John and I slipped into a pew in Knoxville’s grand downtown church, Church Street United Methodist Church a bit early this evening. We wanted a little extra time to shake off our workday burdens and transition into a contemplative mood for the evening ahead. Maunday Thursday is arguably the most beautiful of all the Christian services and a yearly ritual for us.
For the next hour and a half, we focused on the night before the Crucifixion. We listened to readings of scripture, beautiful music and a thought provoking sermon. After the solemn ritual of stripping the alter, we walked out of a dark, silent church into a soft spring evening.