March 20, 2026
Dear church,
We are making our way to Holy Week - the week in the church year when we journey with Jesus to the garden, the cross, the tomb, and to new life on the other side. As a church community, we worship a lot this week! Every service has its own ritual, theater, and emotion. I hope you will join us - more info here.
One service that I wanted to draw your attention to this week is the Easter Vigil the evening of April 4. The Easter Vigil is a service held between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter morning. At this service, the community typically gathers around a bonfire outside the church building and then moves into the sanctuary to tell the stories of our faith. The stories are often told in dramatic, embodied, and even funny ways. And then the service ends with the first “Allel***!” in 40 days and often a party with celebratory food and drink afterwards. It is truly a service unlike any other.
The Easter Vigil is not a part of our liturgical rhythm at Grace, and rather than trying to introduce and create it here, Pastor Reed and I thought it would be more meaningful to join with a congregation that has been doing this service for years. This gives us a chance to experience the vigil and to join with another amazing congregation for worship.
And so we invite you to join us at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Minneapolis at 6:30p on Saturday, April 4! OSLC has been gathering for the Easter Vigil service for many years, and it is a highlight for their community every year. My sister, who is a member at Our Saviour's, describes the vigil as “fun, authentic, alive, and truth-telling.” OSLC’s location: 2315 Chicago Ave.
We’re not going to set up any formal sign-up for this; simply come if you’re interested! Both Pastor Reed and I plan to be there, and would love to have you join us.
Pastor Sarah
Every Friday, we send an email to the congregation and any others who would like to learn more about the Grace community. The last four Friday emails are posted below.