As we journey to the betrayal of Jesus Easter week on Thursday, the crucifixion Friday, Jesus' quiet Sabbath rest in death, and marvel with great joy in the remembrance of the Resurrection, we come upon an oddity in the Lenten cycle.

It's a special time at Hollywood Adventist Church. During Lent, the underlying ethical themes focus on a commitment to personal change and conversion. This traditionally happens through acts of self-denial (such as fasting), solidarity with all of humanity through acts of charity and giving, forgiving and accepting the forgiveness of others, and recognizing the real need for social justice in our world. In short, the season holds many possibilities for personal growth and the enactment of justice.

We're officially deep into the Lenten Season. If you've been following us week-to-week, you may recall that earlier this year we talked about the power of ritual, and tangentially, the importance of remembering. This series borrows from the scriptural record and "remembers" those who have gone before in a way that informs us about our own journey of faith, centered on the person of Jesus.

It's true that Adventists don't adhere to the Christian calendar—at least not formally. There's no lectionary printed by the church, nor any liturgical or sermonic guide—thanks be to God! What we center is Christ, the teachings of the apostles, and the words and lessons of scripture.

Today is my final sermon in this series on "rituals." While Adventists aren't used to framing their behaviors with this particular word/concept, it can be enormously helpful as I trust you've seen! We've covered a lot of territory. My sermon today is also profoundly shaped by loss and grief.

As you may have heard, our friend and Hollywood member, Mark Harman, was found deceased in his home in La Crescenta Tuesday afternoon. He was only 33 years old. Many of you know him from his consistent, devoted, and capable work in our AV Department at the Hollywood and Burbank Adventist Churches. Mark was a native of this area.

There's a limit to the efficacy of Rituals. We can see this plainly in passages like Micah 6:1-8 where—through the prophet's voice—God makes it clear: the symbolic and ritualistic acts of sacrifice matter only if or when accompanied by actions that back them up. God would rather have justice and mercy exercised by his people than the sacrifices of animals to atone for injustice and the lack of empathy. 

Adventists, as conservatives in the evangelical protestant line of Christian thinking, we're not really used to the idea of ritual. As pragmatists, aesthetic minimalists, and rationalistic types, "smells and bells" are not for us! And what of penance? Aren't these things for Catholics? Don't we simply confess our sins and depend upon the Redeemer to forgive our sins, cleansing us of unrighteousness?

Water is life. Jesus said that unlike regular water, even if drawn from a good and steady well, the water he could provide would rise up as a spring inside of a person. The net result would be they would never thirst again. That's deep stuff.... A living spring or well. A forever satiation.

I'm thinking now of giving. Giving is a discipline, a practice, an art, a philanthropic exercise, a nod toward that which we believe, or whom we wish to show support to. It's an act of worship, which is why and how the tradition of applause when "offering time" is announced at Hollywood came to be.

It's a beautiful time in the Christian calendar, a time when we linger over the Light that has come into the world. With candles lit each week of Advent, we've together ritualized our anticipation of the coming Christ, and of the hope, peace, joy and love that characterizes His presence. Yes, the presents are unwrapped. Visiting family members have likely gone back home. We're back to familiar routines... and yet the Light! It's still here for us.

I would begin my note this Sabbath by thanking you all for your faithful participation in Hollywood this past year. Despite the departure of Pastor Branden last Fall, your leadership rose to the occasion, and worked through months of intervening space and time before I was appointed Interim Pastor in March. We all worked through the uncertainties of process, and I want to thank you for choosing us as we chose you! Jill and I have loved our year here!

We live in increasingly dangerous times, with social, political, and religious tensions growing globally. Antisemitism is on the rise in the U.S., with 2024 holding the record for the most reported antisemitic incidents. The Anti-Defamation League shows an 893% increase in these incidents over the past decade.

I'm thinking now of giving. Giving is a discipline, a practice, an art, a philanthropic exercise, a nod toward that which we believe, or whom we wish to show support to. It's an act of worship, which is why and how the tradition of applause when "offering time" is announced at Hollywood came to be.