As far as church activity goes, Holy Week is perhaps the most intense week in the liturgical calendar. There is no other time in the year where we do so many unique services that require us to worship outside our liturgical norms. This is intentional. These services are meant to rattle us out of our habits and bring us along those final moments leading to Jesus’ passion, death, and ultimately resurrection. I would like to offer a brief narration on each of these special services.
Palm Sunday - April 14, 10:30 am
Our Holy Week starts the Sunday before Easter. The service will begin in our Memorial Garden where we will pass out Palms. We will read the story of Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem, where the crowds gathered cheering and laying palms down before our Lord’s feet. We will walk along side that celebration with our own procession waving palms and cheering “Hosanna!” all the way into the church. Yet, once we’re in the church the service will pivot. There we will read the Passion (the story of Jesus’ death). This service shows how quickly the crowds went from triumphal celebration of Jesus to yelling out, “crucify him.” There will be a period of silence in this service, rather than a sermon, to allow us to reflect on this transition and its prominence in our lives and our convictions.
Tenebrae - April 17, 5:30 pm
Tenebrae is a service of darkness or shadows. Perhaps the most conspicuous feature of the service is the gradual extinguishing of candles until only one remains, the Christ candle. In this service we serve as spectators as we listen to the words Jesus spoke during his Passion music from our choir will illuminate the story with lyrics and melody.
Maundy Thursday - April 18, 5:30 pm
Maundy Thursday is a service of drama. In it we recall the last supper of Jesus Christ where he spoke of leadership as servitude and he washes the feet of his disciples. We remember that act by washing the feet of each other, attempting to serve as Christ served. Please know that there is no expectation for you to participate in the foot washing. At the end of the service we will strip the altar. As the lights darken, we take away the left over Eucharistic sacrament, the crosses, altar linens, and so on. This is to symbolize the stripping of Christ from his disciples at the end of the last supper. The service ends in silence.
Good Friday - April 19, 12:00 pm
On Good Friday we hear the story of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion. We reflect on what this moment in Jesus’ earthly ministry means for us as his followers. We pray for our church, the world, and ourselves. After the service, the youth will lead us in the Stations of the Cross, where we will walk the way of Jesus’ passion.
Easter Sunday - April 21, 8:30 am & 10:30 am
All these services culminate with our Easter Sunday service which will be a celebration of the risen Christ. On easter morning we will have a breakfast at 9:30 am and an Egg hunt at 10:00 am. We will also have a flowering of the cross beginning at 10:20 am. If you have never experienced these important services of our church, I hope you will make the effort to see the beauty and mystery of these Holy Liturgies.
Morris+
