Holy Week rituals feel new each year

Winter has melted away rather quickly in southeast Minnesota and I am struck again this year at how intense the feeling of newness is in this season. I think that is one of the things that God blesses us with, the ability to see things as new that we have gone through time and time again. I think Holy Week is like that, too. We have gone through this ritual as Christians year after year, and yet somehow, it always feels new.
On Facebook the other day, a memory from 2012 came up of that Holy Week. I was living in St. Paul and attended a variety of church services with my friends at different congregations. It is probably one of the most memorable weeks of my life, one where I felt in true community. This year’s Holy Week is going to hold a similar place in my heart as well.
Since fall of 2022, our K-M ministerial group has been meeting monthly with ministry leaders from across our Kasson-Mantorville community. In September we decided to meet every month at St. John’s as it is centrally located and on the same day each month.
You might be surprised to know that your pastors and other ministry leaders can be a little challenged when it comes to keeping our schedules straight, probably because of the varying needs we attend to and the flexibility needed to do ministry. We have had a great showing each month from our leaders from a variety of traditions and it is truly a Spirit filled time. The collegiality of this group is unique in my experience and I truly believe that it is beneficial to our entire community.
As a group, we have spent much of the last eight months working to find the best ways to serve our community through partnerships such as the Dodge County Salvation Army, SEMCAC, and Food for Friends. We also meet every September with the administrative team at K-M schools to see how we can best partner with the schools in times of crisis and to support students, teachers, and families.
The thing that I am most proud of with this group is the collaborative Good Friday virtual worship that we put together on the seven last words of Jesus. If you haven’t had a chance to watch it, I highly encourage you to find it on any of our congregation’s virtual platforms.
In the gospel reading from Matthew 28 this past week we heard of the resurrection of Jesus and his call to the women to go and tell the good news of his resurrection. It is truly a blessing to have a community of ministry leaders who heed the call to share the good news and do so side by side with those of a variety of faith traditions. It is truly a blessing to see God’s Spirit at work through these men and women in our community…and through all of you.
Lindsay Colwell
Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Kasson