I have always thought of Lent as a time of self-evaluation in preparation for Easter. We give things up or take things on as part of our Lenten discipline. The idea of “slowing down” always comes to mind but, in reality, it seems to be quite the opposite. Everything seems to speed up in Lent, especially as we get closer to Holy Week and Easter. Perhaps “speed up” is not the right term. I believe “gets busier” is more accurate. When things get busier there is no time to slow down. This makes it sound frenzied, but another way to look at it is that there is so much to get done before Easter comes and not much time to do it. The first half of Lent may have been slow, but this last half certainly is not. Buckle up…Holy Week is coming, and here are some things that will be happening at the Cathedral.

• A Safe Church Training seminar will take place next Saturday, April 5, in the Common Room. You can reserve a spot for the in-person training at diowestmo.org/events.
• Our Palm Cross workshop will be next Sunday, April 6, after both the 8 and 10:30 services in Founders’ Hall. Please come and learn how to make the crosses we will bless and use on Palm Sunday.
• The following Sunday, April 13 (Palm Sunday), following the 8 a.m. service, we will gather to pack Easter Baskets for the kids at Crittenton, Camber Children’s Center, and Sheffield Place. Please contact Terri Curran for more information.

It is a busy time, for sure, but also a time for remembering Christ’s journey to the cross. I hope you will join us for our many offerings and activities leading up to and during Holy Week and Easter. Good luck slowing down.

Please continue to pray for one another, for our Cathedral family, for our nation, and for the peace of the world.