the only movie my mother ever attended with us. I felt proud of her. She made a stand against the tide of pompous piety shown by the religious groups in Jamaica at that time. Mommy

Back on topic: MGee I went to Good Friday mid-day service and was moved by the simplicity of the service. We read the account of the trial, crucifixion, and death of Christ in John's gospel -- truly beautiful!

[mountaingal]

Re: The Easter rites

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: monk</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: seemiyah</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I play Jesus Christ Superstar CD in the car all this week, listened to Gethsemane this morning...it always makes me tear up, especially if I am going through a tough time. </div></div>

nice! there are some real gems in that production. I also love What's the Buzz!
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</div></div>

yes, monk, i think thats the funkiest song on album. i also really liked the overture Heaven on Their MInds, and Simon Zealotes.

actually, i think I Dont Know How to Love Him was the one i liked the least, and that became a popular hit.

[mountaingal]

Re: The Easter rites

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Peasie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">When JCS The Movie first showed in Jamaica in mid or late 1970s, there was so much furor from the religious groups saying how it was sacrilegious, etc. My mother, a quiet religious woman herself, piled her four older children - there were six us - into our VW minibus along with a couple of neighbor's children and marched us to the movie - near Half-Way-Tree if mi membah right - got us good seats, and let us decide for ourselves. We all loved the movie - the music and the passionate portrayal of all the biblical characters. We didn't care too much that Judas Isacariot was portrayed as a black man. My mother was moved to tears at the movie.

That was the only movie my mother ever attended with us. I felt proud of her. She made a stand against the tide of pompous piety shown by the religious groups in Jamaica at that time. Mommy </div></div>

i never saw the movie, just seeing the excerpts now on utube. maybe if i saw it when it first came out i'd be more amenable but it looks a little funny to me now, lol. anyways, kudos to your mom for taking you to the movie to form your own judgments. so much of religion is based on coersion and fear.

i grew up with just the original soundtrack album, played the daylights out of it.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Back on topic: MGee I went to Good Friday mid-day service and was moved by the simplicity of the service. We read the account of the trial, crucifixion, and death of Christ in John's gospel -- truly beautiful! </div></div>

yes, we did that in hour two of the three hour passion service i went to at the cathedral. hour three ended with the procession of the shrouded cross. church was full.

going tonight to the vigil.

[rudemonk]

Re: The Easter rites

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MGee</div><div class="ubbcode-body">smy - nice to find another jcan who can embrace the awesomeness of this rock opera.

i only remembered Gethsemane this morning, and the power of it. my JCS lp got misplaced and i keep saying i'll get the cd to replace it and havent done so yet. its an amazing soundtrack.

found this rendition by ted neely who starred in the movie version of JCS. it's reprise performance from 2006, the actor/singer is older but still quite moving.

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wow that is pretty cool, I got to see that production actually! I didn't know it was recorded. there were quite a few times when the entire audience was standing on it's feet and singing every word.

it's no doubt a very powerful work and the writers I think did a tremendous job.

since we're going back to the 70s, anyone remember this episode of Good Times, &quot;Black Jesus.&quot; JJ paints Ned the Wino as Jesus. The episode ends with Black Jesus hanging on the wall next to White Jesus.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/197267/good-times-black-jesus#x-0,vepisode,1,0