23 Mar A Holy Week Letter from Bp. Stewart Ruch III

“Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”—Mt. 13.52

Dear clergy, catechists, evangelists, and people of God of the Upper Midwest,

Last Tuesday, the Resurrection staff team gathered in the chancel of the Cathedral to worship and pray for Holy Week.  What ensued was nothing less than a powerful visitation of the Holy Spirit. Scriptures and words of knowledge were shared.  Many roamed about the nave and chancel praying for the different services and actions of Holy Week.  As I sat and prayed, the Lord brought a simple and obvious revelation to my heart:  Holy Week is our Revival Week.

I once attended a Pentecostal revival tent meeting in the Deep South when I was in high school.  It was life-changing.  It was as if the love of the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit and the tangibility of Jesus were all compressed and distilled and ministered in a most consequential way.  My belief was set free and my heart was restored and I was readied to go and share Jesus.

Our call—our shared and beautiful call—is to Plant a Revival of Word and Sacrament Infused by the Holy Spirit.  And the supernatural spring from which this call has come forth is Holy Week.  Holy Week is our Revival Week.  Here we are carried into the life of God.  Here the events and truths of Jesus are utterly revived.

It is no wonder, then, that as churches are multiplying through our diocese so is Holy Week.  Great Vigils and Good Friday services are spreading throughout the Midwest. They are spreading because the Holy Spirit is spreading a revival of Word and Sacrament.

Remember one another as you step into Good Friday or recall the saving deeds of God at the Great Vigil.  Remember the lost and the poor for whom we plant this revival.  Remember Jesus who said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”

Love,

+Stewart
Upper Midwest