Maunday Thursday Haiku & Good Friday Concert

PRAISING GOD FOR PESAH
SIGNS OF LOVE AND PROTECTION
NIGHT WAILS SURVIVED.
from: "Praising All Seasons Long"
(Comfort Publishing, 2009)

Pesah is a Jewish Festival celebrating the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and Maundy Thursday is the day in which Christians around the world remember the Last Supper, the last meal that Jesus shared with His disciples. Maunday comes from the Latin maundatum, which means "mandate".

Reading Exodus 12, we know that God instituted the Passover for Moses to mandate the Israelites to celebrate for the following day they finally will be allowed to leave Egypt. Along with the mandate, rules were established (vv.43-49) and to keep the Passover as a memorial. Likewise, Jesus mandated his disciples at the Last Supper to eat the bread and the wine "in remembrance of me" (Luke 12:17-20 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-25). Maunday Thursday is the annual observance of the Last Supper, few hours before Jesus died on the cross.

Just as God showed His love and protection to the Israelites through a thick cloud at daytime and a fire at nighttime when they left Egypt, He showed his love and protection to us through the death of Jesus. No one can save mankind from the sinful world. It is only God's sacrificial love who can save us. It is only in God's love that man can survive this troubled world. How wonderful to remember God's love for mankind this Passion Week.

To celebrate this Passion Week, I would like to invite you, if you are living close to Pasadena, CA, to join us this Good Friday at Lake Avenue Church. The Concert will be a wonderful way to remember the sufferings that Jesus experienced at Calvary. It starts at 7:00 p.m., an hour long.

The service will begin with an organ prelude, finishing it with Albinoni. Then, seven (7) short scripture readings will follow with instrumental interlude of flute, viola, clarinet, horn, bassoon, oboe, and violin.

The Sanctuary Choir with the accompaniment of the Symphony Orchestra will sing the following:
1. Thy Will Be Done (Courtney)
2. O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus (Ebenezer)
3. Behold The Lamb of God (Handel's Messiah)
4. Surely He Hath Brone Our Griefs ( Messiah)
5. Alas,and Did My Savior Bleed (Watts/Wilson: Arranged by Forrest)
6. When I Survey The Wondrous Cross (Martin)

Before the Sanctuary Choir sings the finale, "God So Loved the World" (Schirmer), the Symphony Orchestra will be playing "Pavane"(Faure).

Come and join us on Friday. Music will be great.