Holy Week, 2025 – A Letter from the Rector

“Nazarene” by Pauli Murray (1910-1985)

Say that he was legend,
The dream of slaves and beggars,
Or hippy poet so charged
With music of the spheres
That stones sang beneath his naked feet.
I care not if he lived
Or uttered any word,
Or healed a single leper.
I know only that his name
Reveals that gift of pain
That only love can bear
And having borne still cry
“I love.”

Dear Friends,

Today we enter into the three most solemn and sacred days of the Christian year, called the Triduum (“Three Days”). Jesus walks with us, showing us the way. Now, let’s stay especially close to him—watching attentively, learning deeply, being transformed together by true love.

On Maundy Thursday, watch for the tenderness, intimacy and care of his presence and ministry to those huddled with him on the verge betrayal and arrest.

On Good Friday, from the edges of a frenzied crowd and the shadow of a cross, see his resolve to endure persecution and bear all the weight of suffering and death that is wrought.

On Holy Saturday, gaze intently into the dark and see what might be possible: dare to hope for a light and life that truly overcomes.

All of this, always, is about love. Jesus is showing us how to live by love’s rule; and enduring evil’s wrath in divine solidarity with us and for love of us; and overcoming all the natural and unnatural powers of a dangerous world with the light and life of Love’s reign.

I pray for us all this week: to find the faith and muster the hope to know true Love.

With you,

The Rev. R. Scott Painter, Rector

Dear Friends,

The cherry blossoms have peaked right on time! This coming Sunday is traditionally known as “Laetare Sunday” in the season of Lent. That Latin word means something like “rejoice.” Rose or pink are the colors associated with Laetare Sunday. (Some very traditional parishes have a special set of rose vestments that are only used for this one Sunday each year! But we will just look for the flowering trees and other signs of spring.) This fourth Sunday is meant to be something of a respite from the austerity and deprivation of the Lenten season; because even in the darkest of times, we need to fan the embers of joy and hope. It’s a way to keep going: reminding one another that light and life are possible. I look forward to sharing Laetare Sunday with you!

On another note, I want to share a brief update on our search for an Associate Rector. (You can review the description of this full-time position here.) Our process is underway, and since January we have received four statements of interest for the position. We have conducted a series of interviews with one applicant—first with me, then with a small team led by Senior Warden Ann Wetherell and comprised of five leaders who worship at 9, 11, and 1:00, and then again with me for reflection and follow-up on that group interview experience. References have been checked, and in the next couple of weeks the applicant will visit Portland for an in-person visit. After that, we trust we will know if this is the right priest for St. Michael’s at this time. If so, we will move forward to finalize the details of a call.

If you were wondering why we haven’t had more to say along the way, please remember that confidentiality is so important—especially because with clergy there is often another parish to be impacted by news of a transition. We need to work through the application process and details of a call before exposing whole parish communities to the ups and downs of a discernment process.

I am very excited about the possibility of completing our full-time clergy team to walk with St. Michael’s into God’s future for us. Please pray for everyone involved in this process.

With you,

R. Scott Painter, Rector
Email: scottp@stmaa.org