Memories from Holy Week

This is a resume of the activities done by San Lucas UMC and the Sunday school program:

Palm Sunday: The Sunday school program at Renacer Camp Center was planned to begin at 3pm that day. Nevertheless, all children arrive before the appointed time. Their happy faces, smiles, kisses and hugs were the best welcome to the teachers. “We were waiting for you,” said one of the girls. “Did you bring the guitar, pastor?” said another one. Surely, they really enjoyed the time together.

Bringing some palm tree branches and singing “¡Miren quien viene!” (“Look Who is Coming!”) – they sang a song, composed by Sunday school teachers at one of our workshops – and presented it that day.

A poster of Jesus, coming into Jerusalem on a donkey, was shown to the children. They immediately asked and answered questions about the experience of Jesus with the people. They knew the lesson and they enjoyed painting, coloring and rehearsing some songs which were related to this special Bible event.

Special Guest on Holy Wednesday: Ms. Margarita Stockwell, an 82 year old former Methodist missionary who served and worked in Uruguay, was visiting us that day. She has been working on integral health during these past years of her life. Through her experience of faith and spiritual conversion, many people have been blessed. Lutherans, Waldensians, Pentecostals, Catholics and Methodists gathered that day, in an ecumenical program workshop. As a result of that, many people who attended the program found spiritual refreshment to our souls and a new commitment to the Lord.


Holy Thursday: For the first time, since I have served as pastor at San Lucas Methodist UMC, we gathered on Holy Thursday. We had a special “foot- washing ceremony” and then “Holy communion”. A basin, a jar with water, and a towel created the atmosphere for the service. The reading of the scripture of John 3:4-5 gave us the biblical base for the ceremony. Every person took his/her shoes off and I began washing everybody’s feet. All of them expressed their gratitude for being blessed through this experience of service and humbleness. After all, each one of us has been called to serve others, as Jesus did that day.

Holy Friday: We joined the service at the Waldense Evangelical Church. It was an ecumenical service, full of readings that reminded us of the passion of Christ. Those included the “seven words” said by Jesus in the cross.

Holy Saturday: Sunday school teachers dedicated this day to decorate the church. A grave, a banner with the scripture “He Lives”, and some of the children’s drawings were part of the symbolic presentation of Jesus Risen.

Easter Sunday: Showing and explaining the cycle of the butterfly, as a symbol of Jesus’ resurrection; singing “Celebrate Jesus, Celebrate”, and giving chocolate eggs. Children and adults of the church celebrated the main Easter service. Previously, we had had breakfast together. It was a time of fellowship and a good start to this glorious and victorious day. The sun shone that day, and the sky was clear. This showed us, one more time, that Jesus was – and is – ALIVE!

Back to School...

In March, school begins in Uruguay, and the students return, after two months’ vacation. This year, our Sunday school program also started in March, so children not only came back to the regular school, but also to the church school.

On Sunday, March 2nd, all children from the SS program came to the morning Sunday service, which was dedicated to them. Most of them sat in the first pews and received a special blessing for the new school year.

The women’s group organized and prepared some school bags full of school supplies, which had been donated by members of the VIM Teams.
From little Giovanni Rossi, a two and a half year old boy who is attending pre-school, to Soledad Ferrari, a fifteen-year old girl who is in high school, all were blessed by the pastor and members of the congregation. A special prayer was given for them and, after the service, all of them were greet by the people in a lovely way.

Christmas' echoes

“It was a snowy and cold day”. Well, it sounds like a traditional Christmas atmosphere for the Northern Hemisphere people and a nice beginning for an article about this special season. Nevertheless, this beautiful scene is just seen on Christmas cards, Coca Cola advertisements, but not in this tiny South American country called Uruguay. Uruguay doesn’t have mountains or cordillera; we’re far from the Andes. December is a hot and humid month in which to spend Christmas season.

Children from the Renacer Methodist Camp Center Sunday school program had been rehearsing for the last three weeks of December, and they were expecting to show their talents in the San Lucas Methodist Church Christmas service in downtown Paysandú. The program included Christmas carols, poems and the presentation of the Scripture of the manger of Bethlehem, based on the Gospel of Saint Luke 2.

The reading said “She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” Mary and Joseph’s little boy was born in a manger surrounded by sheep, goats and probably other kind of domestic animals, too.

One of our members, Mr. Fernando Gallarza, has a minivan in which he normally takes the children and people from the Camp Center to downtown. That day, everything was ready for them to be picked up. The rain started and the minivan had a mechanical problem. It was almost time for the kids to go to church. We made some phone calls, but there was no solution to the problem. We had to find another way. Suddenly Pascual said: “A truck! I have a friend who has a truck.” Pascual called the truck driver. He immediately picked the children and people up from the camp center to church. Believe it or not, the little truck had transported sheep and goats the day before. The truck was smelly and dirty. The rain started and a large piece of yellow nylon was the only cover for the children that day.

When they arrived at the church, most of them were wet and smelly. But they were really excited about the Christmas party. We had a cup of hot chocolate and we started the Christmas program. When the reflection came, all the children were paying attention to the pastor’s story. He said: “There was no place in the inn, so the little Jesus was born in a manger with cows, goats, and sheep, among other animals”. Suddenly, one of the children said: “Pastor, it was just like being in the truck, smelling like a sheep!” Everybody laughed, but it was probably one of the most realistic ways of experiencing Jesus’ birthplace. There was no minibus, only an old little truck; there were not a pleasant smell, only that of sheep and goats. That rainy Christmas party was one of the greatest memories of this Christmas season, not only for the children, but for all of us who were part of this celebration.