Easter Tuesday
Yes, it's a thing (I've decided)
At the risk of breaking some liturgical law, I’m going to go ahead and tag today as “Easter Tuesday.” Why? Well, you’ll just have to read my blog and find out!
In any event, the chocolate bunny wrappers have been cleared away, and the older boys are back at school this morning. The next holiday on the horizon here in the U.S. is Mother’s Day in May, and that’s just too far in the future to contemplate yet. In the meantime…I have an Easter Tuesday goody basket to share with all of you!!
MOOD MUSIC
Two VERY different pieces of music, which evoke the season in different ways. The incomparable Ella sings bittersweetly of Spring arriving when you aren’t feeling loved (been there). And I can NEVER hear Copland’s Appalachian Spring too many times, however it’s orchestrated!
COMEDY TODAY…
HUMOR ESSAY BY ELISE: DRIVE-THRU HOLY WEEK!
Well gang, another Easter is in the books! While our attendance at church this year was fairly strong, several long-time members commented on the good old days, when they needed to set up chairs in the aisles, and park cars on the side lawn, to accommodate all the worshippers. As mainline congregations struggle to attract new members (and keep current ones), there’s a whole lotta brainstorming going on. I believe in planning ahead, and so for next spring, I offer the following holiday idea, loosely based on the popular “drive through” Nativity scenes at Christmas. Ah, I can see it all now...
BLESSED SAINT MALAISE CHURCH PRESENTS:
“DON’T WORRY! BE HAPPY! HE IS RISEN” A DRIVE-BY HOLY WEEK EXPERIENCE
Experience the agony of this Most Sacred Week from the warmth and comfort of your car! This is truly a meaningful and interactive spiritual odyssey. Perfect for families who want to do more than just show up at church in new clothes Easter morning, but don’t want to do MUCH more.
Ready? Let’s roll!
We begin as Danno the Donkey lumbers along. Jesus (young parishioner, Bobby Jones) clings to his back. The townspeople wave palms in His Holy Path. This is a great chance for the kids to get out, stretch, and join the parade! Palm swordfighting discouraged! And don’t get too near Danno, he bites.
When next we see Bobby, he is feasting with his friends, the Apostles. The aroma of fresh baked bread and vintage vino wafts through your auto here. You will have the opportunity to purchase a bottle of “Lachrymo Christi” and a fragrant loaf from My Daily Bread (downtown and in the Uptown Mall).
Don’t miss the dramatic Judas kiss! (your carload can join the chorus: “Booooo, Judas!”)
From the Garden of Gethsemane (landscaping courtesy of the Northeastville Green Thumb Club) to the windswept hill of Calvary, the Holy Journey continues at a steady speed of 2 mph. Jesus died for YOUR sins. Be sure to thank Him with a warm wave and a toot of the horn as you pass this Sacred Scene!
Drive on. Not much happening for awhile now. It’s a quiet, contemplative time, but just as the little ones are getting restless…
Ta da! With a blare of Glad Trumpets through our loudspeakers, it’s Easter Morning! Adorable bunnies hop amongst the colorful plastic eggs and fragrant lilies around the empty tomb. Are those baskets of burial cloth? Oh no! They are filled with complimentary jelly beans and chocolate crosses, handed out by Ladies of Little Lamb Circle at St. M’s. Don’t they (the ladies) look festive in their Easter bonnets?
As you reach our Happy Ending and exit our Drive-Thru Holy Week Experience, keep an eye peeled for the risen Bobby, um, Christ! He, like Waldo, could be anywhere!
So you better watch out!!
Have a Blessed Easter, and Drive Safely!!
So what do you think? Should I run it by the Worship and Music Committee at church? Couldn’t hurt!
FUNNY SONG: THAT SONG IN EVERY MUSICAL THAT NO ONE LIKES— BY SARAH SMALLWOOD
I don’t know if you have to be a musical theatre nut to fully appreciate this really clever song, but if you are (I am) it’s a home run. Even if you only watch musicals once in awhile, I bet you could name a few stinker tunes. Enjoy this spot-on parody of those go-nowhere, do-nothing numbers…
“This is the song where you can cough
so everybody get your coughs out
Or you can whisper “what’s the time!?
Where are we eating after this? Maybe we should just do takeout?”
FUNNY POEM BY BRIAN BILSTON “ADD TO BASKET”
I’m mounting a campaign to bring my fave Brit comic poet Bilston (or whatever his real name is) to the US for a poetry reading tour. He is an INTERnational treasure!!
MOVIE TRAILER: PROJECT HAlL MARY
Can it possibly live up to the hype? (YES) Is 2 hours 30 minutes just too long for modern-day movie goers? (NO, not if the movie is this good). Aiden, Peter and I loved it. Aiden got a special kick out of Ryan Gosling as the film’s hero, a 6th grade science teacher (Aiden currently HAS one of those!) Go while it’s still showing on the big screen—it’s a big, big movie!
AMAZING VIDEO OF THE ARTEMIS II LAUNCH (THANKS, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC!)
Just when our collective mood was at a very low point, we have a real life space adventure to cheer—Artemis II’s flyby around the dark side of the moon!
RADIO: NPR: BEST OF CAR TALK
Trust me, I’d rather watch paint dry than listen to people talking about their cars…unless those people are the Magliozzi brothers, Tom and Ray. I became a super fan of this funny and informative show ages ago, and it still holds up beautifully. (RIP Tom).
BLOG PREVIEW: EASTER TUESDAY
As promised, my argument (blog-ument?) for observing today!
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
True? Or does your decisiveness itself help make it happen? I’m not a big believer in manifestation, but committing to a course of action CAN be really powerful! Here’s to a week of good stuff happening in the world (for a change)!