a good friday
How shall we greet one another on Good Friday? While we have traditional greetings for Easter (“The Lord is risen!” “He is risen, indeed!”) and other Christian holy days, there is no established way to bless each other on Good Friday. And perhaps that is appropriate, giving us a social way to engage in the struggle, the grief, and the silence. Sister Wendy Beckett’s reflection on this 16th century painting of Christ’s entombment reminds us of meditation through visio divina. There are riches to be found in moments of quiet today.
“When Titian painted the Entombment, the plague was raging in Venice. The consciousness of death must have been on everyone’s mind, and perhaps specially on Titian’s, because he was very old. This work seems to be, in a way, his testimony to the world, this painting of the dead Christ and the living Mary, so silent and contained, yet somehow so united with her son in love.”
And although it can feel uncomfortable, let’s not rush too quickly to Easter. The darkness of Holy Saturday has lessons to teach us, a patient acknowledgment of the pain and devastation in the world. Tish Harrison Warren’s reflections on this dark day remind us that even in the silent, closed tomb, Jesus was at work, preparing the world for that moment when we can say, once again, “Hallelujah!”
“The reason we call Holy Saturday "Holy" is because we know what happened on Sunday. We know the end of the story. But for the disciples, it was just Saturday, a terrible Saturday, a day they were hiding, a day to mourn. A day life went on, differently but inevitably.”
You’re Invited!
CHANGE to Weekly Prayer: There will be no 12:00 pm prayer meeting on Friday, March 29. Prayer meetings bring joy and connection for all! For more information visit The Well. We hope to see you there!
Join us for a conversation with Jeff Haanen. We invite all faculty, graduate students, and professionals to join the finale of our Spring 2024 Book Club where we'll engage in conversation with Jeff Haanen about his book Working from the Inside Out. Join us as we gather online on Wednesday, April 10 at 1:00 pm (Eastern). We'd love to have you join us even if you weren't able to participate in the book club!
Grant opportunity! The Christian Scholars Foundation Legacy Grant for junior faculty. Are you an early career Christian faculty member at a pluralistic institution? You may be eligible to apply for this research grant. (Deadline is April 20.)
IVP Women’s authors sale! This March, celebrate Women's History Month by engaging with the women authors who are making history today. For the entire month of March, get 20% off + free US shipping on select recent titles authored by women when you use promo code IVPWHM24 at checkout (expires March 31, 2024).
IVP Faculty exam copies. Professors can request a free exam or desk copy for InterVarsity Press titles adopted for classroom use up to three times a year. Your free exam or desk copy will be sent to you within four weeks. Register for a professional account to access this benefit!
Are you an InterVarsity alum? Use promo code IVCFALUMNI to get a 25% discount at ivpress.com.
Are you a Christian woman working in a STEMM field? WISH (Women in Science & Humanities) aims to encourage and support Christian women in STEMM. Check out their new website, support them by filling out their survey, and forward to your networks of women who might also be interested in participating in the WISH project.
Four More Things We Loved This Week
When a photographer’s image of her daughter went viral, she was inspired to change her life.
"The regular resurrections of our lives are just as miraculous as the big, showy, attention-getting ones.” Sarah Bessey writes on embracing ordinary joy.
When the Swedish art of death cleaning meets an extensive book collection.
Some of us are considering making these hot cross buns on Sunday. He is (almost) risen!