Dear friends,
One thing that has characterized my sandwich season is staying put.
My family of three moved from Washington state back to my Minnesota hometown in September 2020, before we even realized how many changes were afoot, especially with my mom. As a result, it seems we’ve been living right where we’re needed.
But this past week I did something I hadn’t done for a while—I took a solo trip. With no goal other than to catch up with a dear friend, I boarded a couple of flights and arrived at her home in Michigan. I think Janet and I shared books’-worth of thoughts and experiences over four days.
I returned home late last night … and today feel as if I might have used up all my words!
As a result, this post is a short roundup of thoughts. And, as you saw in the title, it’s a departure from my usual subject matter, focusing on experiences in the sandwich generation. We’ll pick up where we left off next week.
So, I’ve brought you to Michigan. Now, here’s the music.
Sunday was Palm Sunday, and Janet and I went to services at the First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor, just off the University of Michigan campus. Little did we know, much of the service would be devoted to the performance of a newly published musical work called Illuminare, composed by Elaine Hagenberg. Here is how the music—for chorus and chamber orchestra—is described on the composer’s website:
Using lesser-known sacred Latin, Greek, and English texts, the piece takes us through a season of beauty and goodness that has been disrupted by darkness and confusion. But as Light gradually returns, hope is restored, illuminating our future and guiding us in peace.
Beautiful! I invite you to check it out and enjoy a feast for your ears. (The link above is from its Carnegie Hall premiere.)
And here’s my final topic. Today is Maundy Thursday. Every year I feel the need to refresh my memory about what that means, so I’m sharing my quick review …
First, the definition: “Maundy” comes from the Latin word mandatum, which is where we get the English word “mandate.”
Near the end of Holy Week, this day focuses on the Last Supper, when Jesus gathered with his disciples and served them bread and wine, referring to them as his body and blood.
Where does the mandate come in? It was at the Last Supper that Jesus said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34 NIV).
Sending love and best wishes to you and yours,
Sarah
P.S. I shared a longer Maundy Thursday post in 2020 that goes a bit deeper, if you’d like a little more.
❤️❤️🎶 Loved your solo trip🙂